ARTH 105: What Is Art?

                                    

Instructor: Marrin Robinson

Prerequisites: None

 

Material and skills covered:

This course is designed for students who are ready to think about ideas in art from a variety of viewpoints.  It is an art history class with a studio component designed to explore various questions about the nature of visual art.  Studio assignments will be integrated with readings related to the topic “What is Art?” The course is also an introduction to developments in 20th century art. 

 

Methods used:

Class consists of slide presentations with an emphasis on class discussion.  Readings range from Tolstoy’s essay “What is Art?” to Leo Steinberg’s essay on “Contemporary Art and the Plight of Its Public” to excerpts from John Dewey’s Art as Experience.  Readings from H.H. Arnason’s History of Modern Art offer a historical context.  The essays required for the class could be used for Phase 4 and Phase 5 papers could also be incorporated into the class.

 

The studio aspect of this course is design related and does not assume any drawing background.

 

Grade determined by:

Weekly Assignments 20% (these must be completed for the class they are due as

                                                   discussion is based on them.)

Essay One    20%                (written expression and persuasion)

Exam              20%                (close reading and understanding of the essays)

Essay Two     20%                (art and public policy)

Final Exam   15%                (thoughtful, original and informed thinking expressed in an in class essay written on the topic:  What is Art?)

Participation  5%                  (Oral participation in class discussions)

 

The studio projects are not required to demonstrate any defined level of facility but they will be graded on how well the student demonstrates an understanding of the concepts targeted by the assignment.

 

Attendance policy:

Attendance is very important as the class is based on discussion and participation.  25% of the grade (weekly assignment presentations and discussion) cannot be achieved without attendance.  In order for assignments to be counted they must be handed in on time.  

 

Comments:

 The goal of the course is for students to develop their own concepts as to the purpose and meaning of Art.  I also expect stuents will develop an appreciation for the variety of approaches and philosophies to art-making and we will examine some of the ethical issues surrounding art and the public.