HONORS SEMINAR IN VISUAL ART (HON 161)
	Syllabus  Schedule  Museum Paper

I. Title: Honors Senimar in Visual Art

II. Catalog Description: An exploration of the importance of the visual arts in human culture through visual presentations, readings, discussion and participation. Open only to students in the Honors Program. A University Studies fine arts elective.

III. Purpose: To provide a basic familiarity with the history of art with emphasis on the Western tradition.

IV. Course Objective: To help students recognize and understand stylistic differences and the properties of various media; to understand changing critical standards and the cultural context in which art has been made; and to develop a vocabulary with which to discuss art.

V. Content Outline:  A. Prehistory
                               B. Antiquity
                               C. Ancient Rome
                               D. Medieval Art
                               E. Renaissance
                               F. Baroque
                               G. 19th-century Art
                               H. Modern Art
                                                     (see attached Semester schedule for details)

VI. Instructional activities: Lectures with slides and periodic discussion sessions.

VII. Field and Clinical Experience: Visit to Saint Louis Art Museum (Saturday ! TBA)

VIII. Resources: Slides, textbook, handouts.

IX. Grading Procedures: Five (5) Exams (including the final, at 20 points each), examining both factual and conceptual information based on readings, presentations, discussions, lectures.  You will be allowed to drop one exam from the first four with the lowest score.
In addition, you will write a so-called “Museum paper” based on a work of art of your choice during the visit in the Saint Louis Art Museum (equal in score to the exams, i.e., 20 points).  The purpose is to analyze carefully a work of art based on your direct experience of the real object.
Your final grade is cumulative and takes into account your participation in discussions as well as any improvement.

X. Attendance Policy:  Attendance is required.  You are allowed  5 absences - no questions asked or explanation required. The “6th” absence will result in a letter grade reduction; the “7th” in an additional letter point reduction; the “8th” will result in automatic failure of the course (except in extreme cases such as, long term hospitalization, legal obligation, etc.)

XI. Academic Honesty Policy: All work during evaluations, on papers, or other academic activities must be student’s own work.  Cheating, plagiarism, or other academic dishonesty is clearly violation of academic standards and University policy–and will result in automatic failure of the course.

XII. Text and Resources: Marilyn Stocktad,  Art: a Brief History, Prentice Hall, 1999

XIII. Prerequisites:  none

Wk 2    Aug 28      Proto Greek (Aegean art)                         86-94
             Aug 30     Greek Art                                                 95-113
             Sep 1       Greek Art      Cont.

Wk 3    Sep 4       LABOR DAY
             Sep 6        Hellenistic Art                                           114-131
             Sep 8        Roman Art                                               132-155

Wk 4    Sep 11      Roman Art      Cont.
             Sep 13      Roman Art      Cont.
             Sep 15      Exam # 1

Wk 5    Sep 18      Early Christian Art                                     158-179
             Sep 20      Early Christian/ Byzantine Art    Cont.
             Sep 22      Islamic Art                                                193-199

Wk 6    Sep 25      Early Medieval Art                                     180-192
             Sep 27      Romanesque                                              222-233
             Sep 29      Gothic                                                        234-251

Wk 7    Oct 2        Gothic       Cont.
             Oct 4        Exam # 2
             Oct 6        NO CLASS

Wk 8    Oct 9        Flemish 15th c.                                          252-263
             Oct 11      Early Renaissance                                     263-275
             Oct 13      FALL BREAK

Wk 9    Oct 16      High Renaissance                                       276-289
             Oct 18      High Renaissance     Cont.
             Oct 20      NO CLASS

Wk 10  Oct 23      Mannerism (Reformation)                           289-296
             Oct 25      German and Flemish Art of the 16th c.        296-303
             Oct 27      Baroque (painting in the Catholic countries) 304-328

Wk 11  Oct 30      Baroque (Sculpture and Arch.)    Cont.
             Nov 1       Dutch Baroque (protestant)    Cont.
             Nov 3       NO CLASS

Wk 12  Nov 6       Rococo                                                      328-333
                              Neoclassicism                                             369-384
             Nov 8       Exam # 3    (without Neoclassicism)
             Nov 10     Romanticism                                              384-391

Wk 13  Nov 13      Realism and Impressionism                        392-411
             Nov 15      Post-Impressionism                                   412-420
             Nov 17      Fauvism and Expressionism                        420-426

Wk 14  Nov 20      Exam # 4
             Nov 22      THANKSGIVING
             Nov 24      THANKSGIVING

Wk 15  Nov 27       Cubism (and related movements)                426-431
             Nov 29       Fantasy, Dada, and Surrealism                   443-447
             Dec 1          NO CLASS (W.I.P.)

Saturday Dec 2        a likely date for the trip to Saint Louis Art Museum

Wk 16  Dec 4          Constructivism and Modern Architecture    434-443
             Dec 6          Art After the WWII                                   450-455
             Dec 8          Contemporary Art                                     456-475
                              Museum Paper Due

Wk 17       FINAL - Exam # 5            Tuesday, Dec. 12, 8:00 AM

MUSEUM  PAPER

    The purpose of the paper is to describe and analyze carefully a work of art based on your direct experience of the real object.  This is NOT a research paper. The assignment will give you the chance to apply what you have learned in the class.  The only source of information should be your textbook, your notes, and the museum wall label information.
     Nevertheless, for information about the subject of your painting, you should consult any standard dictionary of mythology, history, or religion (available in reference section of the Library,e.g., James Hall, Dictionary of Subjects & Symbols in Art,  N7560 .H34 1974B ).
    Beware of plagiarism (i.e., using somebody else’s writing without giving them a due credit, the same goes for paraphrasing). Plagiarism could get you expelled from the university! So don’t do it.  If you are using information from the wall label, book,  etc., cite the sources.

Organization of the paper:
1. Identify the work by artist, title, country of origin, date, and medium.

2. Write a thoughtful, formal essay with carefully constructed paragraphs that would include the following:
    A.  Discuss the formal elements of the work: for example, the composition, the treatment of figures, line, texture, the use of color, light/shade, scale, the treatment of space, the handling of paint, unity vs. variety, motion, rhythm, balance proportion, etc.
    B. Consider the subject/theme of the work; the style of the period; what cultural concepts are expressed (compare with similar objects seen in your class).
    C. Analyze the work in regard to its expressive content.  What statement do you think the artist wanted to make?  How do the technical aspects (technique) relate to the artist’s goals?
    D. Does this work appear to be typical of the period in which the artist worked, how and why?

3. Write a stimulating conclusion; what is your overall assessment of the work?

4. You should include a quick sketch.  The process of even very non-artistic sketching forces you to look closer.  For the finishing touches on your paper you may consider taking a photograph (without a flash!), or buying a postcard (if available at the SLAM bookstore) that would serve as a visual reminder when writing the final version of your paper.

Helpful hints: Plan to spend time in the museum LOOKING in order to choose and study your work of art carefully.  Take careful, detailed, and extensive notes while you are looking at the work both about the composition/style, condition, and your emotional response.  Write at least an outline of your paper in front of the actualwork of art.  Take your class notes and/or your book with you as reference tools (especially for the historical style portion of your paper).