Course Descriptions

H-01

A New York State of Mind
New York has been called the cultural, financial, commercial center of the universe. As the wealthiest city in all of human civilization, New York has grown far beyond its five physical boroughs into unrivaled, iconic status. Come and join us on a journey beyond a tourist’s expectations as we explore the rich fabric of NYC life. We will discover and explore the City through politics, sports, visual arts, food, and its rich ethnic diversity. We will read, write, design, research, and debate the many components of the Capital of the World.

Barry Gabay, Patrick Touart

H-02

Beyond Justice: Rights, Conflict & Community
Individuality, privacy, equality, and due process are integral parts of the legal framework that continually shapes our communities. Law demonstrates the coercive power of the state while establishing a forum for expression of our hopes for justice. We will explore legal issues directly affecting the lives of students, emphasizing your unique status in society. We will read and brief cases, engage in legal research, present and defend arguments, analyze media material, interact with guest speakers, and participate in field trips. Highlighting some of the themes and issues presented in the course, we will conclude by conducting a moot court.

Ed Motley, Barry Sharpe

H-03

Persistence of Vision
We will explore the language of film by making our own original short videos. We will explore and learn the essentials of screen acting and writing, directing and production methods, cinematography and editing. A variety of great films will be studied and discussed. Reality Check: We’ll be making movies a lot more than watching them. You need to want to work really hard, accept challenges, and create in a group context.

Rick Seyford, Péter Upor

H-04

Do You See What I See: Looking for Truth in an Uncertain World
Is reality TV real? Is pro-wrestling a sport? Does the media report the news or make it? Is there such a thing as absolute truth? In our post-9/11 world, where everything we think we know can change in an instant, the search for answers often leads to more questions. And all of these questions can make us “feel like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole.” But if you’re willing, curious, and courageous, join us in our journey beyond the Matrix; “take the red pill”; and together we’ll try to find out “how deep this rabbit hole goes.”

Sean Purcell, Cynde Snider

H-05

“Only Connect”: Creative Expression as Self-Discovery
By exploring how individuals express themselves through writing and other creative forms, we will peel away the layers and uncover the self. We will discover how connections with others shape our identities, and how our differences enrich our growth as individuals and enhance our communities. In our effort to reveal identity, we will capture much of our journey in poetry, short story, stream of consciousness journaling, and other forms of expression. Other experiences will include individual research, various readings related to identity and self-expression, and conversations and correspondence with individuals representing multiple perspectives and different stages of life.

Mike Oehmann, Crystal Wright

H-06

Ethical Forensics: The Archeology of Respect
This is a class for the living about the dead. Is a pine box less meaningful than a solid cherry casket? Is an unmarked grave less important than a mausoleum? Must a monument be erected for a life to be remembered? Uncover the decisions that surround the rituals of death, the memorialization of peoples, the ownership of grave goods, and the quest for eternal existence. Honor, monument, tribute, memorial, pageantry, celebration: Journey beyond Richmond in 2004 to Egypt, Mexico, and across America to discover how different cultures have defined these terms throughout history and consider the conflicts that their different perspectives create. How will we be remembered?

Lori Bucco, Michele Hinton

H-07

Monomyth: A Writer’s Journey
What does it mean to be a hero or heroine? Invent your own myth? Go on a journey? What will you take with you? What will you bring back? The Governor’s School is a journey not a destination. “Monomyth” is a course about journeys and private and public mythologies - voyaging to the otherworld, questing for good and evil, understanding lost souls. Using Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung as the course’s intellectual foundation, we will write our own myths, compose visual and sonic narratives, and stage original dialogues relating to the hero’s journey. We will draw on Celtic and Norse mythology, among others. Come ready to hone and share your writing skills.

John Countryman, Mark Fitzgerald

ID #	Course Title	Instructor(s)
H-01	A New York State of Mind New York has been called the cultural, financial, commercial center of the universe. As the wealthiest city in all of human civilization, New York has grown far beyond its five physical boroughs into unrivaled, iconic status. Come and join us on a journey beyond a tourist’s expectations as we explore the rich fabric of NYC life. We will discover and explore the City through politics, sports, visual arts, food, and its rich ethnic diversity. We will read, write, design, research, and debate the many components of the Capital of the World.	Barry Gabay, Patrick Touart
H-02	Beyond Justice: Rights, Conflict & Community Individuality, privacy, equality, and due process are integral parts of the legal framework that continually shapes our communities. Law demonstrates the coercive power of the state while establishing a forum for expression of our hopes for justice. We will explore legal issues directly affecting the lives of students, emphasizing your unique status in society. We will read and brief cases, engage in legal research, present and defend arguments, analyze media material, interact with guest speakers, and participate in field trips. Highlighting some of the themes and issues presented in the course, we will conclude by conducting a moot court.	Ed Motley, Barry Sharpe
H-03	Persistence of Vision We will explore the language of film by making our own original short videos. We will explore and learn the essentials of screen acting and writing, directing and production methods, cinematography and editing. A variety of great films will be studied and discussed. Reality Check: We’ll be making movies a lot more than watching them. You need to want to work really hard, accept challenges, and create in a group context.	Rick Seyford, Péter Upor
H-04	Do You See What I See: Looking for Truth in an Uncertain World Is reality TV real? Is pro-wrestling a sport? Does the media report the news or make it? Is there such a thing as absolute truth? In our post-9/11 world, where everything we think we know can change in an instant, the search for answers often leads to more questions. And all of these questions can make us “feel like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole.” But if you’re willing, curious, and courageous, join us in our journey beyond the Matrix; “take the red pill”; and together we’ll try to find out “how deep this rabbit hole goes.”	Sean Purcell, Cynde Snider
H-05	“Only Connect”: Creative Expression as Self-Discovery By exploring how individuals express themselves through writing and other creative forms, we will peel away the layers and uncover the self. We will discover how connections with others shape our identities, and how our differences enrich our growth as individuals and enhance our communities. In our effort to reveal identity, we will capture much of our journey in poetry, short story, stream of consciousness journaling, and other forms of expression. Other experiences will include individual research, various readings related to identity and self-expression, and conversations and correspondence with individuals representing multiple perspectives and different stages of life.	Mike Oehmann, Crystal Wright
H-06	Ethical Forensics: The Archeology of Respect This is a class for the living about the dead. Is a pine box less meaningful than a solid cherry casket? Is an unmarked grave less important than a mausoleum? Must a monument be erected for a life to be remembered? Uncover the decisions that surround the rituals of death, the memorialization of peoples, the ownership of grave goods, and the quest for eternal existence. Honor, monument, tribute, memorial, pageantry, celebration: Journey beyond Richmond in 2004 to Egypt, Mexico, and across America to discover how different cultures have defined these terms throughout history and consider the conflicts that their different perspectives create. How will we be remembered?	Lori Bucco, Michele Hinton
H-07	Monomyth: A Writer’s Journey What does it mean to be a hero or heroine? Invent your own myth? Go on a journey? What will you take with you? What will you bring back? The Governor’s School is a journey not a destination. “Monomyth” is a course about journeys and private and public mythologies - voyaging to the otherworld, questing for good and evil, understanding lost souls. Using Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung as the course’s intellectual foundation, we will write our own myths, compose visual and sonic narratives, and stage original dialogues relating to the hero’s journey. We will draw on Celtic and Norse mythology, among others. Come ready to hone and share your writing skills.	John Countryman, Mark Fitzgerald