General Education Capstone Course
Event Details and Guideline Form

Event experience Title:  “Beethoven and the Intersection of Politics and Music”

Gen. Ed. Category Event should be listed under:  Humanities

SCC competency addressed by event:  Articulate an informed response to popular or classical works in the humanities.

Guidelines for accomplishment of event

1. Watch the film, Keeping Score: Revolutions in Music, Beethoven’s Eroica (on reserve in the library).
2. Read the article, “The Arts in Revolt,” by Rutland Boughton, from page 1079 to 1080 (on reserve in the library).
3. Using these and other appropriate sources, write at least a 1000 word essay, addressing the following question:  before Beethoven, most composers were not involved in politics, at least in public, in part since their job security depended on the people in power.  Beethoven, however, who was largely independent from the upper class, was swept up in the revolutionary fervor of the time, believing firmly in democracy at a time when this was a radical notion.  What revolutionary elements can you find in Beethoven’s music?

 SCC event creator:  Dr. John L. Walker

FOR FACULTY USE ONLY:
Did essay fulfill SCC competency? □ YES             □ NO                        □ PARTIALLY
Did essay fulfill event guidelines? □ YES               □ NO                        □ PARTIALLY