Honors Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Blake Stevens

Western Civilization is one of the crown jewels of the Honors College. It’s a requirement for all Honors students, usually taken in the sophomore year, which combines several disciplines to form a dynamic and well-rounded understanding of Western history. The class has a unique colloquium structure; there are professors from departments all over the College that alternate lectures. Then, after the lecture, the group is broken down into smaller discussion groups, each led by two professors (also from different disciplines to ensure multiple perspectives).

While Western Civ explores fascinating historical figures and events, the true value comes from the different angles taught by the talented and diverse Honors faculty. Rather than learning in the context of one discipline—history, for example—students are exposed to the approach of professors who specialize in various topics. For example, you might read Robinson Crusoe and then partake in a discussion led by a Philosophy professor and Musicologist. The Honors College is the only place that the finest professors gather together across disciplines, and for this reason, Western Civilization is an invaluable experience shared by everyone in the Honors College. Today, we’ll spotlight one of several Honors faculty members who teach Western Civ.

Dr. Blake Stevens

Hailing from the Music Department, Assistant Professor of Music History Blake Stevens offers a distinctive frame of reference for Western history. His research interests include the history of opera and music aesthetics, with a focus on
the tragédie en musique from Jean-Baptiste Lully to Jean-Philippe Rameau. His research at Stanford University, while earning his M.A. and Ph.D., concerns the tradition of the monologue in French tragedy and has been recognized with a George Lurcy Trust grant as well as various international publications.

Dr. Stevens’ outlook, within the context of music theory, offers an unusual take on conventional history and introduces a new way of framing the events of the past. His extensive doctoral research and hands-on archival work in Paris qualify him as an expert in his field, and Western Civ is lucky to have his contribution to the topics explored in the class. The Honors College is the only place on campus where extraordinary professors like Dr. Stevens can come together and weave their perspectives to create a multi-faceted understanding of the history of the West. Later in the semester, we’ll take a look at some other professors that make the Honors College so special.