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Course Syllabus
Course Name: Art Appreciation First Year Available: Year 1 (Freshman) Course Code: ARTS100 Subject Area: Arts Class Style: Lecture Number of Credits: 3 Term(s) Offered: Fall Semesters Prerequisites: None Instructor: Alexander Wilds
Course Description The course has four objectives: First, it introduces the vocabulary and concepts, principles and elements of design, color theory, and so forth, enabling an articulate discussion of art. Second, it introduces various types of art and artists, and their roles in society and religion, both historically and contemporarily. Third, it introduces basic studio terms and techniques used in printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, painting, etc. Fourth, it introduces concepts and methods toward making critical judgement for assaying the merits of various works of art. During the lectures many important works of art are introduced as exemplars. However, the purpose is not to memorize famous names, rather, to learn to appreciate and evaluate all art works, famous or not. Evaluation is through final examination and final critical essay.
Course Objectives At the end of this course, students should be able to: (i) demonstrate a reasonable command of the terms and concepts of art in critical discussion, (ii) identify principle roles and purposes of art in society, (iii) identify the techniques and terminology of various media, (iv) make informed descriptions and critiques of various works, both famous and unknown.
Grading Criteria There will be three written assignments and a final exam covering the factual material taught during the course, as well as a final research paper regarding an artist or art form of the student’s selection. That said, much of the grade is earned through participation in class discussions and presentations by students, which is recorded in each class. Grading is as follows: participation in discussions (40%); test scores (30%); research paper (30%).
Organization Classes will generally start with a 45 minute lecture/slide presentation regarding material which was covered in assigned readings during the previous week; students are expected to be generally informed on the topic, and to have prepared questions or comments in advance of the meeting. The balance of the class is devoted to discussion led by students assigned to that task each week, for which they should be particularly well prepared. There are three written assignments and a final exam during the semester covering the factual information covered in the course, both in readings and in lectures. Finally there is an essay (8–10 typed pages, double‐spaced) due at the conclusion of the semester, regarding an art form of the student’s selection pending the approval of the instructor. The essay should demonstrate the student’s command of the terminology, principles, and critical concepts covered during the course.
Required Materials and Textbooks Patrick Frank. Prebles' Artforms: An Introduction to the Visual Arts. Pearson; 10th edition (October 9,
2010). Tom Wolf. The Painted Word. Picador (October 14, 2008). Additional texts will be posted online or reserved in the library. Note that much information will come from lectures only; keeping a notebook is required.
Lectures and Readings WEEK 1 Introduction and definitions (Day1): Introduction to art, architecture, and design (Day2): What is art? What is design? What is craft? A survey of definitions and concepts in various cultures and times
WEEK 2 Roles of Art in Societies (Day1): Roles of art in religions, in politics, in personal expression, in social communication, etc. (Day2): The high art and the low arts: roles of fine art, architecture, industrial design, folk arts, etc.
WEEK 3 Terms and Principles (Day1): Principles and elements of design, both for production and criticism (Day2): Color theory, terms and concepts
WEEK 4 A Sense of Depth (Day1): Linear and non‐linear perspective, atmospheric perspective, etc. (Day2): Quarterly summary of Weeks 1‐4
WEEK 5 Art History and the Art World (Day1): What is in museum collections and why; what is not in art collections, and why not. (Day2): How the art world functions, or why some people are famous and others not.
WEEK 6 The Growth of Abstraction (Day1): From Academics to Picasso (Day2): From Picasso to Rothko and beyond: the dematerialization of art
WEEK 7 How art is made: Studio Processes I (Day1): Painting processes (Day2): Sculpture Processes
WEEK 8 How art is made: Studio Processes II (Day1): Printmaking processes (Day2): Ceramic Processes
WEEK 9 How art is made: Studio Processes III (Day1): Architectural and industrial design theories (Day2): Quarterly summary of Weeks 5‐9
WEEK 10 What we talk about when we talk about art I (Day1): Basics of art criticism; description of a work of art and its literal content (Day2): Description of art in terms of formal composition
WEEK 11 What we talk about when we talk about art II
(Day1): Problems with artist’s intentions, historical context (Day2): Quarterly summary of Weeks 10‐11
WEEK 12 “The Masterpieces” I (Day1): Masterpieces of classical art (Day2): Masterpieces of modern art
WEEK 13 “The Masterpieces” II (Day1): Masterpieces of Japanese art (Day2): Masterpieces of Asian art
WEEK 14 “The Masterpieces” III (Day1): Masterpieces of African art (Day2): Masterpieces of non‐traditional art
WEEK 15 “The Masterpieces” IV (Day1): Masterpieces of industrial art (Day2): Masterpieces of architecture
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