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Index ART
105.02 Introduction
to Visual Thinking / Topic: Art and
Meaning Fall
2014, TR 2-3:50 Professor
Lisa Scheer / lnscheer@smcm.edu/ Course
Description This
course serves as a broad introduction to the visual arts. Emphasis is placed
on developing a critical awareness of fundamental issues addressing the
nature of the creative process and artistic expression. Studio
projects, critiques, and discussions incorporate reading, research, and
writing components that integrate critical thinking with personal expression
while encouraging the development of conceptual and formal skills. A
variety of class activities are designed to focus on a semester-long inquiry
into the ways and means of how an artwork communicates its meaning. We will
think about how art is or is not different from other forms of communication,
how audience and context shape a workÕs meaning, and explore some of the ways
a visual language of form, materials, and images can express content. No
prerequisite. This course satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement in Arts and is one of the core
requirements for the art major. Course
Objectives
A
primary goal in this course is to explore basic questions about the practice
of making art and the way meaning is communicated and interpreted including:
-
What are some
of the general assumptions and expectations our culture has for art? -
How does art
communicate meaning? -
What is the
role of the audience in authoring the meaning of a work? What is the
relationship between an artistÕs intention and an artworkÕs meaning? -
Why do artists
make certain decisions and how do these choices effect the expressive content
of a work. Requirements
and Course Evaluations Assignments: Coursework consists of a variety
of reading, writing, and studio assignments. Each assignment is explained and
detailed on web pages linked to the class schedule.
These pages provide complete instructions so please read and follow them
carefully. Submitting Assignments: The way each assignment
should be submitted is always included on its assignment page. Many
assignments have multiple parts so care must be taken to follow instructions
carefully. You are required to preface all assignments with a printed copy of
the assignment page itself as a way to help you follow instructions. 1st
draft: A
first draft of each assignment (or assignment part) must be present in class on the day it is due to receive on time
credit (a printed hard copy in your notebook or a digital file on your laptop
will be accepted). Note, just because these are first drafts does not mean that
you can turn in a partial assignment. Final
Version:
Assignments may, should be revised to reflect additional understanding gained
through class discussions. Four of the six reading review assignments have
required revisions. When this is specified on the schedule, you are to submit
by email, both the old and revised version in one word doc titled yourlastname_pdf#.doc) Any digital artwork to be
shown in class must arrive in my email no less than a half an hour before
class. All
final versions of assignments are to be submitted in one of 3 notebook
submissions as printed hard copies prefaced by assignment pages provided (see
below). Notebooks: Students are required to
keep a notebook throughout the semester (provided). These notebooks are to be
divided into two sections; one for assignments and one for notes and readings.
Use the provided assignment
list located on the class index page to serve as both a reference and
notebook table of contents. Notebooks will be collected three times
throughout the semester at which point completed assignments will be
evaluated and graded. I will be glad to evaluate any completed project prior
to its notebook submissions if quicker feedback is desired. Be sure each
notebook is submitted as requested with assignments ordered as per assignment
list/ table of contents. If I have to hunt around to find various parts of
assignments because they are poorly organized I will apply a grading penalty. Late Work: Late work will be
accepted up to the last day of scheduled classes but it will be lowered
one letter grade (10 pts). Redoing work: Even after
assignments have been graded a second time, students may elect to redo any
assignment to improve its grade. But all regrades will only be counted if the
work has made truly significant improvement. You must meet or talk with me
prior to redoing any work. Any redo must be submitted by the date of the next
notebook submission. If any assignment was initially handed with significant
aspects missing, redos are possible but 10 points will be deducted from the
regrade. Outside
Art Events You will be required to attend 4 art
department or off campus art events (artist lectures, field trips, and
gallery talks). Because these are
events that take place outside of class time, you need to plan which events
you will attend (an events calendar is available on the department web site
and as a link on our blackboard site.) If work, family, or sports commitments
keep you from being able to attend you must come and talk to me before the
fact to find viable alternatives. An assignment page with write-up
guidelines and objectives is linked to the class index. If the event is an
opening with no formal remarks, students are require to find and ask
questions of at least one artist included in the exhibition. Attendance
I
consider attendance crucial to success in this class and weigh it
accordingly. Please be aware of the attendance
policy: you are allowed 3 absences.
Each additional absence will lower your final grade by one quarter of a
letter (2.5 points). There is no such thing as an excused absence. In
other words, any reason for being absent (including illness, sports, day off,
over sleeping etc.) count toward these three so no need to bring notes, send
emails, or notify me of reasons. You are responsible for completing all
missed work including class notes. Grading Individual assignment grades will be posted on
our Black Board Grade Center with a weighted running final grade calculation
available. See the assignment list
for grade percentage breakdowns. Final letter grades will be based on a 100
point scale with the following grade equivalencies: A 94-100, A- 90-93, B+
87-89, B 84-86, B- 80 to 83, C+ 77-79,C 74-76, C- 70-73, D+ 66-69, D 64-66,
D- 60-63, F 0-59). All missing/incomplete assignments will receive a score of
50. I fully understand the culture of grade inflation
but in this class the grade of ÔAÕ will only be assigned for works that
exceed assignment expectations (including assignment length minimums) not
meet them. Thus: A= Excellent work: exceeds all standards and goals
set by assignment / B = Very good work: successfully meets all
standards and goals set by assignment/ C = Satisfactory work: exhibits a
basic understanding of all standards and goals set by assignment but does not
necessarily manifest those goals in the work produced. / D = Poor work: lacks
initiative to explore the assignment, does not meet a majority of standards
and goals set by assignment / F = failing work: fails to engage the terms of
the assignment or leaves work incomplete by the established deadline. Any
act of plagiarism will be grounds for failing the class. Supplies/
Studio use When you registered for this class your
student account was charged a $35 studio fee. This fee covers the cost of
Xeroxes (they will be collected at the end of each unit to comply with
copyright rules) and a supply of basic art supplies including paper, drawing,
painting, and sculpture materials. We will use our classroom as a lecture space
and MH 135 as our studio space. No storage space will be available. Students
must follow all studio use rules (and sign the studio use agreement form).
Permission to use studios other than MH 135 must be granted by the
corresponding faculty. |