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COURSES FALL 2008

Histart 24

FRESHMAN SEMINAR: LOOKING AT BERKELEY BERKELEY BUILDINGS (1 unit) Wednesdays, 2-4 104 Moffit, CCN: 05448 David Wright

Attendance at the first seminar meeting is mandatory.  The seminar will end (date?) to leave students free for their other coursework. 

This seminar is based on the 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 judgement 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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