A205 Course Syllabus

This course is designed as an introductory chronological survey of painting, sculpture, and architecture from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance period. The primary focus will be on the history of the visual arts as they developed in Western cultures. Selected works will be studied in order to develop an understanding of how formal qualities, artistic concepts, and historical and cultural contexts are interwoven to create meaning. At the end of the course, students will be able to: 1) identify major movements and artists in western art from early Medieval times through the 16th century, 2) associate key stylistic features of art from these periods with the cultural context in which they were created, and 3) apply the interpretive skills learned through writing, reading, and discussion exercises toward understanding new, previously unfamiliar works of art.

Art Across Time by Laurie Schneider Adams (Vol. II) *The custom bound version is available in the WOU bookstore only.

Slide lectures and videos will be used to present stylistic, historical, and interpretive information about individual artisits and works of art. A substantial portion of each class period will be devoted to discussions of questions related to the assigned readings for that day and to practicing written and verbal skills used in the analysis of a work of art. Your contributions are an important aspect of the learning process. As the instructor, I will provide the theoretical and informational structure of the course and serve as your resource person.

1- TWO EXAMS: An essay and short answer exam will be given on the dates listed above. Make- up exams will be arranged ONLY when documentation is provided that you missed an exam due to circumstances beyond your control (e.g. death in the immediate family or a doctor’s excuse for an illness). Please note that trips home are not considered "excused" absences.

2- ONLINE WORKSHOPS: There are 6 weekly workshops located on the A205 web page.This will lead you to the Weekly Workshops, Vocabulary Lists, and Image Reserves for this course. Workshops are to be completed by the dates indicated on the calendar above. Print out the results and bring them to class on the specified dates for review and correction. LATE ASSIGNMENTS CANNOT be accepted since the correct answer will be ‘public’ knowledge after they are reviewed in class. This is not busy work. The assignments are designed to prepare you for exams.

3- ATTENDANCE: Regular class attendance is essential to doing well in this course. It is your responsibility to be there and be punctual. Entering the classroom late is not only disruptive to the flow of the class, it also means that you may miss an important announcement or a writing assignment. You will be held responsible for all material covered in class regardless whether tardy or absent.

4- READINGS: Read assignments BEFORE coming to class, write a short synopsis of each section, and write down definitions of vocabulary words that are unfamiliar to you. This will give you the necessary background to understand what is selected from the readings for closer study. It will also make the notetaking process in class much easier and allow you to participate in
class discussions. The schedule of daily topics is tentative and subject to change. If you miss a class, please check with someone to find out exactly what was covered.

5- NOTES AND REVIEW: Take detailed notes during class. This will help you stay alert and to identify the key ideas that are being emphasized. Another important thing you can do is schedule, and stick to, regular reviews of notes and readings. A second reading of the material in the text should be done to embellish and fill-in information gathered from lecture notes.

6-CONSULTATION: Although it is not required, I encourage you to come and visit me during office hours or at other times by appointment to discuss and/or clarify any aspect of the course.

There are a number of support services on campus that you should not hesitate to utilize. The WOU library has a good selection of periodicals and books relating to the art of the periods we study this term. The Academic Advising and Learning Center in APSC 401 (8-8428) also offers a variety of programs to help you improve your overall academic performance. In addition to one-on-one tutoring for this class, you will be given tips on taking effective notes and study skills. These services are FREE, so take adventage of them.

Avoid cheating and plagarism at all costs. This could result in failing the assignment, exam, or the course. the student Rights and Responsibilties section of your Student Handbook addresses the procedures for handling academic dishonesty. The short term benefits of cheating cannot compensate for the long term consequences!

Midterm....................................40%

Final..........................................40%

Online Workshops....................20%

**Grading Scale = A+(98-100); A(93-97); A-(90-92); B+(87-89); B(83-86); B-(80-82); C+(77-79); C(73-76); C-(70-72); D+(67-69); D-(60-62); F(Below 60)

-Don't miss class.

-Take detailed lecture notes.

-Read assignments.

-Synthesize information from lectures and readings.

-Each week review ALL material covered up to that point in the term.

-Complete your online exercises in a timely fashion.

-Be prepared to participate in class discussions.

INFORMATION IN THE REFERENCE SECTION OF THE LIBRARY:
James Hall Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art
The Dictionary of Art - a comprehensive dictionary related to all areas of the visual arts

TEXTBOOK WEBSITE:

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072450061/