Topics in Art

CRN

13450

Course Number

336V

Course Description

Modality: Remote-Synchronous. Course Description (Please note that this is a 300-level studio art course. Prior experience in drawing and two-dimensional art-making is required since the course assumes students have already developed some basic drawing skills.) In her 2001 essay, "The Art of Testimony", author Carol Becker wrote, "So much of the work that has infuriated politicians [...] was art that provided personal testimony, work that said, 'This is my experience of daily life. Here is how I am seen or not seen in America and in the world.'" In this course, students will use art-making (2-D, 3-D, Video, Sound/Music) as a means of exploring, questioning, expressing and experimenting with concepts of Identity and Intersectionality as they apply to their own lives and communities. Students are encouraged to think deeply and honestly about who they are, who they think they are, and what this might mean both individually and as members of a community. Students will also reflect upon whether Identity entails an awareness and understanding of social responsibility. However, the goal of this course is not to define what that responsibility might/should look like. Rather, the objective is to use art-making as an exploration and intentional voicing of who we are and why that matters. Students will create several art projects based on Identity that are tailored to their individual situations. These could range anywhere between self-exploration to advocacy and activism. We will also have frequent class discussions regarding strategies, required readings and examples of artists who work with issues of Identity. Students will also give a presentation to the class on an artist whose work centers on issues of Identity. Textbook: None, but required readings will be available on Canvas or online. Credit and Evaluation: Students will be evaluated based upon their commitment to their projects, regular and punctual attendance, active and informed participation in class discussions and workshops, and the timely completion of all projects, sketchbook, and required readings and assignments. Students are expected to challenge themselves both creatively and intellectually. An open-mind and enthusiasm for your work is essential for successful completion of this class. S/U grading.

Prerequisites

FAIR 202a or equivalent

Credit/Evaluation

5

Term

Winter 2021

Course Instructor(s)

John Feodorov