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ART 121

I. TITLE: Art Appreciation

II. CATALOG DESCRIPTION:  Surveys the various aspects of the visual and functional arts and their relationship to human life and society.  A variety of art forms from different cultures and historical periods will be studied.

III. PURPOSE:  This course is designed to help students understand the relationship between creativity and critical thinking by examining how humanity knows and visually expresses the world.  It considers both analytic and evaluative criteria used in making artistic decisions--examining them through the eyes of artists.  It also considers the role of materials and media in the solution of problems.  This course will foster a critical understanding of the world's artistic traditions by examining the cultural diversity of artistic expression.

IV. OBJECTIVES:  This course will
 1. introduce students to the fundamental concepts of visual knowledge and expression.
 2. examine the relationship of artistic choice to the function of art within societies.
 3. emphasize international perspectives throughout the course, examining artistic methods and means throughout the world.

V.  CONTENT OUTLLINE:  The course is organized thematically, with consideration given to a chronological examination of stylistic change.  Both western and nonwestern cultures are included in every section of the outline.  It will cover
 1. Art: Necessity, Aesthetics, Creativity, Style
 2. The Functions of Art
 3. The Visual Language
 4. Media and Techniques
 5. Design Principles
 6. Art in Historical context
 7. Art Today

VI.  INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES:
A. While lectures with slides are the principle instructional activity, this course focuses on thematic problem solving and an issue oriented approach to understanding art.  For example, issues such as the various functions of art are discussed in a cross cultural context, as is the expressive nature of form (composition, line, shape, color, etc.).  In considering such ideas as the changing function of art in society, students are also examining the changing criteria by which art has been judged and defined by various cultures, which leads to a critical analysis of the criteria of our own culture.

As an active learning technique, students keep a journal throughout the semester in which they write analyses of specific works of art, discuss key concepts in art, and record their own thoughts regarding the works and ideas discussed in class. These entries are made both in-class and out of class.  Projects are often assigned in which students use the Internet to locate information on specific artists or cultures which are covered in class.  This is documented in their journals.

Students spend time in the Clara Eagle or Curris Center Gallery applying the principles and vocabulary learned in class, (i.e. critical thinking as the application of principles and practices from one context to another.)  They are also asked to apply the ideas learned in class to images encountered in their everyday experience.  These are also documented in their journals.

B.  Students have reading assignments from their textbook for each class.  Their principle writing component is the journal described above.  It is intended to reinforce the writing and analytic skills taught in the required core courses, to provide practice in using the verbal language of art (versus its visual language), and to reinforce the methodology of analyzing art by giving the student ongoing practice throughout the semester.

VII.  FIELD AND CLINICAL EXPERIENCES:  The class will take advantage of exhibitions in the Clara Eagle and Curris Center Galleries, and will use the MSU campus as a tool for examining the visual expression of a culture.

VIII.  RESOURCES:  The department has a 70,000 slide collection of images of art from all historical periods world wide.  It also has the Clara Eagle and Curris Center Galleries.  Computers are available on campus which allow access to the Internet.  In addition to the textbook and slides, the campus itself is an important resource.  Handouts are also used.

IX.  GRADING PROCEDURES:  This course maintains high academic standards by administering quizzes and examinations, and requiring a student journal (see Section VI.)  Other projects relating to current exhibitions will be assigned as appropriate.  Students are required to identify the visual elements and principles of design (line, shape, space, color, scale, balance, etc.) and describe their impact on works of art.  They must also be able to recognize and describe a considerable number of art media and working methods.  They must be able to recognize and identify specific works of art from throughout history and from various cultures around the world.

Students are required to demonstrate objective knowledge and to apply that knowledge to images and objects in art and in their everyday experience.  The objective portion (identification of works of art, key concepts, definitions of terms, etc.) consists of computer graded quizzes and exams, while the interpretive portion (analyses of form, artist’s intent, etc.) is written in an ongoing journal which students keep for the entire semester.  This includes in-class writings analyzing specific works of art, as well as out-of-class writing on imagery in their everyday experience.  The journal is graded on both its quality and quantity of writing.

There are two quizzes totaling 23 1/3 %, a  mid-term and final exam each worth 33 1/3 %, and a journal worth 10 %. Text book material amounts to approximatly 50% of the content of each quiz/exam and lecture material covers the other 50%.

X.  ATTENDANCE POLICY:  Attendance is required and will be taken everyday.  More than three (3) unexcused absences will result in a reduction of the student's grade.

XI.  ACADEMIC HONESTY:  All work during evaluations, on papers, or other academic or creative activities must be the student's own.  Cheating, plagiarism, or other academic dishonesty is clearly a violation of academic standards and University policy--and will result in automatic failure of this course.

XII.  TEXT AND REFERENCES:  Preble, Duane and Sarah. Artforms. New York: Harper-Collins, latest ed.

XIII. PREREQUISITES:  none.

Last updated February 14, 2000. Designed and maintained by Kyosung Koo