Syllabus

The Art Institute of California – San Francisco

Course Number: CA580

Course Title: History of 20^th Century (Modern) Art and Design

Class Meetings: Tuesday 1-5 pm

Session/Year: Spring 2012

Instructor Name: Greg Lemon

Email Address: greg.lemon@gmail.com

Instructor Availability Outside of Class: (To be completed by instructor)

History of 20^th Century (Modern) Art and Design

Course Description:

This is a graduate and advanced seminar which explores information regarding the artistic character of the post-modern and the anti-aesthetic. Included is a theoretical and critical analysis of the reduction of tradition in the visual arts.

Course Length: 11 Weeks

Contact Hours: 33 Hours

Lecture: 33 Hours

Lab: 0 Hours

Credit Values: 3 Credits

Course topics:

What is art/ why do we make it?

Modernism

Avant Garde

Quality/ what is a masterpiece

Duchamp! What did he do? Why did he do it?

Post-Modernism

Gender/ Race/ Sex

Where do you fit in?

Major art movements

Is Taste subjective?

Core Course Competencies:

At the end of this course students will be able to :

Art is a basic human activity. Talking about art can be sticky, confusing, difficult and controversial. Our goal is to discuss specific topics and ideas to better understand and make sense of this thing called ‘Art”. By doing this you will be better equipped to clarify your own point of view as an artist. Discussing topics that surround the field of art and culture enriches the life of the individual and will allow for further appreciation and lifelong discovery.

Course Prerequisite(s): None

Text(s):

Required Text: None

Suggested text : None

Materials and Supplies: Notebook and writing supplies.

Estimated Homework Hours: 4 Hours

Technology Needed: None

Grading Scale:

All assignments must have clear criteria and objectives to meet. All students shall be treated equitably. It will be that student’s right to know his/her grade at any reasonable point that information is requested by that student. The criteria for determining a student’s grade shall be as follows (on a percentage of total points basis):

A 100-93

A- 92-90

B+ 89-87

B 86-83

B- 82-80

C+ 79-77

C 76-73

C- 72-70

D+ 69-67

D 66-65

F 64 or below

Process for Evaluation:

Attendance and Participation 10%

Assignments and Exercises 50%

Mid-Term Project/Examination 15%

Final Project/Examination 25%

Student Evaluation/Grading Policies:

• Class time will be spent in a productive manner.
• Grading will be done on a point system.
• Points for individual activities will be announced.
• All work must be received by the set deadlines.
• ABSOLUTELY NO WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE FINAL CLASS MEETS WEEK 11.

Classroom Policy:

• No food allowed in class or lab at any time. Drinks in sealable bottles allowed in classroom.
• Edible items brought to class or lab must be thrown out.
• If student elects to eat/drink outside class or lab door, missed time is recorded as absent.
• Attendance is taken hourly. Tardiness or absence is recorded in 15-minute increments.
• Break times are scheduled by the instructor at appropriate intervals.
• No private software is to be brought to lab or loaded onto school computers.
• No software games are allowed in lab (unless in course curriculum).
• Headphones are required if listening to music during lab. No headphones are allowed in lecture.
• Any student who has special needs that may affect his or her performance in this class is asked to identify his/her needs to the instructor in private by the end of the first day of class. Any resulting class performance problems that may arise for those who do not identify their needs will not receive any special grading considerations.

Disability Policy Statement:

It is our policy not to discriminate against qualified students with documented disabilities in its educational programs, activities, or services. If you have a disability-related need for adjustments or other accommodations in this class, contact the Disabilities Services Coordinator at 415-276-1060.

Academic Honesty Policy:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty while pursuing their studies at AiCA-SF. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: plagiarism and cheating; misuse of academic resources or facilities; and misuse of computer software, data, equipment or networks.

Student work that appears to violate AiCA-SF’s standards of academic honesty will be reviewed by the Committee on Academic Honesty. If the work is judged to have violated standards of academic honesty, appropriate sanctions will be given. Sanctions include but are not limited to course failure and academic termination.

Suggested Course Outline

Week 1: Lecture: Introduction / Discussion: What is Art & why do we make it?

Reading: After the end of Art , by Arthur C. Danto ,Princeton Univ Press (November 9, 1998) ISBN 0691002991.

Homework: Read Chapter 2 “Towards a Newer Laocoon” Clement Green berg

Week 2: Lecture: Discussion of Greenberg essay.

Reading: After the end of Art , by Arthur C. Danto ,Princeton Univ Press (November 9, 1998) ISBN 0691002991. Read Chapter 4 and 6.

Homework: Research the term Avant garde

Week 3: Lecture: Discussion and lecture on Avant Garde

Reading:. Research on topic.

Homework: Duchamp essay

Week 4: Lecture: Discussion and Lecture on Duchamp.

Reading: Research on topic.

Homework: What is Post-Modernism? Read text.

Week 5: Lecture: Lecture and discussion on Post - modernism

Homework: Pluralism: Gender, Race & Sex (read text)

Week 6: Lecture: Lecture and discussion of Pluralism ; : Slide Lecture (various works relevant to previous discussions)

Homework: Research contemporary art magazines. Find what you like, dislike, find examples of previous topics discussed in class

Week 7: Lecture: How do you “Fit In”. Discussion: Show and Tell from art magazines

Homework: Write a review based on articles .

Week 8: Lecture: Project due : Field trip. Discussion.

Homework: Short paper on what we saw! Objective / subjective response

Week 9: Lecture: Project Due : Museum Paper : Lecture topic Is Taste Subjective?

Reading: based on research topic.

Homework: Presentations due next week.

Week 10: Lecture: Presentations of papers.

Reading: Based on research topic.

Homework: Presentations/Paper due next week.

Week 11: Presentations /Paper Due