1. Learning Community GNED1103-008 and GNED 1203-007 Credits: 6 Credits (GNED 1103 = 3; GNED 1203 = 3)
Time: Mondays & Wednesdays 01:00 pm to 3:50 pm
TOPIC: "Musical Sound"
DESCRIPTION: "Musical Sound" is a learning community of two GNED foundation courses: GNED 1103: Innovations and GNED 1203: Cultural Perspectives on Science. How is our scientific understanding of sound encoded, challenged , and explored in musical compositions? Considering this questions will open the door to aesthetics. We will consider a wide variety of compositions in their contemporary contexts, examining how they are structured and reflecting on how they are experienced. Expect to encounter ancient "music of the spheres", modern experimental sound creations and indigenous musical practices. By dwelling on the interplay between a physical understanding of sound and an aesthetic understanding of music, students will develop critical thinking and writing skills around their current sonic environment.
2. Learning Community GNED 1202 and GNED 1401 Credits: 6 Credits (GNED 1202 = 3; GNED 1401 = 3)
Time: Mondays & Wednesdays 08:30 am to 11:20 aM
TOPIC: " The Making and Unmaking of Monsters"
DESCRIPTION: "The Making and Unmaking of Monsters" is a learning community of two GNED foundation course GNED 1202: Texts & Ideas and GNED 1401: Writing for Academic Success. Together, the courses explore iconic cultural notions of monsters and academic writing. We can readily find monsters in novels and films, whether they be an ancient Greek Centaur or Hydra, or a modern day Dracula or Zombie. Notions about monsters also have historical, philosophical and scientific roots that relate to academic questions about how we perceive, and sometimes fear, that which is different from ourselves. In defining the monstrous, we also define our enemies and ourselves. Using the lens of monsters, this course will walk through ancient, classic, and contemporary texts and media that highlight and examine ways that people create monsters, and how they sometimes also "unmake" them. Monsters are an enjoyable topic for discussion as well as for academic writing. Without compromising comprehension and creativity, students in this course examine and practice the writing process as they hone their writing skills.
For further information regarding the General Education Learning Communities, email us at gnedadvising@mtroyal.ca