Meet Your Instructor
Professor Normand Theriault
Instructor, Philosophy & Humanities
Welcome to Introduction to Humanities. My name is Normand Theriault, and I'll be your instructor for this course. I teach both philosophy and humanities, and this course is one of my favorites. I hope some of that enthusiasm comes through in the pages ahead.
This course is about the arts: painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, theater, music, dance, photography, and film. But we will not be studying them the way an art history course would. We will be asking what the arts reveal about human values, and learning a set of tools for looking at, listening to, and thinking about creative works with real attention. That process is more demanding than it sounds, and also more rewarding.
My own background is in philosophy, but the questions that drew me to philosophy are the same ones that drive this course. What do people care about? How do they express what matters to them? Why do some works of art stay with us for centuries while others fade? You do not need any prior experience with the arts to do well here. You just need a willingness to look carefully and think honestly about what you see.
Questions? Get in touch.
The best way to reach me is by email. I aim to respond within 48 hours on weekdays. Don't hesitate to write if you have questions about the material, need clarification on an activity, or just want to talk about a work of art you've found.