Curriculum | The Core Blog

Category: Curriculum

Daodejing & bright vs. dark

April 15, 2014 at 3:18 pm

This semester, CC102 has delved into the Daodejing and all the wonderful concepts it illuminates. Andrew Klufas, a student in Professor Nelson’s class, sent in an video of interest: What’s The Brightest Thing in the Universe? It’s creator, Vsauce, makes popular and informative videos on Youtube. Here, we see how Core Science meets Core Humanities: There is […]

By mdimov | Also posted in Great Ideas, video | Tagged astrophysics, black hole, bright, CC102, Daodejing, dark, quasar, Science, star, Vsauce, yin and yang | Comments (0)

Machiavelli: still shocks 5 centuries later

October 29, 2013 at 10:00 am

CC201 has started off the semester by dabbling, among other things, in Machiavelli’s The Prince. Many were acquainted with the work from their high school years, and many were not – all admit it remains potent and relevant today. This post for The National Interest highlights the way in which The Prince still shocks today. A sample: […]

By mdimov | Also posted in Academics, Great Questions, Uncategorized | Tagged CC201, contemporary, Machiavelli, modern, Prince, schock | Comments (0)

The Onion: Tenth circle added to Dante’s Hell

October 18, 2013 at 10:30 am

The Onion rarely fails to deliver… this time it is their excellent twist on Dante’s Inferno which has caught the Core’s attention. All those who remember CC102’s Dantean struggles will appreciate this. Here is an extract: CITY OF DIS, NETHER HELL–After nearly four years of construction at an estimated cost of 750 million souls, Corpadverticus, […]

By mdimov | Also posted in Friday Fun, Tuesday Humor | Tagged CC102, comedy, dante, Divine Comedy, fun, humor, inferno, Parody, satire, The Onion, twist | Comments (3)

Have you ever lied about reading a book?

October 8, 2013 at 11:44 am

Even the most erudite and cultured Core students and faculty have at some point in their lives been placed in a sticky situation where lying about having read a book is the easiest way out. A useful post from The Guardian gives us a study of the top ten books that people have pretended to […]

By mdimov | Also posted in Academics, alumni, Friday Fun, Great Questions | Tagged 1984, books, funny, Hamill, lies, pretending, reading | Comments (0)

Historical objectivity

October 8, 2013 at 11:25 am

Per the question of objectivity vs subjectivity in the reporting of history, relevant to cc203’s lecture on Thucydides’ “History”, check out this satirical piece by the Onion, titled World War II Documentary Suffused With Anti-Nazi Undertones. (courtesy alumna Jenna Dee)

By mdimov | Also posted in Great Questions, Uncategorized | Tagged CC203, history, Nazi, objectivity, Onion, subjectivity, Thucydides | Comments (0)

The Major #1: English?

October 1, 2013 at 6:37 pm

Looming above many college students is the uncertainty of choosing a major. The Core does not have specific instructions on how to make this important decision… However, here we highlight some of the common opinions on the matter. Today’s topic is the English Major: In a thoughtful though rather biased article from The Chronicle Review we […]

By mdimov | Also posted in Academics, Future of the Book, Great Ideas, Great Questions, Uncategorized | Tagged advantages, advice, career, choice, decision, disadvantages, english, Humanities, literature, major, path | Comments (1)

Core Science Twitter!

August 30, 2013 at 6:06 pm

Prof. Stevens, who teaches natural sciences in the Core, has created a Core Science Twitter account, @BUCoreScience. Visit it to find the latest fascinating scientific news, CC105/CC106 class announcements, and more!

By mdimov | Also posted in Academics, Announcements, Core Lecturers | Tagged @BUCoreScience, announcements, CC105, CC106, natural, Robin Stevens, Science, Twitter | Comments (0)

Salvador Dali Show on View at Hillel

May 7, 2013 at 1:10 pm

Relating to the Core’s study of the Old and New Testaments, is a fascinating series of lithographs from later in Salvador Dali’s career, titled Aliyah: The Rebirth of Israel, depicting the history of the Jewish people’s return to Israel. Here is an extract from BU Today’s article on the topic: While 250 copies of the Aliyahlithographs were […]

By mdimov | Also posted in Academics, Art, Community, Great Ideas, Great Personalities | Tagged Art, commemoration, exhibition, history, Israel, jewish, paintings, Salvador Dali | Comments (0)

Core Banquet Photos

May 3, 2013 at 5:10 pm

The Core Banquet last night was a great success, marked by many touching speeches, award presentations, and hilarious toasts. Wonderful photos from the event can be found on our Facebook, and here: bit.ly/11HNfJn

By mdimov | Also posted in Activities, Announcements, Community, Events, Great Photograph | Tagged annual, Award, Core Banquet, Eckel, end, fun, gathering, goodbye, Nelson, semester, speech, Summer, toast | Comments (0)

Salvador Dali: Dante’s Paradiso

April 30, 2013 at 11:49 am

Relating to CC102′s study of Dante’s Divine Comedy are illustrations made by Salvador Dali for Paradiso. Here is a sample: For the full set of images, visit bit.ly/16iqVvI. To view Dali’s illustrations for Inferno, visit bit.ly/10jHp1E, and for Purgatorio, visit bit.ly/17H3fQT.

By mdimov | Also posted in Academics, Art, Community, Core Authors, Great Ideas, Great Personalities | Tagged dante, Dante Alighieri, drawing, illustration, painting, Paradiso, picture, Salvador Dali, The Divine Comedy | Comments (0)

Welcome!

The Core Blog is a hub for information and media related to the CAS Core Curriculum at Boston University. It will be updated regularly, with photo galleries, interviews, links to related reading online, news of events or activities, and other kinds of content that help connect our Core people—prospective, current, and former students—with each other. You can stop by here once a week to scroll through the posts, or make this your homepage in order to keep your finger on the pulse of the Core. Either way, we hope you find this to be a pleasant way to strengthen your connection with the great people, the great books, and the great questions we encounter in the Core.
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Category: Curriculum

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