Art
Orientation (3.0)
72298 #100
MW 5 – 7:40 pm
Tony
Allard, Instructor
Web
site: TBA
Office
Hours: TBA
The goal of this course is to expand your awareness and appreciation of art and to examine how art functions within past and present cultures. We will be looking at art from a number of different orientations, such as: the formal elements of art; the role of representation and “realism” in art; how political forces insinuate themselves into historical and contemporary art making; the influence of the “objective sciences” on the arts; and the recent merging of art, mass media and popular culture.
In
pursuit of the primary goal of this course, I encourage you to keep an open
mind to the material that I will be presenting--keeping in mind that you may
encounter some art that may not be appealing and, in fact, may not seem to be
art at all. I think, however, that
to develop a genuine appreciation for art, you must be willing to experience
the widest possible range of artistic expressions from around the world. To
expand your appreciation of art beyond what you are currently familiar with,
you must be willing to question and challenge established definitions of what
art is and to develop your own sensibilities and critical thinking about art.
Outline
of Topics:
1. Introductory remarks: What Is Art?
2. Analysis of the formal elements at work in a work of visual art including: Color, shape, line, texture, space, design, perspective, 3 dimensional illusionistic space and composition.
3. Taking a close look at the fine arts media, materials and technical methods for both two dimensional and three-dimensional work including: painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, electronic and digital media and environmental media.
4.
Architecture,
a brief history of materials and methods including among others: the arch, the
vault, domes, post-and-lintel construction, ferroconcrete, and reinforced
concrete architecture.
5. Identification of
concepts or orientations which cut across forms, cultural context, etc.
6. An appropriate use of language (
vocabulary, jargon) widely used in writing about and discussing art.
7. A general timeline of the
art of the past to the present
8. A
brief look at art beyond Europe and the United States such as, among others,
African Art, Native Arts of Mexico, Peru and the United States, Islamic Art and
Chinese Art.
Course
Objectives:
1. demonstrated comprehension of the course material through participation in class discussions, in written responses to examinations, in term papers and class presentations.
2.
demonstrated
ability to analyze major formal elements in visual images such as line, color,
shape, composition, design and perspective.
3. a
familiarity with several diverse orientations towards art: historical, sensual,
social, psychological.
4.
to reach
an understanding of the historical, cultural and social influences on the
production, consumption and experience of visual art and culture.
5.
demonstrated
ability to discuss stylistic characteristics of specific visual artifacts in
terms of historically significant movements and schools.
Main Requirements
The work
you do for this class will consist of the following:
ü
reading
assignments completed
ü
taking
careful notes during each class
ü
participate
in class discussions
ü
developing
a list art terms with definitions
ü
4
terms quizzes (dates listed on weekly schedule)
ü
writing critiques of
works of art (one two-page, double spaced paper)
ü final exam
Reading Assignments:
Weekly
reading assignments will be given which coincide with the topics the lectures
and visual presentations. The dates when the reading assignments are due are
posted below in the week by week schedule.
Required Texts:Understanding
Art (Sixth Edition), Lois
Fichner-Rathus Wadsworth Press
Writing
Assignments:
You
will be required to write one critical paper on an artifact of your choice.
This artifact must be local and you will need to visit the site where it
exists. In this paper you will demonstrate your understanding of the vocabulary
terms presented in the course by using them in your critique of the artifact.
The writing assignment will require research and a thorough visual examination
of the artifact. I have included a list of several museums, galleries and arts
organization in town that you can visit in order to complete this assignment.
The assignment is due on Wednesday of the sixth week of class, May 14th.
Grading
Using the A through F scale, the grade of C is
average. To receive an average grade, you must attend every class, complete all
the assignments and participate in class discussions. To receive an above
average grade you must fulfill all the above mentioned requirements for a C,
then you must do above average work to receive a B. To receive an A you must do
exceptional work and participate in class at the highest level. NOTE: I do not
give extra credit and work handed in
late will be downgraded accordingly.
Your final grade will be determined by the
following:
ü
10% class participation
ü
20% written critiques of art
ü
50% quizzes
ü
20% final exam____________
100%
Total
Monday,
June 2, 5 pm
ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. Part of your overall course grade will be determined by your cooperation, time and attention given to the class. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what material was covered during the absence. I strongly suggest you exchange phone numbers/email with someone in the class to take full responsibility for any absences.
I have a strict and clear attendance policy, as
follows: You are allowed two absences which will not adversely affect your
grade. Absences are neither excused nor unexcused. After these 2 absences, each
absence will lower your semester grade by one full letter grade. In other
words, if you are doing C work in the class, and you miss 4 classes, you will
fail. If you are doing A work, and you miss 3 classes, you will receive a B.
If you miss class it is your responsibility to find out
what you missed and catch up. I suggest you contact a fellow class mate in this
regard.
Week to Week Schedule:
Week 1__________________________________________________
Introduction to
the class
--Instructor’s
introduction
--Careful reading
of the Syllabus and introduction to the course
--Grades, attendance,
assignments
--Introduction of
textbook, Understanding Art.
--working with the textbook and how to take notes for this class
First
lecture:
I INTRODUCTION Pg 1 – 24
1. What Is Art? What is
the functions of art in a given culture?
--“Socialized
Vision” and representations from different Cultural perspectives
--visual literacy,
representation, culturally bound visual habits examined
--opening the senses: considering the senses before and after they are
socialized
-- perception exercises
--First reading assignment
Reading
due for Wednesday:
I INTRODUCTION Pg 1 – 24, for
review of main topics covered on Monday.
1.
What Is Art
II.
THE LANGUAGE OF ART Pg 29 - 75
2.
Visual elements of Art
1.
What Is Art
2.
Visual Elements of Art
Reading due for Monday
2. Visual Elements of Art
(continued)
3.
Principles of Design Pg 81 - 108
Reading due for
Wednesday:
4.
Style, Form and Content
4. Style, Form, and
Content
Reading due for Monday
(April 21st)
III TWO-DIMENSIONAL MEDIA
Pg 125 – 172
5. Drawing
6. Painting
7. Printmaking
Review for First Quiz
MONDAY April 21
Review
all material we have covered thus far for the Quiz on Monday
which includes terms and concepts from my talk on Socialized vision and from
all of Sections I and II.
___________________________________________________
Week
3___________________________________________________
First quiz over all the
material we have covered thus far
Then,
III TWO-DIMENSIONAL MEDIA
Pg 125 – 172
5. Drawing
6. Painting
7. Printmaking
Reading due for
Wednesday:
8. Camera and Computer
Arts
Reading due for Monday
IV
THREE-DIMENSIONAL MEDIA Pg 207 – 251
9.
Sculpture
10.
Architecture
Week
4__________________________________________________
MONDAY April 28
IV
THREE-DIMENSIONAL MEDIA Pg 207 – 251
9.
Sculpture
10.
Architecture
Reading due for
Wednesday:
11.
Craft and Design Pg. 257 – 278
WEDNESDAY April 30
11.
Craft and Design Pg. 257 - 278
Review for second quiz on
Monday (May 5) all material we have covered since the first Quiz which
includes:
All of Section III,
TWO-DIMENSIONAL MEDIA and section IV, THREE-DIMENSIONAL MEDIA
Reading due for Monday:
V. ART THROUGH THE AGES
12. The Art of the Ancients Pg. 285 – 307
13.
Classical Art: Greece and Rome Pg. 311 – 338
Week
5___________________________________________________
V. ART THROUGH THE AGES
12. The Art of the Ancients Pg. 285 – 307
13.
Classical Art: Greece and Rome Pg. 311 – 338
Reading due for
Wednesday:
16. The Age of Baroque Pg.
401 – 422
Reading
due for Monday
17. Modern Art
Pg.427 – 463
Week
6________________________________________________
17. Modern Art
Pg.427 – 463
Reading due for Wednesday:
18. The Twentieth Century:
the Early Years Pg. 467 – 487
18. The Twentieth Century:
the Early Years Pg. 467 – 487
Reading
due for Monday
19. Contemporary Art Pg.
491 - 530
Art In Cyberspace
(handout)
Week 7________________________________________________
19. Contemporary Art Pg.
491 – 530
Art In Cyberspace
Reading due for
Wednesday:
19. Contemporary Art Pg.
491 – 530
Art In Cyberspace
WEDNESDAY May 21
19. Contemporary Art Pg.
491 – 530
Art In Cyberspace
Reading due for
Wednesday (May 28)
VI THE WORLD OF ART
20. Beyond Europe and the
United States: World of Art Pg. 531 – 554
Week 8________________________________________________
Monday May 26
No Class, Memorial Day Holiday
Wednesday May 28
VI THE WORLD OF ART
20. Beyond Europe and the
United States: World of Art Pg. 531 – 554
Reading due for Monday
(June 2)
For the final exam review all material covered
since the last quiz.
Week
9________________________________________________
MONDAY June 2
Final Exam