Art and meaning (required)

1. Do you think you can be “right” about the meaning of a song (and more generally art)? If your interpretation of art is not what the artist “meant” is the art any less valuable or effective in creating knowledge for the listener? Why or why not?
2. Is the artist unskilled if they do not get their meaning across? Is there any art that has no meaning? Must art have meaning? Why or why not? Be specific and give examples in your explanation.
3. Is music different from the other types of art (painting, sculpture, literature, dance, film, etc.) in how it creates knowledge for the listener? How so? Again, be specific in your answer, using examples from your life.

Derrick Jensen: Endgame (required)

1.       Do you agree with any of the premises put forward by Jensen?  If so, which premises do you most agree with?  Why?  Be specific and thorough in your answer.

2.       Which premises do you most disagree with?  Why?  If it is more than one, go over each disagreement and provide a legitimate counterclaim.

3.       Do you agree with his definitions of justice and production?  If so, why?  If not, how would you define these terms?

4.       What are the implications of his premises?  In your eyes, are there any positive implications of his premises or are they mostly negative?  Explain.

5.       How does history play a role in perpetuating the idea that civilization is “the right way to live?”  Can indigenous knowledge systems provide a counterclaim to this idea?  Why or why not?

6.       Do you believe that our culture will undergo a voluntary transformation to a sane and sustainable way of living?

7.       Do you believe that there is a ‘world culture’ or do you think this definition of culture is too broad?  If there is a world culture, what are some facets of that culture?  If not, in your opinion, why is there not a ‘world culture’?