ARTF 113 African, Oceanic, and Native American Art

Syllabus: Fall 2013

CRN: 52587, 3 units, M/W 9:35-11:00, G102


Instructor: Denise Rogers

Phone: 619-388-2371

e-mail address: derogers@sdccd.edu

Office: G247

Office Hours: W: 8:25-9:25, or by appt.


Instructor website: http://homework.sdmesa.edu/drogers (click on appropriate course # to access class handouts)

Blackboard site: https://sdccd.blackboard.com/webapps/login/ (submit class assignments to this site)

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is an introduction to the visual arts produced by selected peoples of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas from the prehistoric to contemporary periods. The topics covered in the course are representative of the art and architecture produced by groups from Africa, Oceania and the Americas emphasizing how art is representative of the cultural, religious, social, or political orientation of each region. This course is designed for art and art history majors and all who are interested in the humanities. Associate Degree Credit & transfer to CSU. CSU General Education. IGETC. UC Transfer Course List. ARTF 113 and 120 combined: maximum credit, one course

 

STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

1.     To be able to name specific works and specific styles of African, Oceanic, and Americas, and to identify their important characteristics.

2.     Analyze the formal elements and techniques of individual works of art in different media.

3.     Define the various styles of the tradition in art from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, and demonstrate the ability to compare and contrast stylistic aspects and trends.

4.     Learn the terminology in order to identify differing cultural ideologies, trends, and techniques in art.

5.     Evaluate works of art in relation to the sociological, religious, historical, and the cultural context in which they were created.

6.     Identify individual works of art and architecture by the artists (if known) various communities in which they were created.

7.     Critically analyze the concepts that define art from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas and demonstrate the ability to discuss these concepts contextually.

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1.     Students will be able to identify and analyze stylistic characteristics of art and architecture from each of the selected regions and investigate cross-cultural connections amongst the groups.

2.     Students will be able to identify and analyze artistic and stylistic achievements of individual artists in the development of art and architecture of Africa, Oceania and the Americas.

3.     Students will be able to critically analyze the form and content of art and architecture from Africa, Oceania and the Americas with emphasis on their cultural and historical significance.

4.     Students will be able to evaluate the various technologies utilized by various cultural groups from Africa, Oceania and the Americas that demonstrate developments in the creation of art and architecture.

5.     Students will be able to identify and analyze artistic and stylistic achievements of individual artists within a cultural and theoretical context in the development of modern and contemporary art produced by artists from Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.

 

After completing this course the student will also be able to discuss the cultural and historical factors that dictate art forms, methods, and usage, and demonstrate their ability to critically analyze these works. As a result, the student will gain a greater appreciation of art and the powerful affect it has and continues to have on society as a whole.

 

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY

I will take attendance at the beginning of class for the first 2 weeks of the semester. After the first two weeks of class I will pass around a sign in sheet.  You must sign in on the corresponding day at the beginning of each class meeting. If you miss class or leave class early you will receive an X next to your name and will be considered absent for that day. If you must be absent please leave a message on my voice mail or e-mail me ahead of time and your absence will be excused. If there is an emergency or unexpected event that prevents you from letting me know you will be absent ahead of time you must bring in proof of your absence (i.e. doctorÕs note, tow receipt, etc.) Excessive absences (3 unexcused or excessive excused absences) can result in a lower grade for the class and also being dropped from the course.

 

Take notes during class lectures and do the reading assignments prior to coming to class. You are responsible for studying the works of art in the text but you will only be tested on those discussed in class. I will frequently present questions to the class for discussion, these questions may also appear on the exam. There may also be additional readings handed out it class for discussion at the next meeting. Each student is expected to complete the reading assignments and questions, and be prepared to discuss them with the class. If you miss class connect with a classmate to get notes and also view the powerpoint on my website to review the section we covered in class.

If you are going to drop the course it is your responsibility to official drop by the deadline. Students who remain enrolled in a class beyond the published withdrawal deadline, as stated in the class schedule, will receive an evaluative letter grade in this class.

Last date to drop and receive refund 8/30/2013

Last date to drop and receive a ÒWÓ 10/25/13

See Student Services website for other important dates: http://www.sdmesa.edu/students/services/admissions/deadlinespdf/

 

REQUIRED READING:

Corbin, George A. Native Arts of North America, Africa, and the South Pacific. Westview Press: Boulder, CO, 1988. ISBN: 0-06-430174-5

Mackenzie, Lynn, Non-Western Art: A Brief Guide, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2001. ISBN: 0-13-900036-4

 

RECOMMENDED READING:

Berlo, Janet Catherine and Lee Anne Wilson, Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas: Selected Readings, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1993. (on reserve in library)

OÕRiley, Michael Kampen, Art Beyond the West, New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 2002. (on reserve in library)

Barnet, Sylvan. A Short Guide to Writing About Art, 6th edition. New York: Longman, 1999. (any edition) (available in bookstore).


GRADING:

........... 3 Exams ................................................... 300 pts              A (90-100%)      = 630-700

........... Oral Presentation........................................ 50 pts              B (80-89%)        = 560-629

........... Research Paper......................................... 100 pts              C (70-79%)        = 490-559

........... Museum Assignment............................... 100 pts              D (60-69%)        = 420-489

........... 4 reading critiques (25 pts each)............... 100 pts              F  (0-59%)         = 0-419

........... Attendance.................................................. 50 pts             

........... Optional Cumulative Final..................... (100) pts                 

Total Possible points............................................ 700 pts                             

 

EXAM FORMAT:

Each exam is 3 parts: A slide list, short answer questions and list of essay questions will be made available on the instructorÕs website prior to the exams to aid in studying. I create the exams from these handouts. The exams are not cumulative but you will note that information covered from the very first day of class will be relevant to information covered during the entire semester.

 

PART I:       10 slide identifications as follows: period/culture/artist, title of the work, style, medium, and location for architecture. In addition, I will ask you to answer one question in relation to the work shown. This question will be covered in lecture or information taken directly from the textbook. (30 points)

 

PART II:      15 short answer questions taken from a short answer sheet handed out before each exam (answers come from in class discussions, readings, or lectures). You may use a 3x5 card during this portion of the exam to organize your answer. (30 points).

 

PART III:     Answer a prepare-at-home essay question. I will provide a list of questions prior to the exam for you to study. You will have a chance to prepare the answers to these questions at home but write the essay in class. On the day of the exam I will present the same list of questions minus one (for example; if I give you a list of 6 questions 5 will appear on the exam). You will then choose ONE of the remaining questions to answer in class. You may use a 3x5 card during this portion of the exam to organize your answer. You may also bring in photocopies of the works of art to class so that you may refer to them while you answer the question. (40 points)

 

Exam Dates

Exam #1 African & Islamic Art                                                          September 18

Exam #2 The Americas                                                                       October 28

Exam #3 Oceanic & Contemporary Art                                              December 16

ONLINE OPTIONAL CUMULATIVE FINAL                              by midnight December 16

 

All three exams are required, there are no make-up exams with the exception of extreme circumstances. In such cases documentation will be required (i.e. tow receipt, doctorÕs note, etc.). If you miss an exam and cannot provide documentation you must take the optional cumulative final (will be available on Blackboard the last week of classes). If you miss two exams you will receive a 0 for the second missed exam. If you receive an unfavorable grade on any of the 3 exams you can take the optional final to replace a previous exam score (if the grade is higher). The optional final cannot replace any other assignments and cannot be taken for extra credit.

 

Cheating/Plagiarism:

If you are caught cheating on an exam or plagiarizing on a paper you will be warned and receive a 0 for the assignment. You will not have the opportunity to make up the points. If you are caught cheating a second time you will not pass the course and your name may be forwarded to the Dean of Academic Affairs.

 

READING ASSIGNMENTS (review reading critique guidelines on instructor website)

You will be responsible for writing a critique of four readings and turning them in on the scheduled due date. A critique consists of a precise reading of the article (not a summary), identifying WHY the author wrote the article, highlighting major points that support the authorÕs thesis, and works of art used as examples to support the thesis. These readings will help when writing your essays and research paper so the readings. The readings and the list of guidelines are available on the class website.

 

Reading Critique Due Dates:

            Reading #1: African Art - September 16

            Reading #2: North American Art – October 14

            Reading #3: South American Art – October 23

            Reading #4: Oceanic Art - December 11

 

ORAL PRESENTATION OF PAPER PROPOSAL

The oral presentation is an 8-minute (maximum) summary of your thematic research paper project. The presentation will take place at the end of each section (the section corresponds to an exam date) and the focus of your presentation will be your thematic research paper theme and works of art from the region we are covering in a particular section. For example we are covering Africa for exam #1 therefore if you are presenting at the end of the African section your presentation will cover a work of art from that country (the works of art chosen should not be from the textbook). Your presentation should focus on a particular theme that connects all the works of art in your presentation. You should present a brief summary of both its purpose and formal elements as they relate to the regional group that produced the object. The presentation will be your initial outline that will develop into the thematic research paper. If you present after the research paper is due, your presentation will be a summary of your paper.

 

Presentation dates: September 16 (Africa); October 23 (The Americas); December 11th (Any region.) You must sign up for a presentation. If you do not sign up for a date and there is no time left at the end of the semester you will lose presentation points.

THEMATIC RESEARCH PAPER
The research paper should be a minimum of SIX double-spaced typed pages (not including bibliography) and consist of a topic selected by the student relating to African, Oceanic, or art of the Americas. You must demonstrate knowledge of the particular work of art, the culture, artist (if known), style, period, purpose, and content of the work of art selected. I will hand out a list of guidelines to help in constructing the paper. The paper should be a critical analysis of the work, but an informational paper is also acceptable but you will not receive the same grade as a critical paper. A bibliography of a MINIMUM of 3 sources should be at the end of your paper. Only ONE RANDOM INTERNET source can be used (this does not include online books or articles), the other sources must be a book or journal articles from a library (the textbook cannot be used as one
of your sources). When the paper is completed, set it aside for a day and reread the paper for any structural or spelling errors.

 

Paper due dates:

Hand in thematic topic for your paper October 21                                 

Early hand in for review                            December 2nd        

Final paper due                                                December 9th     

 

The 100 points are based on meeting deadlines and fulfilling the requirements for the assignment. If you hand in your paper prior to or on November 26th, I will grade it and return it to you with a grade or in time for you to make any necessary changes. You may either keep that grade or improve upon it (if necessary) and hand it back to me on the actual due date for re-grading. The final paper is due DECEMBER 5th. LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE MARKED DOWN ONE LETTER GRADE. Cheating or plagiarism will result in an ÒFÓ as well as being dropped from the course, and may result in disciplinary action by the college. Make sure you cite your sources on essay questions and in the research paper.

 

WEBSITES:

á      Class Website – all information relating to the course is located on this site: http://homework.sdmesa.edu/drogers

á      BLACKBOARD – all written assignments will be submitted to the Blackboard site. You can also check your grades on Blackboard https://sdccd.blackboard.com/webapps/login/

á      Mesa College has an African Art collection that can be viewed on line at http://www.sdmesa.edu/african-art/

á      Excellent website that covers the history of art: http://witcombe.sbc.edu/ARTHLinks.html

á      Other sites are available on the class website

 

MUSEUM/GALLERY ASSIGNMENT:

This assignment entails visiting a museum, gallery, or viewing a public work of art by one of the groups covered in the class then completing a list of questions that I provide for you. This is an exercise in analyzing a work of art for its formal (visual) elements. A list of museums/galleries is located on my website. This assignment counts for 100 points towards your overall score. You have until the day of the final exam to complete this assignment.

STUDY SUGGESTIONS

In order to be successful in the course follow these guidelines:

á      Attend class and take notes (not all information covered in class is in the textbook)

á      Read the chapters prior to coming to class (this will help when studying and memorizing images)

á      Keep track of where we are in the class, what was covered during each class meeting, and any adjustments to the syllabus.

á      Make sure you have all handouts.

á      Review images frequently, donÕt wait until the night before to memorize images (they will begin to look the same) (flashcards are very helpful)

á      Complete all reading assignments

á      Turn in assignments on time (late assignments are penalized)

 

EXTRA CREDIT OPTIONS

The following is a list of extra credit options for the course. All extra credit assignments are due by the day of the final exam. These assignments are in addition to the required assignments.

 

  1. Volunteering for Art Walk (see web site: http://www.artwalkonthebay.org) 20 points
  2. Extra museum assignment worth up to 10 points (2 extra maximum - 20 points maximum)
  3. Extra paper worth up to 20 points (1 maximum – 20 points maximum)
  4. Art exhibition/lectures/on-campus events (written critique). (5 points)

 

To complete the extra credit museum assignment or research paper you should follow the same guidelines you received for the required assignment. I will keep you informed of exhibitions, lectures, and on-campus events. When you attend you must write and turn in a critique (approx. 1 page) of the event. ALL EXTRA CREDIT IS DUE BY THE DAY OF THE FINAL.

 

CLASS SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS

 

August 19:                        Introduction and Syllabus (styles, periods, terms)

                                          Take Syllabus Quiz on Blackboard

 

August 21:                        Mackenzie, Non-Western Art: A Brief Guide (M): Introduction 1-3

                                          Corbin, Native Arts (C): Introduction pages: 1-2

                                          SECTION 1: AFRICAN ART

                                          Mackenzie p. 13-15

 

August 26:                        M: Chapter 1: Ancient Africa Nilotic Cultures: Egypt, Nok p. 8-12

                                          C: Chapter 6: Nok, pages 155-157

 

August 28:                        M: Chapter 1: Medieval Africa, Islam, Jenne, Ife, p. 13-20  

                                          C: Chapter 6: Art of Nigeria: Ife

                                          M: Medieval Africa, Ife, 18-20,

 

September 2:                     HOLIDAY – NO CLASSES

 

September 4:                     C: Chapter 6: Benin, Yoruba, and Ibo p. 155-180

                                          M: Medieval Africa; Benin 20-22,Yoruba 24-25

 

September 9:                     C: Chapter 5: Art of West Africa: Dogon, Bamana, Senufo, Baule, Asante, p. 119-154

                                          M: Colonial Africa, Dogon 31-33, Senufo 25-29, Baule 29-31, Asante 22-24

 

September 11:                    C: Chapter 7: Art of Central Africa: Fang, Bamum, 181-194, Kuba, p. 194-200.

                                          M: Colonial Africa: Kuba 34-35, Luba 33, Kota 35

 

September 16:                   READING CRITIQUE #1 AFRICAN ART DUE

                                          INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS

                                          REVIEW FOR EXAM #1

 

September 18:                   EXAM #1 African Art


September 23:                   SECTION 2: THE AMERICAS

                                          M: Chapter 9: Pre & Post-contact Period Eastern: 194-203, 219-222

                                          C: Chapter 4: Art of the Woodlands, Great Lakes and Plains, Late 17th – Early 20th Century, p. 91-104.

 

September 25:                   C: Chapter 4: Art of the Woodlands, Great Lakes and Plains, Late 17th – Early 20th Century, p. 104-118

 

September 30:                   M: Chapter 9: Pre & Post - contact Period Southwest: 203-217

                                          C: Chapter 3: Art of the Southwest: Hohokam, Mogollon, Anasazi, Hopi p. 61-90.

 

October 2:                         C: Chapter 3: Art of the Southwest: Anasazi, Hopi p. 71-90.

                                          Video: Anasazi

 

October 7:                         C: Chapter 3: Art of the Southwest: Anasazi, Hopi (cont.)

                                          M: Chapter 9: 217-219, Specimen to Art 223

 

October 9:                         C: Chapter 2: Alaskan Eskimo/Inuit Art and Northwest Coast: Alaska Eskimo, p. 27-42; Northwest Coast/Haida, Kwakiutl, Tlingit, p. 42-60.

                                         

October 14:                       READING #2 NORTH AMERICAN ART

                                          M: Chapter 7: South America: Chavin, Paracas, Moche,152-160

                                          M: Chapter 7: South America: Tiwanaku, Chimu, 160-165

                                         

October 16:                       M: Chapter 8: Mesoamerica: Olmec, Maya 168-186

                                          Video Maya

 

October 21:                       PAPER TOPICS DUE (if you have not presented your paper topic to the class)

                                          M: Chapter 8, Maya and Aztec, 186-190

 

October 23:                       READING CRITIQUE #3 SOUTH AMERICAN ART DUE

                                          ORAL PRESENTATIONS

                                          REVIEW FOR EXAM #2

 

October 28:                       EXAM #2: NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN ART

                                           

October 30:                       SECTION 3: OCEANIA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

                                          M: Chapter 6: Oceania: Irian Jaya, Papua New Guinea: 143-145

                                          C: Chapter 9: Art of Melanesia: 232-244

 

November 4:                     C: Chapter 9: Art of Melanesia: 244-260

 

November 6:                     M: Chapter 6: New Zealand P. 141-143

                                          C: Chapter 10: Maori, p. 274-284.

 

November 11:                   HOLIDAY – VETERANS DAY – NO CLASS

 

November 13:                   C: Chapter 10: Art of Polynesia: Society Islands, Marquesas, Hawaii, p. 260-273

                                          Video: Skin Stories

 

December 18:                    C: Chapter 10: Art of Polynesia: Society Islands, Marquesas, Hawaii, p. 260-273

 

December 20:                    Video: Art of Australia

                                          M: Chapter 6: Australia 146-151

                                          C: Chapter 8: Australian Aboriginal and Island New Guinea Art p. 201-209

 

November 25-29:              HOLIDAY BREAK – NO CLASSES

 

December 2:                      EARLY HAND-IN DATE - THEMATIC RESEARCH PAPER

                                          Contemporary African, Oceanic and Native North American Art (see PowerPoint)

                                         

December 4:                      Contemporary African, Oceanic and Native North American Art (see PowerPoint)

                                         

December 9:                      RESEARCH PAPERS DUE ORAL PRESENTATIONS

                                          Catch up day

 

December 11:                    READING CRITIQUE #4 OCEANIC ART

                                          REVIEW FOR EXAM #3

 

December 16:                    EXAM #3: OCEANIC ART and CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN, OCEANIC AND ART OF THE AMERICAS

                                          **MUSEUM ASSIGNMENT DUE

                                          **OPTIONAL CUMULATIVE  FINAL: (TAKEN ON BLACKBOARD)

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!