AESTHETICS, VALUES, AND AUTHORITY: ART
AS SOCIAL LANGUAGE
Fall 2006 & Spring 2007 - IDH 3005/3006 Section 3
M & W 14:00 – 15:15
Instructor: John
Bailly
t:
Office: GL 422
Office Hours: MW 9:45 – 10:45 and by
appointment
“What do you think an artist is? An
imbecile who has only eyes if he is a painter, or ears if he is a musician, or a
lyre in every chamber of his heart if he is a poet, or even, if he is a boxer,
just his muscles? Far, far from it: at the same time, he is also a political
being, constantly aware of the heartbreaking, passionate, or delightful things
that happen in the world, shaping himself completely in their image. How could
it be possible to feel no interest in other people, and with a cool indifference
to detach yourself from the very life which they bring to you so abundantly?
No, painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of
war” Pablo Picasso
Course Description
This course will investigate the
manifestations of social and cultural issues in the arts. Specifically, how have
artists challenged, or enforced, authority by creating new aesthetics? How is art used to initiate, accelerate,
or prevent social change? Further,
how does art document these transformations, and by documenting them, do the
arts, in turn, contribute to the definition of social issues?
The course is designed to encourage
students to think critically about art. It is divided into essentially three
sections.
The first part of the course will
explore the core concepts of formal art appreciation: What is beauty? What are
the formal elements of art (color, line, composition…)? What is the relationship
between content and form? How do we look at and then formulate opinions about
art?
Following this introduction to the
methods of seeing art, we will then examine selected art as it is related to
specific issues (ex: religion in Caravaggio, politics in Hans Haake, gender
identity in Dyke Action Machine, consumerism in Jeff Koons…). Repeatedly, in the
history of art, new art has led to a confrontation of avant-garde values with
some form of authority. How have artists revolutionized established aesthetics
in order to present new values? Is visual art a tool for social change? If so,
how effective is it?
The last part of the course will
involve research projects as part of a group exhibition. We will each select
local artists and analyze their work from a sociological perspective. You will
visit the artists in their studios, interview them, and write about how their
work relates to a broader social issue. We will then organize a group exhibition
of these local artists, in which we will present their work and your research
about them.
Required
Fall 2006
1.
Harry G. Frankfurt, On Bullshit
2.
3.
4.
Tracy Chevalier, Girl with a
5.
Herschel B. Chipp, Theories of Modern Art: A Source Book by Artists and
Critics (We will use this over
both semesters).
Spring 2007
1.
Richard Blanco, Directions to the Beach of the Dead
Course Requirements
1.
Class Participation – Please be prepared for each class section with
having completed assigned readings. Also, you will be welcome and expected to
participate in class discussions.
2.
Class Schedule and Email – The class schedule is subject to change at the
instructor’s discretion. All changes will either be announced in class or posted
on WebCT. It is the student’s responsibility to regularly monitor WebCT to
actively check their FIU email account.
3.
Attendance\Off-Campus Research – Aside from attending class at FIU,
several of our meetings will be off-campus during our class time (no long trips
- promise). It is imperative you attend these. We will visit multiple
institutions to see the art and to learn about the missions of the
organizations. We will certainly visit the Rubell Collection,
4.
Papers - We will write two papers in the first semester and one in the
second. All papers will be critical analyses of art supported by research.
Certain research methods will be required (such as interviews with experts,
multiple references, artists’ comparisons…). Papers must be turned in on their
due date; no late work will be accepted. They must be typed, double-spaced, and
stapled. Please refer to the “paper
guidelines” on WebCT.
5.
Research Project Exhibition – We will curate an exhibition of local
artists for the Spring semester. We will select local artists and work with them
in exhibiting their works in a formal exhibition (likely in the Gallery at Green
Library). We will do all research and coordination that is required for an
exhibition, including supporting text. Not to worry. This will be fun.
6. Visual Thinking Project – We
will complete one project that will require the creation of an object (painting,
sculpture, installation,…). These
will not be graded according to technical skills, but rather according to
concept and effort.
7. Attendance – Class Attendance
is mandatory.
•
Two unexcused absences are forgiven. Thereafter, each unexcused absences lowers
one’s final grade by one half grade (3 absences makes an A- would become a B+, 4
absences makes an A- a B, and so forth).
•
Students are responsible for everything assigned and for everything discussed in
class. If absent, it is your responsibility to get that day’s notes from another
student.
•
After any absence, the student must present a written justification (doctor’s
note, jury duty) to have the absence excused.
•
Academic integrity is embracive to this policy. That means not being honest in
written excuses, or in signing in (others sign you in, you leave before class
ends, etc. ad nauseum are considered violations of academic integrity and
handled as such.
•
Unexcused absences will consequentially adversely affect your final grade as
follows.
|
# of Unexcused Absences |
ESTIMATED
GRADE | |||||||||||
|
A |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
C- |
D+ |
D |
D- |
F | |
|
0-2 |
A |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
C- |
D+ |
D |
D- |
F |
|
3 |
A- |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
C- |
D+ |
D |
D- |
F |
|
|
4 |
B+ |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
C- |
D+ |
D |
D- |
F |
|
|
|
5 |
B |
B- |
C+ |
C |
C- |
D+ |
D |
D- |
F |
|
|
|
|
6 or More |
F |
F |
F |
F |
F |
F |
F |
F |
|
|
|
|
Grading Legend
5 pts – Honors
Citizenship
20 pts - Class Participation
20 pts - 4 Quizzes – 5 pts
each
15 pts - Visual Thinking Project
20 pts - Research and Exhibition Project
20 pts - Final Paper
Letter grades correspond to
the following point scale:
|
A
|
94-100
|
|
|
A-
|
90-93
|
|
|
B+
|
87-89
|
|
|
B
|
84-86
|
|
|
B-
|
80-83
|
|
|
C+
|
77-79
|
|
|
C
|
73-76
|
|
|
C-
|
70-73
|
|
|
D+
|
67-69
|
|
|
D
|
64-66
|
|
|
D-
|
60-63
|
|
|
F
|
< 60
|
|
As this class involves
discussion, attendance and class participation is essential.
Participation
also means no distractions. THE USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES IS PROHIBITED. All
cell phones, iPods, Blackberries and laptops should be turned off.
Academic Integrity
Please read all information on the
following link. Registration in this course requires an acceptance of The Honors
College Academic Integrity policy.
http://honors.fiu.edu/plagiarism.htm
In this learning community,
we are expected to act as moral beings governed by a sense of ethics. These
ethics are outlined in the University Code of Academic Integrity.(www.fiu.edu/~dwyere/academicintegrity.html)
and the
Every effort, where feasible
and practical will be made to accommodate students who are so challenged. Should
you require accommodations contact your instructor or the
Every effort, where feasible
and practical, will be made to accommodate students whose religious practices
clash with class requirements or scheduling; i.e you practice a religion whose
holidays do not coincide with the University closing or an exam is scheduled
during a day of high spirituality. Contact your instructor if such a situation
arises.
FALL 2006
Class Schedule
Please note that the class schedule is subject to
change. All such changes will be
announced in class.
Week
Description/notes
Reading/Project
|
1 |
28
Aug |
Monday: Introduction Wednesday: Origins of
Art |
On Bullshit |
|
2 |
04
Sep |
Monday: University closed Wednesday: Discussion |
On Bullshit |
|
3 |
11
Sep |
M: OBS QUIZ: W: Discussion |
Rape of the Masters |
|
4 |
18
Sep |
M: Discussion W: Discussion |
Rape of the Masters |
|
5 |
25
Sep |
M: RM QUIZ W: Discussion |
Girl with a |
|
6 |
02
Oct |
M: Discussion W: Discussion |
Girl with a |
|
7 |
9
Oct |
M: W: |
Girl with a |
|
8 |
16
Oct |
M: GPE QUIZ W: DUE: First Paper |
American Psycho |
|
9 |
23
Oct |
M: Discussion W: Discussion |
American Psycho |
|
10 |
30
Oct |
M:
Discussion W:
Discussion |
American Psycho |
|
11 |
06
Nov |
M: AP QUIZ: W: Discussion |
Picture This |
|
12 |
13
Nov |
M: DUE: Visual Thinking Project W: NO CLASS
(Bailly out) |
Picture This |
|
13 |
20
Nov |
M: PT QUIZ W: Discussion |
Project |
|
14 |
27
Nov |
M: Discussion W: Projects Working Session (Individual
Assessments) |
Project |
|
15 |
04
Dec |
M:
Discussions W: Evaluations and Feedback (Class
ends) DUE on W: Final Paper |
|
Week 1
M 1/8: Research and Exhibition Project Review
W 1/10:
Week 2
M 1/15: No Class: MLK Day
W 1/17:
Week 3
M 1/22:
W 1/24:
Week 4
M 1/29: Andy Warhol & Peter Halley
W 1/31: Exhbition Planning Session
Week 5
M 2/5: QUIZ: The Da Vinci Code
W 2/7: No Class Meeting to make up for 2/10
Saturday 2/10: Meet at the Rubell Family Collection at 7pm for Second Saturday in
95 NW 29th St | 305.573.6090
http://www.rubellfamilycollection.com/
Week 6
M 2/12:
W 2/14:
Week 7
M 2/19:
W 2/21:
Week 8
M 2/26: Watch Student Projects
W 2/28: Watch Student Projects
Week 9
M 3/5:
W 3/7:
Week 10
M 3/12:
W 3/14: No class meeting to make up for 3/10
Week 11
M 3/19: Spring Break
W 3/21: Spring Break
Week 12
M 3/26: Egon Schiele in relation to The Picture of Dorian Gray
W 3/28:
Week 13
M 4/2: Research and Exhibition Individual Presentations
W 4/4: No Class - SRAI Conference & Research and Exhibition Project Opening, 5-8 pm
Week 14
M 4/9: QUIZ: The Picture of Dorian Gray
W 4/11:
Week 15
M 4/16: QUIZ: Picture This
W 4/18: Jackson Pollock & Jean-Michel Basquiat
Saturday 4/21: Deinstallation of exhibition. Return works to artists and repair library walls.