Introduction to Humanities, Fall 2008

Assignment #8

(Due no later than Thursday, October 30th)

Reading Assignment:

Chapter 14, The Baroque Age: Glamour and Grandiosity 1600-1715, pages 419-452

Chapter 15, The Baroque Age: Revolutions in Scientific and Political Thought 1600-1715,

pages 455-470

Assignment Details:

This assignment is going to be a little different than usual in that you will be conducting a little web-research. For this assignment, I would like you to search for an event that occurred between October 27^th and October 30^th during the Baroque Age (1600-1715). This can include births, deaths, key events, or anything you feel relevant. Include a description of the event and why it is relevant to the Baroque Age. For example (not from the Baroque Age):

Event: October 27, 1939: John Cleese is born.

John Cleese is a British actor best known for his role on the Monty Python show and in Monty Python-related films. Other memorable roles include co-creator and star of the British sitcom, Fawlty Towers, and his recent role as Nearly-Headless Nick in the Harry Potter films. Cleese has dedicated recent years to teaching comedy as a subject to be taken seriously.

The event of Cleese’s birth is relevant to the modern age because he is a recognizable face of satirical comedy, comedy that makes fun of just about everything. Because of his efforts, comedy has been able to express opposition to major political events while, at the same time, entertaining the masses. For example, he allegedly called Sarah Palin “a nice-looking parrot” because of her campaign speeches, something that would not have been possible 100 years ago.

(Source; “John Cleese.” Wikipedia. 26 October 2008 <http://www.wikipedia.org>.)

You may either e-mail your response to phobbspe@austincc.edu, drop it off on Blackboard, or bring a hard-copy to class. I would like a few brave volunteers to share their answers in class.

Point value: 20 points; graded on completion of assignment. Absolutely no late assignments will be accepted.