Simon, Richard  

Simon was a very cool teacher, one of the few teachers who knows the perfect balance between not too easy and not too hard. I definitely became a better writer in his class. His essay topics were fun most of the time, especially the last essay which was about out first three months at college. That was FUN to write. Fair grader too, I'd definitely recommend him.

Dr. Simon takes some of the most interesting points of view when it comes to art. It doesn't matter that you may not agree with ANYTHING he says, so long as you have the ability to stay awake and listen to his amazing lectures, comparing two stories that you always thought had nothing do with one another. He is facinated by porn and violence, and that makes his lectures REALLY easy to stay awake for. Something tells me that his whole life is a social experiment. Consider this every time he does something weird...which is often. Great guy.

Values, Media, and Culture is a very interesting class which makes you really think. The class compares older classics such as Sense and Sensibility or Utopia to modern "pop" culture such as Cosmo magazine, movies etc. While it is a very entertaining class, it requires a lot of reading and work - so take it when you have time to dedicate to it. There are four parts to your grade (each worth 1/4 of your grade). There are three tests and one paper. This class definately encourages you to stretch your brain and I would highly recommend it (it meets a GE also).

Professor Simon was intimidating at first, but in the end, I couldn't be happier I took the class. He expects alot, but the concepts/readings are not hard to understand, very interesting, and if you go to lecture and keep up with the reading, you'll have no problem with the test. You may not agree with what he says, but he's interesting and forces you to look at another side of things. He also loves if you talk in class. He bumped my grade up because of it, which shows that he is a fair grader.

Good class. I learned a lot.

Prof. Simon is an awesome lecturer who actually forces you to think. I suggest taking a course from him if you feel like you are being bored by other professors and the same ol' same ol. This guy kicks ass!!

He's an interesting person. The class is somewhat intangible however. It could be an interesting topic I'm just not sure its substantial enough. He's a good guy. Super understanding.. Really nice faculty and fun literature!! Its not a bad idea to take it credit no credit though. It would be tough to get an a.

Professor Simon is awesome!! I was hesistant to takes this class at first but now I am happy that I did. He is so knowledgeable and entertaining. He really knows how to keep our attention and compares so many different types of media that the class is always interesting. He has a great sense of humor and seems to understand our age group. I would recommend taking Simon to everyone if they have the chance...but be prepared to read a lot and work hard.

This is a class that should be taken. It's interesting in a very observant sort of way. He links pop culture to classic works in an incredible way. A LOT OF READING AND YOU HAVE TO GO TO CLASS. I hate reading, but I did go to every class and I did manage to read all the books (books on tape is helpful) and got a good grade. Very wise to take it credit/no credit if at all possible. Excellent teacher, interesting class.

Great teacher! Very interesting material that will actually keep you awake for the full 2 hrs. He plays alot of movies which is awesome (matrix, T3, etc). This class is a lot of work so definately prepare for it. I thought the work load was going to be whatevers but it is a LOT of work. So if you are taking 3 major classes and this class.. I wouldnt advise it. But do take the class...cause its great!

Take him...the class is hard to get a good grade, but he is the most interesting instructor on campus, hands down....i can't believe we have him at poly

He is a really good lecturer, makes the class real interesting. I would not recommend this class if you will not have the time for the readings though. He does require a lot of reading (like five books), but they are very beneficial to his lectures. He can be kind of intimidating, but you really learn a lot. He makes you think and makes you analyze everything. Awesome teacher overall...I think everyone should take this class. It really relates to everyone.

This was a totally unique and interesting class. It was reading intense with no way around reading the books, but not hard to pull a B. I'd recommend it to anyone that wants a new perspective on literature and pop culture and can do all the reading- you will be rewarded. Simon's lectures are interesting and sometimes he just puts on a cool movie. Take this class while you still can.

Dr. Simon is a very fascinating man, the Humanities class was great, I really enjoyed it. A great use of visual aids from videos, to power points. This is a fun class to be in, but make sure you don't take offense to nudity, sex, and other people's opinions. It is hard not to leave the class respecting this guy, he loves what he does, and you can tell by the way he gets into the lectures. Simon is also very hip with the times, he always is up on the latest gossip and scandals which he would tie into the class lectures; it was great!

Dr. Simon is a nice guy. His lecture is pretty free form and he doesn't really lecture on material from the book. The class was based on 2 exams, 1 1500 word paper, and the final. The exams are about 10-15 multiple choice questions (weight--50% of the test) and a 500 word comparative essay (which can also count as the GWR requirement). In order to do well on the multiple choice questions, you have to read the book and really know it pretty well (take notes). Most people did poorly on the multiple choice and that was their downfall. Even though it's a class on movies, it's not a class you can completely breeze through, but if you try a little, you'll do all right. Side note: Dr. Simon likes it when you come up with original ideas for your essays. If you only repeat what is said in lecture, you won't do quite as well. Overall, I'd recommend this class and Dr. Simon. The only real bad thing about the class for me was going to the crappy Palm theatre every Monday night to watch the film. I hate those flimsy seats there.

This humanities class was extremely interesting. He compares novels to modern day entertainment like the t.v show "Friends" and movies like "Trainspotting". His lectures are always enlightening. The reading assignments are somewhat fast paced, but the novels are usually good choices. His tests are a few multiple choice and essay which are graded very fairly. An overall refreshing change to classes at Poly.

Although in the beginning this class was very interesting by comparing the different novels to tv shows. The tests are ridiculous. The scan tron portion of the test is impossible...the questions are ALL trick questions. The essay portion of the test is graded WAY too hard. He then procedes to make rude and insensitive comments on your essays....such as "this is elementary writing"..."you lack clear logic and thinking skills"....."this paper shows absolutely no thought." He expects way too much out of his students. This is only a GE 3 unit class.....way too much time and effort was put in on my behalf for me to receive a C. On top of this Prof. Simon is OBSESSESED With sex and things of the sort. He related every single book that we read to sex, when they are clearly not only about that. He showes slides of playboy and such which I thought were completely inappropriate and degrading. This is a very bad teacher and I do not recomend him to anyone

The first two evaluations are completely off. Those people are fools. Simon in a fabulous teacher who puts more of his heart into class than any teacher i have ever had. he's incredibly bright, a good lecturer, and isn't too hard of a grader. TAKE THIS CLASS. you will probably get more out of it than any other class at poly.

I would highly recommend this professor. The class will make you work hard and challenge your current view on popular culture. You will, for the most part, read a novel per week. The reading isn't to bad, just keep up. I am a B student and I worked really hard on the tests. The multiple choice are very tough, but if I would have viewed carefully over my class notes I would have done better. For essays think outside the box, he dosen't want to hear himself repeated. He'll make you realize that your thoughts are brilliant too. Your final consists of an essay worth 30%-start it early!!!! I aced all my essays and failed the multiple choice- ending up with a fairly decent grade. I took time to write this because this is an excellent GE to take. The above comment about sex is irrational and inconsistent with Simon's point about how sexuality is folded into many aspects of our lives. Each lecture is presented with class- and his style is different than many other teachers. You'll find yourself wanting to go this class and isn't that the way all college classes should be? Excellent course, teacher, and author. If you don't take this class, you're missing out.

Dr.Simon is by far the most brilliant teacher i've had at cal poly and hum 410 is the best class i've taken here. it is alot of work...you have to read a book a week and then study alot for the tests. the multiple choice were difficult, but weren't a problem if you read the books and went to lecture and listened. i loved the challenge this class offered and the material dr. simon presents really opened my eyes and i learned so much. if you're worried about your grade, maybe you should take this class credit/no credit because dr.simon's teaching is a reason alone to take this course. this is my second year at cal poly and i've only had 3 other a's, but i worked my butt off in this class because i found the material so stimulating, and i got an a. i highly reccomend this class and dr.simon as a professor.