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COURSES FALL 2007

Histart 24.1

FRESHMAN SEMINAR: LOOKING AT BERKELEY BUILDINGS (1 UNIT) Wednesdays 2:00-4:00 425 Doe, CCN 05430 David Wright

Attendance at the first seminar meeting is necessary.  This seminar will end on Wednesday, November 15 in order to leave students free for their work in other courses.

This seminar is based on close study of the best buildings on campus and includes comparison with some of the worst.  The goal is to learn to analyze buildings objectively, to understand the rationale behind buildings in different styles, and to develop criteria for a balanced judgment of them. We will also study the 1899 ideal plan for the campus, the official 1914 plan, and the present state of the arrangement of buildings, plazas, and plantings on campus.  There will be weekly study assignments to look closely at specific buildings, to make very simple drawings of them (no experience or talent expected) and to write short descriptive comments.  Two-hour classes will normally begin with a discussion of the current assignment, will include a short slide lecture for background for the next assignments, and will end with a collective visit to a building involved in the assignments.  No reading; lots of walking, looking, and discussing; some drawing and writing.  The final very short paper will be a critical report on a building chosen by the student.

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