VSAR 120
Introduction to Visual Art
Email:
Monday
- Wednesday 8
AM - 1 PM
University
Hall, Room
Web site:
Office
Hours: Monday 1 - 2 PM,
University Hall, Room 257
Week
to Week Schedule
The primary 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 perspectives, such as:
the role of representation and "realism" in art; how political forces
insinuate themselves into historical and contemporary art practices; the influence
of the "objective sciences" on the arts; and specifically, the 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
be unsettling and not the kind of art you are familiar with. 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.
This
course will follow an approximate
historical chronology from
so called prehistoric art
to the most current art
forms being made for and
on the World Wide Web.
I say an approximate chronology,
meaning that a history
of art will not be developed
in a strict, linear sequence,
but rather it will advance
through examinations of
key ideas as they relate
to various time periods
and locals Western
Art.
The primary goal of the
class is to increase
your
visual literacy and to
gain a greater appreciation
of art.
Texts:
Art and Mass Media, Robert Pelfrey
Course Requirements
The work you do for this class will consist of the following:
--taking careful notes during each class
--developing a list art terms with definitions
--3 terms/definitions and short essay question tests
--participation in class discussion on reading material
--each student will present a cultural artifact
--writing two critiques of works of art (two page, double spaced
papers)
--Conceptual Aerobics
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.
Your final grade will be determined by the following:
--20% participation, cultural artifact presentation and Conceptual
Aerobics
--30% written critiques of art
--50% three terms/definitions and short essay tests
Attendance
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 reading assignments, 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 very clear attendance policy: You are allowed two absences
which will not adversely affect your grade. Absences are neither excused nor
unexcused, which means I do not need to know why you were absent ( please
do not call me to tell me you won't be in class). After these 2 absences,
each absence will lower your overall 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.
Writing Assignments:
You will be required to write two critical papers on two cultural
artifact of your choice. The first critique of an 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 first 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 second critique must
be of a cultural artifact you find on the WWW. The purpose of this critique
is to critically examine a work of art that has been made specifically for
the web. I will give more details on the writing assignments and links to
online works of art on the day that I assign them.
NOTE: For your second Art review you may check these web sites
out. These listings are
all throughout my Theories: Arts in Cyberspace class.
Numerous
Web Sites to view Art made for and presented on the WWW
NOTE: For
your second Art review I have
also posted two examples of
previous students' reviews.
Just click on
examples
Outline of Studio activities: Conceptual Aerobics
Note: these studio activities will be presented chronologically in
conjunction with lecture topics and are intended to expand on the material
covered in lecture. No projects will be assigned; these activities are participatory
in nature and therefore, you will be graded on the quality of your participation.
These exercises will include both analogue and digital media.
1. Socialized vision, visual habits, visual literacy, using
the oculus
--opening the Senses: considering the senses before and after they
are socialized
--drawing and perception exercises,
--Blind contour drawing, drawing with both hands
--Socialized vision. I will conduct a variety of Conceptual Aerobics
exercises to increase
--visual literacy, representation, culturally bound visual habits
examined
Introduction of the oculus, a device used by artists to
compose pictures
2. Drawing, Principles of Design, Color Theory
--Blind contour drawing, drawing with both hands
--Principles of Design explored with the oculus
--Color theory, creating a three dimensional color wheel
--Ephemeral paintings
3. We explore a variety of analogue and digital methods for
creating perspective and the illusion of three-dimensional space on a two
dimensional surface. The main focus will be on Linear Perspective from the
Renaissance and multi-dimensional perspectival methods from the 20th Century.
--Perspective anomalies.
4. A visual/sculptural/digital/per formative retelling of
Plato's Allegory of the Cave.
5. Ephemeral art and process art, immaterial art, conceptual
art, video art, computer art, net art, TAZ
Week by Week Schedule
The key concepts and related material for this course will be presented
through lectures, readings, a variety of audio and visual sources, computer-based/on-line
sources, textbooks, periodicals, performances, and others. Each week will
proceed as follows:
Monday:
--lectures
and visual & audio
presentations, discussions
on readings
--Conceptual
Aerobics
--reading
assignments given for Wednesday
Wednesday:
--lectures
and
visual & audio
presentations,
discussions
on
readings
--quizzes
and exams given, Conceptual
Aerobics and cultural artifact
presentations.
--reading
assignments given for Monday of the
next week.
1st
Exam
2nd Exam
3rd Exam
3rd Exam SA
Questions
Numerous
Web Sites to view Art made for and presented on the WWW
NOTE: For your second Art review I have also posted two examples
of previous students' reviews. Just click on
examples