modern art syllabus

7/31/2019 Modern Art Syllabus

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Art History 3740*16-Modern ArtProfessor Andrea M. [email protected](973) 698-3541AOL IM: AZBagoo, Google Chat, see above

Scribd Account: professorAMZFacebook Account: Andrea Zaremba

Summer Session 1, Tuesday and Thursdays, 5:45-8:55pm, May 21-June 28, 2012Vaughn Eames 112, Office hours to follow class time or appointment

Syllabus

Modern Art is a course covering all aspects of art-painting, sculpture,photography, and architecture from Western Europe and in the USduring the late 19th century and concluding in the mid-20th century.

Texts and readings

Modern Art-Sam Hunter is the primary text to be used.

As I know the texts for this class are expensive, I will put two on reservein the Kean Library for your use. I also suggest borrowing a copy fromyour local library if you can.

I recommend www.half.com, www.chegg.com, or www.amazon.com topurchase textbooks, or rent them-they are cheaper. Each week I haveincluded readings for the next class and suggested texts on thescheduled topics. Students are encouraged to bring in any articles,

readings, texts, etc. that are relevant to the topics.

Course Description and GoalsThis is a survey of avant-garde modern art, primarily the art of WesternEurope and the United States, from the late nineteenth century to themid-twentieth century. We will see how the aesthetic of newness,originality, anti-academicism, and radical formal invention characteristic

of avant-garde modernism was rooted in the deep-seated societalchanges and values that defined modernity: the rise to power of the

middle classes, secularism, positivism, faith in progress, individualism,and capitalism, which released the forces of modernization

industrialization, urbanization, colonialismon the world.

After defining Modern art and Modernism, the course begins with theemergence of the avant-garde in the nineteenth century withImpressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Symbolism. Most of our time isspent on the astonishing decade between 1907 and 1914 just prior to theFirst World War when Cubism, Fauvism, Expressionism, Constructivism,Futurism, and Dada fundamentally reinvented the vocabulary of Western
mailto:[email protected]://www.half.com/http://www.chegg.com/http://www.chegg.com/http://www.amazon.com/http://www.amazon.com/http://www.chegg.com/http://www.half.com/mailto:[email protected]


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art. We then consider major works and concepts of art created betweenthe World Wars, including the Bauhaus, DeStijl, Mexican Muralism,

Social Realism, and Surrealism. In addition to paintings, we will alsocover sculpture, mass produced textiles, and the start of photography as

an art form from the first half of the 20th century. The course concludes

with American Abstract Expressionism, the work of Frank Lloyd Wright,foundations of 20th century architecture, and European Art ExistentialistFiguration of the post-World War II years.

Course ObjectivesI propose the following objectives, but I urge you to formulate your ownobjectives as well. My goal is to offer you the opportunity to:

learn about major modern artists, artworks, and concepts and thesocial, political, and intellectual contexts that shaped them

achieve a more direct and focused appreciation for modernpainting, photography, design, architecture, and sculpture through

the research paper assignment advance your visual literacy and vocabulary learn how to discern relevant (and irrelevant) episodes in artist

biographies

gain insight into artists intentions for their artwork from readingtheir own writings

master the meaning of critical terms, beginning with modern,modernism, modernity, modernist, avant-garde, andacademic

become aware of why and how modern art and modernism were soradically different from what came before and why key modernistvalues have fallen into disrepute

come to an understanding of why there are so few women and non-European artists in the canon of modern art history

be able to see art and life, including your own, from a historicalperspective

improve skills in writing, research, critical thinking, collaborativelearning and communication

Attendance, Participation, and Student ConductThe successful completion of a course of study requires regular class

attendance. Attendance means being present for the entire class period.Class attendance is important; however, it is recognized that absencesmay occur for legitimate reasons. As this is a shortened course, oneexcused absence will be allowed during the semester (but two absenceswill put you behind). Additional absences will lower your final semestergrade average by five points for each absence. For example, if your gradeaverage is 82 and you have 2 absences (1 absence beyond the allowablenumber), your average drops from 82 to 77 or from a "B" to a "C" grade.


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Excessive absences are understood to represent disinterest in the course.Students who miss class are responsible for finding out about the

material covered in lectures, homework assignments, and anyannouncements or examinations. A faculty member is not responsible for

repeating information missed during a students absence. Students will

understand that excessive absences will adversely affect your final grade.

Good participation is how much you help yourself and others learn: apositive, questioning, engaged attitudetoward the class. This is evident

in attendance, being on time, attentiveness, and note taking. Classsessions will be interactive with a combination of lectures, Q and A, and

discussion. Each class will start off with a discussion of the readings andstudents will be asked to participate by answering questions. Feel free tobring any topics/articles/readings that are relevant to course matter.

Active, consistent, and positive participation is a large part of thisclass and it will be factored into your grade.

This is a lecture course. Information presented in lecture contains thecentral concepts of the course and will be on quizzes and the final exam.Therefore, taking good notes is crucial for success in this class. And inmy course-a LOT of notes will equal successful grades earned. I will showyou the best way to take notes for this class. Sitting listening will notallow you to retain the information. If you have questions about the styleof teaching or need help, do not hesitate to ask.

You will be expected to follow all the guidelines for University Conduct.For more information, please use: http://www.kean.edu/KU/Code-of-

Conduct

Electronic Device PolicyLaptops are not allowed. All cell phones should be set to silent, notvibrate, during class time. Your cell phone should be away, and not inyour hand, on your desk, or in your lap. Texting during class isdistracting and disrespectful to me and the rest of class-texting at

anytime is prohibited-failure to follow this will result in points fromyour grade. Electronic devices are not allowed during quizzes or in class

exams. Failure to comply with this policy will result in a failing grade onthat exam or quiz.

Museum VisitsThere will be two trips offered during the course of the semester tomuseums in NYC. (These will be in place of the missed week in late May).The anticipated visits will be to the Museum of Modern Art and theGuggenheim Museum. Both trips will be on weekends and you will needto arrange for your own transportation to and from each venue. We can
http://www.kean.edu/KU/Code-of-Conducthttp://www.kean.edu/KU/Code-of-Conducthttp://www.kean.edu/KU/Code-of-Conducthttp://www.kean.edu/KU/Code-of-Conduct


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discuss carpool options as well as other dates if the suggested ones donot work. For either trip you are welcome to bring friends,

significant others, children, and family members. I am open tovisiting both museums on one day.

There will be a lecture during the trip and students will receive questionsfor discussion at the start of each visit. Plan for about 2 hours at eachmuseum. You are required to attend at least one of the museum visitswith the class. There will be a take home writing assignment at the end

of the session. You cannot complete the final exam take home portionwithout a visit to either museum. The anticipated dates of the class tripsare:

Sat/Sun June 16/17 MOMA

Sat/Sun June 23/24 Guggenheim

I understand people have weekend responsibilities and may not be ableto make it-please talk to me about this so we can make arrangements.

StudyFor every class period, you should plan to spend at least one to twohours reading/studying the course material outside of class. In order togain the most from the lectures, you should come to class having readyour texts, and you should be familiar with the names of the objects andsites discussed in your text. I will give you a list of the monuments andvocabulary that are particularly appropriate for each lecture. Lectures

will include artworks that are not illustrated in your text.

It is unnecessary to bring your textbook to class as you will have thenames of the objects and monuments provided on the study sheets. It ismore important to look at the image on the screen and listen to thelecture or participate in the discussion than it is to hunt for anillustration which may, or may not be, in your text. You may find ithelpful to sketch quickly the objects that are shown in lecture. You maywish to leave sufficient room in your notes so that you can addinformation or correct spelling later. Note cards are useful.

Exams, Assignments, Class Cancellation, InformationDistribution, and Grade DistributionAn exam missed as the result of illness, emergency, or injury may bemade up at the discretion of the instructor who may require a doctorswritten explanation of your health issue. You should call the Art Deptoffice, (908) 737-4400, before the class period if you will be unable to

take an exam. It is your responsibility to request a make-up exam if you


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have a legitimate excuse. The call to the Department is in addition to acall (not a text or Facebook message) to me.

Class CancellationIn the event of inclement weather or emergencies, I will determine a new

makeup class date for any missed class periods.

Information DistributionThe bulk of the information needed for quizzes/final exam will come fromthe images and information covered in class. You will receive twodocuments for each class: information about the images (word document)and the images themselves (PowerPoint). You are expected to bring to

each class the information sheet. These will be distributed through eitheremail (from my Gmail account to your email) or throughFacebook/Scribd account. (More info to follow). I prefer to uploadeverything to Scribd asyou have access to it prior to class and dont have

to wait for emails. If neither option works for you, please let me know. Iwill not be bringing copies of images or the information sheets to class-this is your responsibility. It is much easier to take notes with theinformation sheet in front of you during class.

Components of your grade will be determined by:Reading SummariesEvery few weeks (see schedule), you will be asked to turn in a summary

of reading assignments from the week(s) prior (2-3 lessons). It shouldcover key points of what you read including important works of art,

cultural and historical events. No more than 2-4 pages typed total.Include your name at the top of each page. There will be 4 of these intotal. Bullet points on a time period/artist/country are acceptable. An

example will be given for you to follow. Your options for a grade on eachsummary can be: check plus, (A), check (B), and check minus (C).

QuizzesWe will have 2 quizzes during the course of the session. The quizzes will

cover images, dates, people, and ideas. A review will take place the classsession prior to each quiz.

Final ExamA Final Exam will take place during the last class session. It will be acumulative combination of images, terms, discussion, people, and datesfrom the entire semester. You will be given a take home portion the weekprior to complete and hand in at the last class with your final.

Out of Class Assignment: Part of the take home portion of the final willbe based upon works seen on museum trips.


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For image identifications,you need to know the following informationabout each work:

the name of the object the date of the work the period style of the work the originalgeographic location of the work

The image comparison will require you to (1) identify the two worksshown in the comparison as you would for a image identification and (2)answer in essay form the particular question or questions asked aboutthe two works.

The short answer component may be matching or fill in the blank to testterms, definitions, examples of works of art, or important patrons orartists.

The essay component will allow you to choose one or two essays from aselection of essay questions. You will discuss the question with referenceto specific works of art

Grade Calculation:

Class participation, attendance, and museum trip 10%

Reading summaries (4 total, 5% each) 20%

Image term quizzes (2 total, 15% each) 30%

Cumulative Final exam with take home paper 40%

Grade range: A, 94-100; A-, 90-93; B+, 87-89; B, 84-86; B-, 80-83; C, 70-79; D, 60-69;F, 59 and below.

Extra credit opportunities:Become my friend on Facebook and share with others in the classinteresting articles, topics, and images relevant to class content. Extracredit will be given at each quiz and on the final exam. You are also ableto submit an extra credit project for the last class. (More info to follow)

Final Thoughts:I am more than willing to assist you outside the class with any questionsor extra help. I encourage you to email me with any questions aboutclass. As we are a class of many interests, please share with the classand feel free to add suggestive topics that you would like to know moreabout. Please do not hesitate to speak with me about your learningexperience and how we can work together to ensure your success.

modern art syllabus

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