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This guide explores humanities topics relevant to HUMA 100, HUMA 117, HUMA 118, HUMA 202, HUMA 250
Voices of the Ancestors: African Myth by 
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The fates of human societies by 
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music History by 
Disco, Punk, New Wave, Heavy Metal, and More by
Although rock music continued to dominate the music scene, the sounds of the 1970s and '80s differed greatly from the music of the preceding decades, reflecting newer social realities. The aggressive sounds of punk music began to appeal to youth, while disco reached across cultures and brought diverse crowds together in dance clubs. New Wave had a playful, chill feel, while the electronic guitar-laden sounds heavy metal were anything but. Readers examine the various styles of music that defined the 1970s and '80s, profiling the artists who captured the spirit of rapid social and cultural change.
Alternative, Country, Hip-Hop, Rap, and More by
With music today available on YouTube, online and satellite radio, through digital downloads, and on iPods and other handheld devices, we may think that we have heard all there is to hear about modern artists. The stories behind the songs that keep us humming are less often explored. Readers will learn how some of the most popular musicians today, entertainers such as Madonna, Adele, Kanye West, and Taylor Swift, rose to fame and made important musical breakthroughs, all while paying tribute to those who came before them.
Sounds of Rebellion by
The music of the 1960s is perhaps as memorable as the historical milestones of the era. Timeless bands, such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, emerged from England while the U.S. saw the rise of such folk musicians as Bob Dylan and the explosion of soul, with such legends as Aretha Franklin and James Brown providing the soundtrack to the fight for civil rights. Accessible text captures the extraordinary tones of this unforgettable period through profiles of its greatest musical talents, placing their stories in social and cultural context.
Jazz by
Jazz: America's Classical Music is a delightful introduction and guide to this complex and compelling music and to its rich history. In an engaging and conversational style, renowned jazz teacher Grover Sales tells of the lives and music of the greats--Ellington, Tatum, Hawkins, Coltrane, Parker, Hines, Goodman, Armstrong, and many others--with a mix of important facts, fascinating anecdotes, and brilliant interpretations. Illustrated with astonishing photographs of the artists in performance, Jazz: America's Classical Music is a classic text, an ideal book for beginners and an inspiring one for serious students of the art of jazz.
The Birth of Rock and Roll by
When rock and roll first burst onto the scene in the 1950s, it was more than a new form of music. It was a rebellion against the past. With the music of such artists as Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, and the Supremes came a new attitude that allowed fans, many of them young, to look past the social norms of the time, a shift that included a greater interaction with and understanding between the races. This stunning, story-filled volume examines the phenomenon of rock and roll. Readers will examine the way it was before it crept into the mainstream it had once retaliated against, and the many musicians who made it into an art.
The Blues by
In the early twentieth century, blues music was developed by African Americans in the Deep South. With roots in spirituals, folk music, work songs, and native music, blues contains a medley of influences that create a distinctive culture and sound. Blues moved north with the Great Migration and influenced many popular forms of music such as bluegrass, rock and roll, and country. This compelling volume details the history of blues music and the careers of major performers. It examines the ways the genre reflects the lives and conditions of African Americans during each period of its development and considers the evolution and resurgence of blues in the present day.
The Enjoyment of Theatre by
The Enjoyment of Theatre'sbalanced coverage of performance and history provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to theatre. This book covers the full span of theatre's 2,500-year history as well as performance/production topics such as playwriting, acting, directing, and the theatre industry. Thisseventh editionfeatures major revisions and welcomes two highly respected collaborators from the University of South Carolina to the proven author team of Cameron and Gillespie. Together, they make theatre come alive for all readers by showing them how theatre is, and will continue to be, relevant to their everyday lives.
Theatre as Human Action: An introduction to theatre arts by 
Theatre by
Theatre: Its Art and Craft is an introductory theatre text focusing on theatre practitioners and their processes. Using an accessible tone and a focused exploration of how theatre artists work, the book covers playwrights, directors, actors, designers of sets, costumes, props, lights, sound, and new technology, as well as the varying roles of scholars, critics, and dramaturgs. Appropriate for beginning theatre majors, minors, or non-majors, Theatre: Its Art and Craft helps students understand how theatre happens, who makes it, and what they do. Updated with new statistics, references, and photographs, the sixth edition now features an overhauled design section: the authors have divided the design chapter into two parts: one focused on the tactile elements of design (sets, costumes, props) and the second on the temporal elements (lights, sound, and new technologies).
Theatre History Explained by
Theater History Explained is a comprehensive account of one of humanity's greatest achievements. Ranging from Ancient Greece to the present, all the major playwrights and practitioners are discussed--from Aeschylus to Acykbourn, Aristotle to Artaud. Some 300 playwrights and 2,000 plays are set in context and described, and there are major sections on everything from classical theater and medieval drama to Expressionism and the American Greats. Neal Fraser is Director of Technical Training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he has taught for over 10 years.
The Making of the West: Peoples and cultures : a concise history by 