Art History I - Prehistoric through Gothic ART 200

Section 1: MW 11:30 - 1:00

 

Instructor:

Beth LaCour

Office Hours:

M

9:30-11:30 (15-106).By appt

 

e-mail: lacour@arts-in-company.com

(new address:) lacour@arts-in-company.com

 

3:45- 6:15 (15-106)

 

 

 

Office:

Building 15, Room 106

 

W

9:30-11:30 (15-106)

Phone:

776-2037 or
call Division Office 776-2035

 

F

9:00-11:30 (15-106).By appt

 

 

I. Course Description

 

 

Western Art from Paleolithic Period through Middle Ages. Non-Western Art is introduced. Painting, sculpture and architecture examined in historical context. Application of Design Principles.

 

II. Course Goals
  1. .

This course assumes a willingness to study and reflect on the visual arts in their historical context

 

The course is designed to help the student recognize the interrelationships between the arts and the cultures that made them, understand the aesthetic significance of the works, and develop an appreciation for the qualities that make up an artist.

 

  1. Develop a general humanistic knowledge and insight relative to the historical development of Western Art.
  2. Examine the universal issues expressed and the general cultural and historical implications of the production of artdentify, interpret and evaluate the stylistic characteristics of artwork within their historical framework with an emphasis on Near Eastern and European development.
  3. Analyze examples of Western Art via writing, reading, and oral discourse.
  4. Learn art terminology, basic techniques of art production, and design principles
  5. Follow the development of drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, and other visual art forms that reveal human beings creative impulses and cultural expressions.
  6. Follow the development of drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, and other visual art forms that reveal human beings creative impulses and cultural expressions.

 

III. Text and Web Site

Stokstad-Art History, vol. 1. (1st edition), Prentice-Hall / Abrams, New York, 1995.

Web Site
../arthist/arth.htm

 

IV. Course Requirements

 

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for the successful completion of this course. Students are expected to attend every class period. Absences should be discussed with the instructor (normally in advance). Students who miss more than 4 class meetings will be immediately dropped from the class.

 

Lectures/ Discussions

Class meetings provide you with the opportunity to ask questions, air your opinions, and experience the discovery of new materials and insights. As the class goals are to foster critical thinking, critical listening and effective study and learning skills, students are asked not to tape record class lectures and discussions unless the student has a documented and verifiable disability which may keep them from taking notes.

 

Written Assignments

A majority of the evaluated course work takes the form of writing assignments. Materials found in the text, the lectures, the library, and the Internet should be used in completing these assignments. Special Note: ALL writing in this course will be evaluated. Students are expected to use college level writing and thinking skills when preparing assigned written work. Excellent writing will result in higher and poor writing will result in lower grades. (See attached grading criteria for papers and essays) Occasionally one of these papers may be due prior to organized in-class discussions of art history issues to assist students in preparation for class participation. Plagiarized papers will result in no points awarded.

 

Quizzes

Short quizzes (generally 5 pts.) are given at the beginning of each chapter. Questions come directly from the light blue study sheets. The purpose of these quizzes is to demonstrate focued reading and comprehension of the chapter so that you have a knowledge base from which to participate in class discussions.

 

Examinations

There will be four in-class examinations. These exams take the form of slide identification of art objects appearing in the text (artist, title, date, culture/ period, medium, location of architecture, art historical significance), definition of terms multiple choice, matching, short answer, and slide comparisons. Occasionally there will be an essay component. These exams are not cumulative. Questions come directly from the light blue and the light pink study sheets.

 

Students should be able to use analogies and comparisons in answering exam questions.

 

The "Final Exam" is like all others and will be held on the last day of class for the regular time period

 

Presentation

There are two class days set aside for presentations. Each student will prepare a short paper and present the important points to the rest of the class. Topics covering subjects pertaining to the first two units (through Greece) will be presented on the first presentation day and topics related to the second two units will be presented on the second presentation day. This assignment will be discussed in depth on Mon. February 2.

 

Internet Activity

In - class introduction and search activity as it applies to art historical research.

 

Class Participation

Students with perfect attendance will be awarded 15 points at the end of the semester. Participation in class discussion is expected.

 

III. Grades

 

 

Points Available

% of Semester Grade (approximate)

 

Papers

830

53 %

 

Exams (equal weight)

400

25 %

 

Presentation

150

10 %

 

Quizzes

100

7 %

 

Internet Activity
(in class)

40

3 %

 

Study Guide Assessment Sheets

15

1 %

 

Class Participation

15

 

1 %

 

 

TOTAL

1600

100 %

 

 

 

 

SEMESTER GRADE SCALE

 

A 1400 - 1600

 

B 1200 - 1399

 

C 1000 - 1199

 

D 800 - 999

 

F 0 - 799

 

 

Important Notes

The completion of all written assignments is required for a grade of C or better. This course requires that the student study on an ongoing basis.

 

Incomplete grades

 

Incomplete grades will only be given in circumstances of extended illness or other unavoidable causes, as determined by the instructor. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of these circumstances and to arrange for the making up of incomplete assignments.

 

Special Needs

Students with difficulties in reading, writing skills, and study habits are encouraged to seek help from the Learning Center 776-2085. Tutors are available and the Learning Center staff can help with the organization of a study group.