In a message dated 9-28-1999 4:02:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
> > More important from my point of view, when they use the word "pagan", they
> > think they are using an incompatible opposite to Christianity, and that
> > really confuses them when it comes to Botticelli, Michelangelo et al.
> >
This kind of confusion shouldn't, and doesn't usually, happen in art history
classes, and maybe you'd better check how you're introducing the Renaissance.
It's the old story of what to do if students are confused about a word or
concept. One school of thought says the instructor may not have made clear
what the word or concept means or implies, and ought to go back and review
the material more closely with the students until they do understand. The
other school of thought says get rid of the word or concept so that the
instructor doesn't have to bother dealing with it. I have serious doubts
about the ethics of the second approach, and I can't for the life of me see
how it could lead to better understanding among students.
What are you going to do if you forbid your students to use the word "pagan"
and they still don't understand the Renaissance? The next step, I guess,
would be to drop the Renaissance, but how far do you want to take this?
pat
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