BREVARD COLLEGE

BREVARD COLLEGE

Brevard, NC

AH 353 Seminar in Modern Art: Issues in Contemporary Art Spring 2006

Dr. Anne Chapin Class meets in 101 Sims Art Bldg.

Office: 216 Sims Art Building Tuesdays, 6:00-9:00 pm

Office Hours: MW 2-4pm and by appointment

Email: chapin@brevard.edu Tel. 883-8292 ext. 2329

Web page: http://tornado.brevard.edu/chapin/annewebpage/

Prerequisites: sophomore status or permission of instructor.

Description and Goals:

This course revisits the questions: What is art? How can we define modernity? And what is modern art? Additionally, this course asks, what is contemporary art and is it different from modern art? If so, how? To address these questions, the material covered in this course begins with a review of Modernism and investigates issues in Contemporary Art in the 20^th century from the Post-War period until the turn of the 21^st century. Art movements examined include Abstract Expressionism, Color Field Painting, Minimalism, Pop Art, Conceptual and Performance Art, Environmental Art, Feminist Art, and various aspects of Postmodernism. Individual art objects are discussed in detail within their social, religious, intellectual, and historical contexts, and the reception of their art is examined. Concurrently, overarching themes, such as modernism, the concept of the avant garde and its uneasy relation with the general public, vision and reality, and the functions of the artist in society, are explored through time. The goals are to explore the meanings of contemporary art and to better our understanding of modernity as it is expressed through the visions and creations of contemporary artists.

Implementation:

The movements of contemporary art are examined through the following means , (1) general class discussion led by the professor, (2) in-class discussion of assigned readings, (3) student papers and reports on well-known artists identified with specific contemporary art movements, and (4) journaling. Much class time is dedicated to discussions of different problems and themes in contemporary art, and all students present papers and PowerPoint reports on contemporary art and artists. Students are required to read and discuss the readings, and to keep a journal of their reactions to the material presented both in and out of class. The goal is to produce a broad but varied look at the development of contemporary art within its extended cultural and historical contexts.

The goals of this course are achieved through a variety of means. First, class attendance is important and is rewarded by points earned for every class attended. Participation in class discussions is also a vital component of the course. From consistent attendance and class participation, students practice their skills of visual analysis—the process of analyzing what is seen in a work of art—that is the foundation of art history. Papers hone research and writing skills, and PowerPoint reports allow students to practice their public speaking. Journal assignments offer an opportunity for greater reflection and allow students to further explore issues in contemporary art while practicing their writing skills.

Teacher's Education: This course meets the following requirements for Art Education Majors.

· Standard 1 (Teachers know the content they teach)

Course Requirements:

1. Attendance.

Class attendance is mandatory, and attendance will be taken at every class. Each class is worth 6.5 points, for a total of 100 points. Excused absences require medical documentation, or notes from coaches that document athletic travel. If you are an athlete who will miss more than 2 classes due to your team’s travel schedule, you probably shouldn’t take this class.

2. Textbooks – these textbooks are required by students taking the course.

Movements in Art Since 1945, by Edward Lucie Smith. Available in the student bookstore.

But Is It Art?, by Cynthia Freeland, 2001. Available in the student bookstore.

3. Additional Readings

Additional short readings may be drawn from a variety twentieth century authors to complement the artistic and architectural developments discussed in class.

4. Exams, Quizzes and Papers

There are no exams, quizzes and papers

5. Journal (150 points)

Students keep a journal that discusses thoughts and reactions to (1) material discussed in class, (2) material encountered through reading and research assignments, and (3) reactions to modern art seen on campus, in galleries, and in museums. Specific journal questions will be posted on the course web page, and students will be expected to answer the questions through reflection and by discussing examples of art by relevant artists. Journals will be collected periodically for review by the professor, and input will be given at that time.

6A. Written Papers (400 points)

This course is designed in part to help each student develop his or her writing skills and oral presentation skills. To do so, each student will write 2 short papers (3-5 pages) and one longer research paper (7-10 pages) on topics in Contemporary Art. Every paper will be submitted both to Turnitin.com and to the professor. Papers not adequately referenced will be given back to the student for proper sourcing.

Application: Papers will be written and presented to the class on a rotating schedule. During the first half of the semester, students will prepare papers in pairs. Every three weeks one student will read his/her paper aloud for discussion while the other presents a summary of his/her research in a PowerPoint report. Based on the comments received in class, the student who read the paper aloud will make corrections and turn in the revised paper for a grade. The student presenting a PowerPoint report will turn the paper in at the end of class. In this way, all students get a chance to practice their writing skills and their critiquing skills. This is intended to be a positive experience for all.

6B. More on PowerPoint Reports (100 points)

For the first half of the semester, the student in a pair who does NOT read a paper aloud to class will present his/her research in the form of a brief PowerPoint oral report. PowerPoint reports should be emailed to the professor the day before they are presented, whereupon they will be posted to the course web page. Students should carefully document the sources of their information and their images in their PowerPoint reports. The paper will also be turned into the professor and TurnItIn.com on the day it is due.

Summary:

Two short (3-5 page) papers are worth 100 points each.

Two PowerPoint presentations are worth 50 points each, for a total of 100 points.

7-10 page paper is worth 200 points.

7. Art Gallery Openings and Lectures

Students are encouraged to attend gallery openings. Each gallery opening is worth 10 points extra credit. All students will be required to attend Bryan Glaze’s upcoming gallery talk (date TBA) for 10 points credit.

8. Mini-Research Assignments on Popular Culture

All students are expected to help with investigating aspects of popular culture in various decades. Mini-research assignments are fulfilled by reporting the results of the research to class. Topics might include looking up famous movie stars, favorite TV shows, political events, etc., associated with particular years, and are intended to open up aspects of earlier popular culture.

9. Discussion and Class Participation (10%)

This is not a passive class. Modern art – especially contemporary art – often arouses strong reactions in viewers, and one goal of this course is to explore the reception of contemporary art. Expressing ideas and reactions through thoughtful speech contributes to the learning of all students in class. It’s hard to calculate class participation in points, so the overall effect of class participation is that it can influence a final grade positively (in an upward direction) by as much as 10%.

Summary of Grading:

Attendance: 100 pts

Journal: 150

Papers 400

Oral Reports: 100

Gallery talk 10

TOTAL 760 pts

POLICIES:

PowerPoint reports and papers are to be delivered on their assigned date. This is extremely important, because missed dates mean that the ENTIRE class falls behind its schedule, and everyone suffers the consequences. A late report or paper will drop 1 letter grade.

This course cannot be passed without submitting a journal.

Students with documented or undocumented learning disabilities or special needs (including emergency medical information) should speak with the professor during the first week of class about any special arrangements that are necessary. The student with a learning disability should go to the Learning Enhancement Center to obtain an accommodation letter.

All students will follow the Honor Code and adhere to its guidelines. Any student who has not signed the Honor Code pledge may get a form at the office of the Registrar. All students should be particularly aware of the rules in the Honor Code regarding plagiarism and cheating.

Plagiarism is the submission of another person’s work or thought as one’s own, either by direct copying or by insufficient acknowledgement of the source.
Cheating is the use of any form of assistance while taking a quiz or examination.

Brevard College takes the infringement of these rules very seriously and carries out the appropriate academic and disciplinary actions. Penalties range from a grade of zero on the assignment to exclusion from the class for the rest of the semester and/or a final grade of F in the course.

The professor will attempt to adhere as closely as possible to this syllabus but details are subject to change.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF CLASSES AND ASSIGNMENTS

Week 1	T	1/17	Introduction. What is Modern? Sources for Contemporary Art. Read for 1/24: “State of the Art” by Barry Gewen; Freeland Ch. 1.
Week 2	T	1/24	Abstract Expressionism Electronic Resources session. Read: Lucie-Smith Ch. 1.
Week 3	T	1/31	Post-Painterly Abstraction Read: Lucie-Smith Ch. 3. Paper 1; PowerPoint 1 presented by Pair 1
Week 4	T	2/7	Last week, continued Read: Freeland Ch. 2; TBA Paper 1; PowerPoint 1 presented by Pair 2
Week 5	T	2/14	Pop, Environment, and Happenings Read: Lucie-Smith Ch. 4 Paper 1; PowerPoint 1 presented by Pair 3
Week 6	T	2/21	Pop Art and Consumer Culture Guest Speaker: Prof. Ralph Hamlett, on politics and art Read: Freeland Ch. 3 Paper 2; PowerPoint 2 presented by Pair 1
Week 7	T	2/28	Abstract Sculpture, Minimal Art, Conceptual Art Read: Lucie-Smith ch. 5 Paper 2; PowerPoint 2 presented by Pair 2
Week 8	T	3/7	SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
Week 9	T	3/14	Minimalism and Post-Minimalism Guest speaker: Prof. Tim Murray speaking on environmental art Read: Freeland Ch. 4 Paper 2; PowerPoint 2 presented by Pair 3
Week 10	T	3/21	1970s: The Age of Pluralism Read: Lucie-Smith Ch. 6 Paper 3 - #1
Week 11	T	3/28	1970s-1980s: Neo-Expressionist Tendencies Read: Freeland Ch. 5; Lucie-Smith Ch. 7. Paper 3 - #2
Week 12	T	4/4	The USA - 1970s-1990s Discussion: Jesse Helms, Andres Serrano and the NEA Read: Lucie-Smith Ch. 8; Freeland Ch. 6 Paper 3 - #3
Week 13	T	4/11	Issue-Based Art and Globalization Discussion: Robert Mapplethorpe and the Cincinnati trial Read: Lucie-Smith Ch. 9 Paper 3 - #4
Week 14	T	4/18	Rise of Video Read: Lucie-Smith Ch. 10; Freeland Ch. 7 Paper 3 - #5
Week 15	T	4/25	A New Millennium – Where is Art Going? Read: Lucie-Smith Chs. 11-12. Paper 3 - #6