COURSE ART120 SYLLABUS
AUTUMN 2008
Instructor: Timea Tihanyi Office hours: TAs: Bo Young Choi Office hours: Arun Sharma Office hours: Ben Waterman Office hours:
[e-mail] M 4-5pm or email for appointment ART 328J
[e-mail] TH 4-5pm ART 009 [e-mail] W 5-6pm Location: TBA [e-mail] W 5-6pm Location: TBA
Lectures: Monday, Wednesday 2:30-3:50pm Sieg Hall SIG 134 Friday studio sections: AA 9:30-11:20 ART 110 (TA: Waterman) AB 9:30-11:20 ART 327 (TA: Sharma) AC 9:30-11:20 ART 329 (TA: Choi) AD 11:30-1:20 ART 110 (TA: Waterman) AE 11:30-1:20 ART 329 (TA: Choi) AF 11:30-1:20 ART 327 (TA:Sharma) CLUE Discussion Sessions: Thursday 6:30-8:00pm Mary Gates Hall rm# TBA
Course description ART120 introduces you to the reoccurring themes and practices in the visual arts. Moving beyond medium-based categories, the course surveys a diverse range of issues that motivate artists and create content in contemporary art. During lectures and hands-on studio sessions we will examine the importance and implications of the visual arts in the larger context of visual culture. We will consider how cultural, social, economical and technological changes have impacted the field of contemporary arts and how artists have responded to these changes. The emphasis of the course is on providing you with tools to engage contemporary art on discursive, critical, and intellectual levels. Weekly thematic lectures provide an overview of significant art movements, ideas, and artists related to the selected topics within the theme. The lectures create a contextual framework for the information and assignments presented. In addition, guest artists and other art professionals are invited to speak about their own work and art making process. Friday studio sections provide an opportunity to put theory into practice through a direct engagement with ideas and materials of art making, as well as to create a forum, called ARTable, for a discussion of these ideas in small groups.
Course website: http://courses.washington.edu/art120
Students Responsibilities and Requirements Participate in all lectures (Monday and Wednesday of each week) Participate in all Friday Studios Complete weekly reading assignments and site visits as assigned Complete weekly homework assignments as assigned (writing assignments: 1 single spaced page; other types of assignments: please consult online weekly assignment schedule for requirements) Must be submitted through your DROP BOX in CATALYST WEB TOOLS by Sunday at 11pm. Participate in class discussions, including lectures, Friday Studios, Q cards, and critiques Complete and present final assignment Complete Vocabulary Quizzes
This is an intense course that requires you to engage in regular activities of reading, writing, making, and visiting selected exhibition venues on a weekly basis. The workload is intensive; you should expect to spend 2 hours out of class for every hour you spend in class. In fact, the more time and energy you put into the course, the more you will get out of it. You are responsible for your own progress; the instructor, TAs, and mentors are there to guide and aid your progress along the way of exploring contemporary art. Keeping your eyes, ears, and mind open for the many forms of art, even if they appear contrary to your preferences or preconceived notions, is essential. Youll find this process of discovery engaging and intellectually rewarding. You are encouraged to participate actively, develop innovative ideas and critical thinking, and test the boundaries of art and your own understanding of what art can be; a process that will result in an extremely valuable learning experience.
Homework assignments There is a homework assignment every week. Homework assignments should be completed in a timely manner and submitted through your DROPBOX in CATALYST WEB TOOLS by Sunday at 11pm. Simply follow appropriate link from the course website's Schedule page to the DROPBOX of your section. When you are in the DROPBOX, find the assignment posting of the current week and attach your assignment as a Microsoft Word document .doc or Adobe PDF .pdf file. (No other file formats will be accepted unless otherwise specified in the assignment description.) Please make sure that you are saving your document in the correct format. The system will log your file with the time and day of submission. Please be aware that the DROPBOX will not accept late submissions. Even if you are a minute late, you no longer will be able to upload your assignment. For computing help, please see your TA or contact CATALYST.
Note: When you are using CATALYST WEB TOOLS, you'll have a chance to set up your user profile, notifications, as well as to try a variety of additional web tools. You may access CATALYST WEB TOOLS from anywhere, any time by going through the main CATALYST site and clicking on "Web tools LOGIN" at the top of the page. This will take you to a page that lists all the UW Web tools you are currently participating in. Alternatively, you can simply follow the link from the Schedule page or bookmark your own section's URL.
The assignment will be described in detail during the Monday lecture and will also be available on the course website at least one week in advance. The assignment may include research, site visit, as well as writing. In a few cases, you may be asked to submit plans and sketches, and/or digital .jpg images. The homework assignment is not optional; it is the most significant demonstration of your keeping pace with whats being discussed in class. Homework will be assessed regularly, with written feedback from the TA.
Homework grading criteria A successful homework assignment: Answers all questions posed; Clearly presents your point; Demonstrates your knowledge and research, including information from lectures, site visits, and reading assignments; Provides critical analysis and connects ideas; Is well supported with appropriate use of examples (artists name, pieces title, etc); Uses proper vocabulary; Reflects your opinion and personal experience, expressing original thought; Uses clear and concise composition. Written in full sentences.
Reading assignments Required textbook: Jean Robertson and Craig McDaniel: THEMES OF CONTEMPORARY ART Oxford University Press 2005 Available at the UW Bookstore $37.95 Electronic Reserves: In addition to the textbook there will be a number of short readings available on electronic reserve through the library. To them, access go to UW Libraries online http://www.lib.washington.edu/ and find Course Reserves under Using the Libraries in the bottom left column. Access to electronic reserves is UW restricted; it will ask you to log in using your UW netID. A weekly list of required readings is available in the Schedule and online so that you can do them in advance to the lectures. You will need to complete these readings in order to participate in class discussions and succeed in the homework assignments. Supplemental readings are there to provide additional examples or original texts by artists, art critics, philosophers, and art historians.
Final Project The Final Project requires you to synthesize concepts from the various topics discussed throughout the quarter. There are two components to the Final: The first one is a model that you will make outside of class, and present to the class during the last Studio session, on Friday, December 5th. The second one is an essay that you will upload to the DROPBOX. The essay is due by 11pm on Sunday, December 7th. The Final Project will be introduced during the lecture and there will be plenty of opportunities for consultation on your ideas and plans during Friday Studio sessions and CLUE discussion sessions. Evaluation of the projects will be based on the strength of the concept, overall content, project development, and presentation.
Finals week: Final Vocabulary Quiz and last class meeting: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 Classroom: TBA Sections AA, AB, AC 2:30-3:20 pm, Sections AD, AE, AF 3:30-4:20 pm.
Site visits As assigned, you are responsible to visit a site such as a museum, gallery, public art, or other venues. Sites are selected in correspondence to the weeks topics, focusing on some form of visual art currently on view. It is most important to do the site visits in order to experience art in person (as it was intended to be experienced) and to explore the various local art venues. Site visits are an excellent resource and reference to be used in the homework assignments. Quizzes There will be vocabulary quizzes occurring in class every week on the previous week's vocabulary terms, and a comprehensive Final Vocabulary Quiz during Finals Week. The current vocabulary list is available on the website and each term will be discussed during the lectures and/or in the readings in detail. However, there will be no one-sentence definitions given for memorization. This means that part of your research is to explain/define the term in a meaningful and concise way, in your own words. It is a good idea to write your definition on a flashcard, compare and practice regularly with your colleagues. If you are unsure of the meaning of certain terms, please seek help during office hours or CLUE.
Grading Homework assignments will be evaluated by the following point system: 9-10 = Excellent understanding of concepts, clear points, supported by research findings and examples in a well-rounded presentation. Critical thinking is creatively and effectively applied. 5-8 = Demonstrates some research and a good understanding of concepts. Ideas are supported by appropriate use of examples. 1-4 = Demonstrates a minimal understanding of basic concepts and vocabulary, with minimum research or effort needed for completion. 0 =Missing /late assignment or NO demonstration of an understanding of the basic concepts. Breakdown of the total 160 points possible to earn: Homework assignments: Vocabulary quizzes: Final Project: Participation in lectures/studio sessions: 80 20 30 30 points points points points
This includes all class activities and discussions, questions, Q cards, critiques, and maintaining an active engagement with all aspects of the class.
Expectations and Policies You will derive the greatest benefit from this class if you remain alert, follow the material presented, ask questions and interact with the instructor, guest speakers, and...