ENGL 120
History of Aesthetics and Critical Theory
Description: Lecture, four hours; discussion, one hour (when scheduled). Enforced requisites: courses 10A, 10B. Investigation of texts and ideas in history of aesthetics, critical theory, and interpretation from Greeks through 18th century. Readings may include Gorgias, Plato, Aristotle, Longinus, Biblical hermeneutics, Hume, Descartes, Kant, Schiller, and Hegel. May not be repeated for credit. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
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Most Helpful Review
I'm graduating this year & I've NEVER written an evaluation before, but I love Professor Huehls so much that I had to. He is such a great professor! He's knowledgeable and teaches at a very fair pace. I took his History of Aesthetics during the summer and enjoyed every minute of lecture. I'm not going to lie, it's a lot of work. However, if you pay attention in class and take good, precise notes, you'll be fine. I think the main advice I have to give is know the concepts. He's definitely approachable and is so willing to help you. I think he's my favorite English professor at UCLA. His tests are definitely fair. I don't think I studied that much for his midterm or final and got an A in his class. I did, however, take intense notes in class.
I'm graduating this year & I've NEVER written an evaluation before, but I love Professor Huehls so much that I had to. He is such a great professor! He's knowledgeable and teaches at a very fair pace. I took his History of Aesthetics during the summer and enjoyed every minute of lecture. I'm not going to lie, it's a lot of work. However, if you pay attention in class and take good, precise notes, you'll be fine. I think the main advice I have to give is know the concepts. He's definitely approachable and is so willing to help you. I think he's my favorite English professor at UCLA. His tests are definitely fair. I don't think I studied that much for his midterm or final and got an A in his class. I did, however, take intense notes in class.
Most Helpful Review
Extremely dull professor. I will forever remember him as one of the worst English professors I have taken in UCLA. He rambles on for hours about something that could have tersely been summarized within a couple of minutes. His lectures are disorganized, and he changes the reading material spontaneously. This man obviously possesses intellect, but he by no means sheds any of it on his students. Instead, by talking about every single work that has ever existed relevant to the day's topic, he is more frightening and overwhelming - by no means is he inspiring. I read a bunch of positive reviews of this professor, yet I wonder where they came from. I try to be as objective as possible, yet I do not see any of these amiable qualities in him when I took his class. He also dislikes the use of computers in class, so I would be careful with technology, even though surfing the web seems to be the only viable option to survive the dreadful monotony of two hours babbling. He is also extremely UNAPPROACHABLE. When going to his office hours, I came out confused and flustered. Not to mention he intimidated me enormously.
Extremely dull professor. I will forever remember him as one of the worst English professors I have taken in UCLA. He rambles on for hours about something that could have tersely been summarized within a couple of minutes. His lectures are disorganized, and he changes the reading material spontaneously. This man obviously possesses intellect, but he by no means sheds any of it on his students. Instead, by talking about every single work that has ever existed relevant to the day's topic, he is more frightening and overwhelming - by no means is he inspiring. I read a bunch of positive reviews of this professor, yet I wonder where they came from. I try to be as objective as possible, yet I do not see any of these amiable qualities in him when I took his class. He also dislikes the use of computers in class, so I would be careful with technology, even though surfing the web seems to be the only viable option to survive the dreadful monotony of two hours babbling. He is also extremely UNAPPROACHABLE. When going to his office hours, I came out confused and flustered. Not to mention he intimidated me enormously.
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2023 - BEST CLASS EVER!! I love Professor Nersessian. She's so smart and really knows how to synthesize and explain critical theory in a way that's everyday and relatable. Also, I loved that her final wasn't just another damned paper, but had a manageable in-person final that had some light and easy passage ID and allowed us to apply the thinking and tools we learned throughout the quarter to art objects and other stimuli. This class should be the very first thing you take as an English major, and if you like art you're gonna love this class.
Spring 2023 - BEST CLASS EVER!! I love Professor Nersessian. She's so smart and really knows how to synthesize and explain critical theory in a way that's everyday and relatable. Also, I loved that her final wasn't just another damned paper, but had a manageable in-person final that had some light and easy passage ID and allowed us to apply the thinking and tools we learned throughout the quarter to art objects and other stimuli. This class should be the very first thing you take as an English major, and if you like art you're gonna love this class.
Most Helpful Review
Professor Shay is an amazing teacher. She makes class really interesting, and obviously cares about student learning. She is approachable and a fairly easy grader. My only negative comment is that she sometimes seems less knowledgable about her material than other professors, but that will only improve with time. I highly recommend taking one of her classes if you get the chance. (Also I only took 129 with her but for some reason that was not an option to select)
Professor Shay is an amazing teacher. She makes class really interesting, and obviously cares about student learning. She is approachable and a fairly easy grader. My only negative comment is that she sometimes seems less knowledgable about her material than other professors, but that will only improve with time. I highly recommend taking one of her classes if you get the chance. (Also I only took 129 with her but for some reason that was not an option to select)
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