HIST 179A – Life After Life: Human Anatomy as Ephemeral Information
Course Information
Haines Hall 220, MW 12:30-1:45pm
Instructor and TA
Course Description:
This course applies the concept of “ephemera” as a term within information sciences for practices of collecting and studying the discarded. Ephemeral, from the Greek for “lasting one day,” often refers to the brevity of living things, beauty, or love. Here it is considered the opposite: things cast off after the events of the immediate present, where rot, decomposition, obsolescence, or forgetfulness act more quickly than the fading of vitality. This course studies the corpse as information and human anatomy as a scholarly method at a crucial point of transition within the history of medicine. Following the Galenic animal-based dissection and the artistic endeavors since the Renaissance in European history, the turning point occurred when the human anatomy lesson took center stage in the performance of scientific knowledge on a systematic and institutional basis starting in the 16th century, and then continued in subsequent developments in technology and practice to the current day. In exploring the ways in which the anatomical human body has been understood, studied, represented, and communicated in different historical contexts across various cultures, the course supports student projects in collaboration with the Biomedical Special Collections, Digital Library Program, Anatomy Lab, and 3D Lux Lab at UCLA. Topics include anatomy for art, anatomy as a scientific pursuit, measures in anatomy, anatomy through senses, anatomy amid East-West encounters, and anatomical representations in two- and three-dimensions through both physical and digital lenses.
Course Materials
Required Textbook
See required readings under weekly topics on Canvas.
Course Resources
See required readings under weekly topics on Canvas.
Technical Requirements
Browsers
You will need to use a browser as your primary method of accessing this course. The Canvas mobile apps should only be used as a supplement. To learn about browser compatibility with Canvas, visit the Supported Browsers page.
Learning Outcomes
Course Outcomes
- Obtain knowledge on the ways in which the human body has been understood, studied, represented, and communicated in different historical contexts across various cultures.
- Rethink the role of culture in the development of anatomical studies and practices in connection with the construction of medical knowledge.
- Develop proficiency of information literacy on the collections at UCLA Biomedical Library Special Collections, including discovery of information, understanding of how information is produced, organized, and valued, as well as incorporate methods of research inquiry and use of information in creating a digital project with an online publishing platform in Scalar.
Course Policies
Grade Calculation
No need to calculate your grade by hand, use Canvas’ What-If Grades feature. What are What-If Grades?
Class attendance and discussion participation (including quizzes) – 20%; Weekly Discussions – 20%; Lab Activities – 20%; Lab Assignments – 10%; Unit Assessments – 20%, and Scalar Project– 10%.
Grade Distribution
UCLA Letter Grade Scheme
| Grade |
Percentage |
| A |
100% to 93% |
| A- |
< 93% to 90% |
| B+ |
<90% to 87% |
| B |
< 87% to 83% |
| B- |
< 83% to 80% |
| C+ |
< 80% to 77% |
| C |
< 77% to 73% |
| C- |
< 73% to 70% |
| D+ |
< 70% to 67% |
| D |
< 67% to 60% |
| F |
< 60% to 0% |
S-N Grading
| S |
100% to 70% |
| N |
< 70% to 0% |
Late Submissions
Late work will only be accepted with prior approval from the instructor.
University Policies
Make-up Work for Legitimate Absences
Students will not be penalized for absence during the semester due to unavoidable or legitimate circumstances. The UCLA Policy allows for circumstances such as: verified illness, participation in intercollegiate athletic events, subpoenas, jury duty, military service, bereavement, and religious observances. Such circumstances do not include voting in local, state, or national elections. You are responsible for informing your instructor as soon as possible of missed classes and provide documentation of the reason for absence.
Incompletes
Incompletes require a written agreement between instructor and student.
Withdrawals
For details check the Cancel/add & refund deadlines.
Expected Student Academic Work per Credit
UMN defines one undergraduate credit as equivalent to 42-45 hours of learning effort distributed across a semester (including all classroom and outside activities).
Academic Policies and Accommodations
Here is a link for Academic Policies and Accommodations (Links to an external site.)
Veteran Students
Veterans and active duty military personnel with special circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill requirements, disabilities) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor.
Modules
Course content is divided into modules that run from Monday at 12:01am through Sunday at 11:59pm US Pacific Time (UTC-08:00). Due dates are communicated within each Assignment tool.
Changes to the course schedule may occur and will automatically be reflected in the Course Summary section below.