Splash Spring 2013
Course Catalog

Ethan Goldstein, the Executive Producer of CCNews (Clark's video news show) teaches the process of planning and producing a news broadcast, using CCNews as an example.


Prerequisites
None! This course teaches the very basics of who's who and what's what in a news television studio, and prepares you to take Video Broadcast Journalism 102, where you will be shown how filming works firsthand.

This class is for those who love theater (either musical or drama) and want to help enhance their skills! For the class, one can do the musical section, drama, or both. But everyone is required to take part in group warm-ups, improv activities, and even some stage combat training! Don't worry, all activities are completely safe and fun!


Prerequisites
No specific prerequisites required, just a love and/or interest in theater and a passion for the arts! If doing the musical theater section, please bring a song on an instrumental track, or be prepared to sing a cappella (unless we can find a pianist). For those interested in acting, bring 2 monologues (one straight, one comedic) no more than 2 minutes long. And wear clothes you are comfortable moving in!

In this course we will be learning how to read and write music. In addition we will be doing some singing and learning more about what music consists of. By the end of the course you will have learned a new way of communication because music is in itself another language.


Prerequisites
A willingness to try new activities and to be supportive of your peers.

Learn the basics of knitting with a few members of Clark's STITCH club. We will teach casting on, the knit stitch, and - time allowing - binding off, and provide reference materials if you would like to continue learning on your own. Supplies will be provided, but if you have your own materials (yarn or needles) please bring them.

Come learn about the history of poets as activists and try your hand at your own activist poetry.

Learn how to make photos look interesting and creative by glitching an image. Learn how to use a simple text editor to change a standard photo file.

The lead producer along with the anchor of CCNews World Report take you behind the scenes of what it is like to produce an episode of a news show.


Prerequisites
A basic understanding of video journalism is expected; while taking Video Broadcast Journalism 101 is not required, it is highly recommended.

Come learn how to dance the Merengue! The Merengue is quite possibly the easiest dance to learn but it also happens to be one of the most fun. This class will teach you the basics of dancing Merengue and guide you through some more complicated steps. I would encourage you to try something new and dance to some great music!

This course will cover the basics of filmmaking. We will learn about different camera angles, effects, edits, how to make your own productions, and other tips which will make you a better filmmaker. If possible we will be able to create our own short film.

In this class we will teach you how to dance salsa, an international social dance. We will start with the basics and move to some more complicated steps depending on how far we get. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn a life skill and dance to some of the worlds happiest music, we hope you join us.

Ethics is the branch of philosophy that is primarily concerned with questions about what it means to be a good person, and what makes an action right or wrong. We will explore some of the most popular ethical theories in contemporary thinking.


Prerequisites
No previous understanding of philosophy is expected. The only requirement is an openness to discussing difficult moral questions with people who may disagree.

We all have beliefs, right? But have you ever imagined people not believing in Science, or the existence of other people? Have you ever imagined people not believing in anything at all? Then welcome to Nihilism!


Prerequisites
Some personal research concerning Nihilism and Skepticism.

Are all personalities 100% unique? Can we group ourselves into categories and still preserve our individuality? Here is a system where both commonalities among our fellow human beings, and also our individuality is possible. In this class you will be given knowledge about a system that, with an open mind, can enhance your life forever.

This is a philosophy class that dives into a major topic of metaphysics: existence. What kinds of entities exist? Is the physical universe the only stuff that exists? Does the physical universe even exist? What is consciousness? What kind of thing is the United States government? How do non-physical entities interact with the physical universe? Because existence is such a large topic, this class will not cover the existence of gods and other spiritual entities, but will instead focus on the existence of consciousness, abstract relationships, and abstract structures such as number lines.

This is a philosophy class about a popular topic in metaphysics: the existence of gods and other spiritual/supernatural entities. Do any gods exist, and if so, which religion (if any) posits the correct god(s)? Is there an afterlife? Is reincarnation real? Do humans/animals have spiritual souls? In this class, we will discuss a number of arguments in favor of and against the existence of gods and other spiritual entities. Students of all views (not theistic, theistic, Buddhist, undetermined, whatever…) are welcome. This class will involve a large amount of discussion among the students. The only requirement for this class is that students are polite and respectful to one another.

The Shahnameh is widely considered the greatest work of poetry in the Persian-speaking world. The words of the Shahnameh are on the tip of every Persian speaker's tongue to this day. With over 60,000 verses about the pre-Arab mythology and history of Persia, it is a source of cultural pride in Iran and parts of Afghanistan. It took Ferdowsi over 20 years to write this masterpiece. The story behind the writing of these tales is one full of political rebellion and defiance. In this class, we will explore the content, historical and geographical context and culture behind this masterpiece. Knowledge about the Shahnameh is a step towards understanding a culture that spans across national borders and how intimately the past and present are connected.

Analyze Disney films using semiotics! Semiotics is the study of signs and their processes. By using semiotics, one can find new meanings in the images from Disney films. In this class, we will watch scenes from familiar films and realize the symbolism that's frequently overlooked.

In particular, we will be examining excerpts from The Little Mermaid as a means to look at patriarchal society and its implications towards female sexuality.


Prerequisites
Will have mild discussion of sexuality in society

We all can list off words that rhyme or sound good together, but how do those elements blossom into a smart, memorable lyric? In this class, using examples primarily from musical theatre, we will discuss the different types of rhymes, alliterations, assonances, and meters which make for successful lyric writing.

This course will draw upon the Beat Generation and post beat authors and their writing styles as influences for student's individual poetry/creative writing. The literature reviewed will consider the roles of religion, sexuality, politics and drug culture. Additionally, discussion will consider a disregard for traditional literary styles and blatant rejection of cultural values,

Learn about about the Yuan Dyanasty of China, focusing on its culture, politics, and people. The Yuan Dynasty was founded by Kublai Khan as an extension of the Mongol Empire, and fluorished for the next hundred years before collapsing into warfare. Find out about this fascinating time period, and the characters who populated it.

Following the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty as Han Chinese warlords took over the country, the Ming Dynasty foreshadowed the industrialization which would grasp China. Learn about the Ming's industy, culture, and argricultural development which lead to the development of many of the Chinese traditional medicines still in use today.

What is Personal development? Is it improving Self-awareness? Improving social ability? Building an Identity? Why does it matter? And is it a natural process or something you actually have to work on? These are some of the questions that we will be exploring in this class. Through a combination of both lecture and discussion, we will be building upon introduced philosophical and psychological concepts to reach several conclusions that will hopefully leave those taking this class with confidence and knowledge to pursue self-development on your own terms.

Empathy has many different definitions. These definitions encompass a broad range, from caring for other people and having a desire to help them, to experiencing emotions that match another person's emotions, to knowing what the other person is thinking or feeling thus blurring the line between self and other. The ability to imagine oneself as another person is a sophisticated imaginative process. Is the basic capacity to recognize emotions innate or can it be trained and achieved with various degrees of intensity or accuracy? Take this class to find out.

This course will be discussing the United States foreign aid budget. What exactly is foreign aid? How much of the US budget goes towards foreign aid? How is the foreign aid budget allocated and what types of programs does it fund? The importance of foreign aid and how to advocate for foreign aid will also be discussed.

This seminar/course will provide a basic overview and history to the strangest, spookiest, and most under-appreciated monsters in any folklore in the world: the yōkai of Japan. We will discuss and examine different kinds of yōkai, where yōkai come from, and the influence of yōkai in the modern world. Those who attending will also be asked to write a short, self-invented folktale (200 words or more) involving a yōkai of their own design. The ultimate goal of this course is to create a cultural awareness and a better appreciation of a specific aspect of Japan that is constantly overlooked. Those who wish to attend should be familiar with aspects of japanese popular culture such as Hayao Miyazaki, Pokemon, and Super Sentai and should also be comfortable with very minor sexual content.


Prerequisites
Those who wish to attend should be comfortable with very minor sexual content. The only things required for this course are a pen, paper, and the desire to be exposed to a different kind of culture.

Enjoy a break for lunch with your friends! Please register for at least one lunch period.

Text adventures are one of the oldest varieties of video game. Using the Twine engine, students in this class will learn the basics of game design and develop their own text adventures which can then be easily distributed or published on the Web.

It has recently become apparent that Human genome sequencing is becoming easier and easier with advances in DNA technology. But what does this mean? Will this help predict vulnerability to disease? Help treat disease? Or lead to a dystopian GATTACA-style future? This class is great for people who read science articles but want to know the background and implications of recent headlines.


Prerequisites
A basic (high school level) understanding of genetics.

A 2-hour course will cover some important concepts of Chemistry. Different levels of high school chemistry students are welcome to learn a quick overview of Kinetics and reaction rates, Equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s principle, and preparation for exams. Students are advised to have a calculator to work as groups to solve problems. Depending on the students, I will present some concepts of higher level chemistry and its use in research.

How fast would Wonder Woman have to move to block bullets with her bracelets? How can Magento move metal from a distance? Are superpowers possible? All these questions and more will be explored and answered in this course!

Want to learn what Einstein meant by $$E=mc^2$$? Why nothing can travel faster than the speed of light? What a spacetime interval is? This class will give a basic overview of the theory of special relativity, including Lorentz contraction, the twin paradox, and the consequences on energy and momentum.


Prerequisites
Should be comfortable with simple algebra. No prior physics knowledge necessary.

Come learn about geocaching and embark on a scavenger hunt across Clark's campus! Students will lean how to use GPS units and be introduced to some of the skills used by GPS and GIS experts. No previous experience required.

Have you ever wondered how you can image the atomic structure of materials? In this class you will learn how one basic concept of quantum mechanics allowed for the development of a state-of-the-art experimental technique, scanning tunneling microscopy, to do just this. This class will include a demonstration of Clark’s scanning tunneling microscope.

Everything you need to know about surviving in a post-apocalyptic zombie-infected world.

Have you ever wanted to throw things up in the air and catch them, then throw them up in the air and catch them again ad infinitum?? Well, it sounds like you want to juggle! Your instructor will do his best to get you on your way to juggling three balls and if you happen to be an intermediate juggler (anywhere from 3 to 6 ball juggler), he will be happy to teach you some tricks!

The purpose of this class is to learn and facilitate discussions about sexual health and reproductive health questions that affect young people. These include, but are not limited to consent, slut shaming, STI testing, contraception access, and sexual education is schools. Students of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend.

"American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it.”-James Baldwin. This class will focus on the "terrible" parts of American history. Some think that though our government has done bad things in the past, such as allow slavery, we no longer endorse such cruel behavior. Others think that America's past is innocent and wonderful, but that today, we are worse than we've ever been before because we support and trade with foreign oppressive governments. This class will highlight some of America's more infamous atrocities, such as slavery, as well some more ignored atrocities, such as the confinement of over 100,000 Japanese residents and citizens to "internment camps" during World War II. How can we do such terrible things, yet still call ourselves the "land of the free and home of the brave?" What can we do to make up for America's past cruelties? And most importantly, how do we bring an end to those being committed right now?


Prerequisites
Basic background knowledge of American history from 1776-2013!

Students of all ages can learn to play Quidditch, with Clark's very own Quidditch team. Interested students should dress in clothes they can move in and appropriate footwear (no sandals please).


Prerequisites
Must have an open mnid and be willing to have fun.

The media is a powerful influence in how we view ourselves and how we view others. Join Clark University OPEN in an intense, personal dialogue about the media’s portrayal of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people and how they affect our lives.

In this course, we will discuss the different types of disabilities (mainly on the topic of mental disabilities like Autism, Down syndrome etc.) and touch base on physical disabilities. I will also talk about how to get involved and raise awareness to help these people, as well as the many reasons for doing so.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required. The course is open to anyone and everyone. If anyone has experience with disabled people, please come and share your ideas.

Description: In 1735, a problem was presented to the preeminent Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler. The problem, commonly referred to as the Seven Bridges of Konigsberg problem, is today thought of as the beginning of graph theory. Graph theory is essentially the study of networks. They are in no way related to the usual y versus x mathematical graphs that most people are familiar with. In this class, we will go over the Seven Bridges of Konigsberg as well as discuss some of the modern applications of graphs. You may (or may not) be surprised to know graph theory plays a role in computer science, biology, linguistics, and even sociology.

What happened during the Dictatorial rule in Haiti, Politically, Economically, and Socially? How does Geography play in the history of Haiti's formation as a country? What are the ramifications of Haiti's Colonization and geographical limitations that we see today? What countries play a huge influence in this history? Learn the interesting and turbulent history of Haiti; the country our attention turned to most during their worst earthquake. This class will primarily focus on Haiti

Do you ever have moments of doubt? Do you ever question whether you'll ever "make it?" We do too. Come learn about inspiring stories from students just like you and what they have done to overcome their hardships, challenge their fears, and succeed. Most importantly, talk to us about what your dreams are, and we can show you what it takes to get there.

Logic is the study of modes of reasoning which are either valid or fallacious. It is, more basically, the study of arguments with premises and a conclusion. Eristic is a type of arguments in which participants quarrel and fight without any reasonable goal. Sometimes, using Logic, some debaters end up in the Eristic case scenario which I personally call Rhetorical Dogmatism because each debater argues while he/she is strongly attached to his/her opinion.
The purpose of this course will be to teach you effective ways of winning an argument whether its a normal debate or Eristic.


Prerequisites
I would ask you to take a look at this Wikisource link: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Art_of_Being_Right. Although it is not necessary, try to read Preliminary: Logic and Dialectic, Controversial Dialectic and The Basis of all Dialectic. Then, look at the contents, and aim at the titles of the chapters which would attract you. This material will be useful for the discussion we will have in class.

Heard of the Stock Market, but unsure what it’s all about? Curious how the stock market’s performance impacts you every day? Find out why companies issue stock, what drives prices and some basic investing strategies.

Following the lecture portion of this class, we’ll run an in-class computer simulation to see who can generate the highest return on an initial $1,000,000 bankroll.

Note: This course is designed for students with little to no background in the stock market, so if you’re looking sexy new ways to calculate exposure to time-value decay with delta, theta, vega and gamma, this course is not for you!