The Romance Languages fields are unsatisfactory on the whole. While the history courses are good, the literature in French and Italian courses is poorly taught. The French field needs a general background course like German 12. Mercier's course, 10, has the equivalent title, but is not enough. Course F is entirely too superficial for this. In Italian, Weston gives all the literature courses, sacrificing literary and cultural aspects to literal translation. A new man is needed.

Concentrators are edvised to branch out and take such courses as Philosophy 15 and Fine Arts 1d. An elementary course in Philosophy is useful no matter what the field.

Fine Arts

For organization and eminence of the Faculty, the field of Fine Arts is excellent. The number of concentrators is not awkwardly large and has remained fairly steady in the 60's during the last three years, which factors have allowed the organization to settle down.

Not only is the Faculty among the finest in the country, but the opportunities for first hand study in the Fogg Museum, which houses a complete library including 133,000 photographs and 41,000 slides, the Boston Museum of Art, and Fenway Court, are as good as any.

Due to the broad cultural background provided by the field, it is recommended not only to those primarily interested in art, but also to those who have not definitely decided where they are to slight, for it is closely related to languages, English, history and music. The thought of the great ages of culture is embodied in visual terms as well as in the terms of music or literature. At the same time men who are interested in architecture are urged to select this field in preparation for the School of Design. The graduate courses within the division, which may be taken with permission, are planned successfully for writing, museum work, and teaching.

Two years ago the field was divided into three subdivisions for special emphasis: the History of Art, the Theory of the Visual Arts, and Design in Preparation for Work in the Graduate School of Design. In May of his Junior year each concentrator in Plan A (Senior year under Plan B) must pass a general written examination based on slides, and in Senior year one on his special field. Preparation for these exams is covered well in the courses, and the amount done for tutorial varies with the interest of the studies.

The two elementary courses to be given in 1938-39 are Fine Arts 1a and 1d. 1a, on the Principles of Drawing and Painting, is ordinarily required for admission to more advanced courses in those subjects. The drawing consists mainly in copying the material discussed in the lectures, and was felt to be largely over-emphasized. The course cultivates an appreciation of art, not individual ability, which can be sought in 2a. On the whole the course does not require much original work.

Fine Arts 1d is an introductory survey course in the History of Art and will be increased to a full course this year. Concentrators hoped that this would bring a proportionate increase in the amount of time devoted to contemporary work. The course builds up a chronological list of superficial facts, requires little intelligence or thought, but is worth while both as an introduction to advanced courses in the history of Art, and as correlation for History 1, which Freshmen should take with Fine Arts 1d if they are thinking of concentrating in Fine Arts.

Non-concentrators who want a year of art should wait for course 1e, which is omitted this year, but will be given again next year. It is limited to select works of art and therefore is able to combine history with appreciation and theory.

Of the advanced courses in the history of Art, the best seems to be C, D, and G. Neither C nor D, on the Renaissance in Italy and in northern Europe, will be given this year. G, a first half year course on Oriental Art, is very interesting. Mr. Sickman, a new man, will replace Mr. Warner in this course. Fine Arts A and B are on Ancient and Medieval Art respectively. A whole year is too much to spend on either of these subjects, and results in over-emphasis on Greek vases in the former and on manuscripts in the latter. The lecturers in these two courses, Chase, Koehler, Deknatel, and Grace, are all authorities in these fields. Those who choose the special subdivision of History of Art will not have to cover Design in their general examination.

Advanced courses in Design and in Theory are all recommended, depending of course on the special field and the interests of the student. Course 2a, as mentioned above, gives individual practice in drawing, and from that point of view is suggested for those not concentrating in the field, but 1a is required for admittance to it. Fine Arts 2b, on descriptive geometry, is required and valuable for students of Architecture, and 2d on the theory of Design, involving individual practice, is also suggested. Course 10, an introduction to Architectural Design, is closely connected to the School of Design and is not recommended to Undergraduates unless really interested. A recurrent criticism in these courses is that the lectures too often duplicate the reading.

Romance Languages

Concentrators in Romance Languages and Literatures choose that field either to learn the grammar and writing of French, Spanish or Italian; to learn to speak one of the three; or to learn the literary background of one of the countries. In general only the grammar and French Literature students are satisfield. But a general statement should not be counted too heavily, since the three divisions within this field, namely French, Spanish, and Italian, vary considerably in the degree to which they fulfil these needs.

Freshmen who have learned to speak one of these languages abroad, and who think that they will have an easy time in the field because of this, are mistaken. While there are other students who slave away trying to learn to speak a language, yet the mere ability to speak it is of little value in satisfying the grammatical and literary requirements of the field. In fact several advanced courses are given in English. But the student who is reasonably conscientious about his work will find the department easier than most.