ART/101

Introduction to Art

Point Values for Course Assignments                                                                           

Week One

Art and Meaning: Understanding the Art You See

• Demonstrate visual literacy.
• Summarize the roles of the artist.

Course Assignments

1. Course Preparation

• Read the course description and objectives.
• Read the instructor’s biography and post your own.

2. Readings

• Read Appendix A regarding the final project requirements.
• Read Appendix B as a resource for final project and course assignments.
• Read the Student Toolkit on pp. xvi–xx of A World of Art.
• Read 1 & 2 of A World of Art.
• Complete the Reading Art: Understanding Iconography multimedia: http://corptrain.phoenix.edu/sites/art101r4/index.html

3. CheckPoint: Visual Literacy

• Resource: MyArtsLab, Closer Look, 2 of A World of Art
• View the following Closer Look Presentation in MyArtsLab available on your student website:

• Open the MyArtsLab for A World of Art. To access MyArtsLab-go to your Materials page and click on the left under Student Text Resources, it will have your access code username and password there.
• Click on Closer Look.
• Under the Ch. 2 heading, click on Howling Wolf’s Treaty Signing at Medicine Creek Lodge

• View the presentation on Howling Wolf’s Treaty Signing at Medicine Creek Lodge.

• Write a 150-word response to each [total 300 words] of the following questions relating to this painting:

• Although Howling Wolf’s drawing is seen as näively executed by the standards of Western art, why do we conclude that his record of the treaty signing event is more honest than the illustration rendered by the other artist?

• Why did the White artist ignore the many native women who were present at the treaty signing? Do you think this omission was deliberate or unintentional due to cultural bias?

4. Assignment: Reading Art – Understanding Iconography

Understanding iconography, the symbolic meaning underlying images, is one aspect of visual literacy. Visual literacy and understanding the roles of the artist deepens one’s appreciation of art in general. The Week One assignment reinforces concepts presented in Ch. 1 & 2 regarding artists’ roles and understanding art.

• Review 1 & 2 of A World of Art.

• Review the multimedia: Reading Art – Understanding Iconography multimedia:

http://corptrain.phoenix.edu/sites/art101r4/index.html

• Choose two works of art.
• Refer to the resources listed in Appendix B and Ch. 1 & 2 in A World of Art. In addition, you may use other sources in your search for examples of artwork.
• Be sure at least one of your selected art works holds symbolic significance.

• Write a 300- to 350-word essay summarizing an artist’s roles as applied to your artwork. Include the following:

• A brief explanation of the four roles of the artist
• An explanation of why your work exemplifies one specific role, as discussed in Ch. 1
• An explanation of the iconographic or symbolic significance of one work of art

• Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Please review the Helpful Hints on Main Forum regarding Sunday Written Assignments with APA requirements.

Weekly Reminders

Summary of Week 1 Deliverables—Please note that CheckPoint Assignments are due on Day 5, Friday, with 2 exceptions:  Week 1 and Week 9. On those weeks, your CheckPoint is due Day 4, Thursday. Thank you.

Week Two

Art and Intention: Seeing the Value in Art

• Summarize public reaction to examples of controversial art.
• Discuss individual perspectives to art in public spaces.

Course Assignments

1. Readings

• Read 43–54 in Ch. 3 of A World of Art.
• Read 4–6 of A World of Art.
• Review Appendix A regarding Final Project requirements.

2. CheckPoint: Art and Intention

Discussion and debate have always marked the reception of art. This CheckPoint focuses on two artworks regarded as masterpieces that were initially met with controversy.

• Resource: 3 of A World of Art.
• Examine Michelangelo’s David on p. 49 in Ch. 3 of A World of Art.
• View the following Closer Look Presentation in the MyArtsLab link available on your student website:

• Open the MyArtsLab for A World of Art.
• Click on Multimedia Library then click Closer Look.
• Under the Ch. 3 heading, click on Marcel Duchamp, Nude Descending a Staircase.

• Write a 200- to 300-word summary that answers the following:

• Summarize the reaction of the public to Michelangelo’s David and Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending a Staircase.
• What did contemporary viewers find objectionable about each work?
• What are the reasons behind Duchamp’s innovative approach to human form?
• Does knowledge of the artist’s inspiration enhance your appreciation of Nude Descending a Staircase?

3. Discussion Questions-Please review on Main Forum Guide for Participation using Substantive Posts.

• Review the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation website: http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_newsroom/video/index.html?key=13 and watch the video on Calder in City Hall Park. Post your response to the following:

How does the Calder sculpture compare to public art in your city?

How do you think art in public spaces contributes to building community and a sense of culture?

• Review 3 of A World of Art. Considering examples on pp. 52–54 in Ch. 3 of your text, what performance art might you imagine executing in a public space? What would be your piece’s purpose and content?

Weekly Reminders   Participation:  All Week: Remember to participate in the class discussions 4 out of 7 days during the week. They must be Substantive Posts. On your MAIN FORUM, I have posted for your convenience the definition of a Substantive Post.

Week Three

Formal Elements: The Building Blocks of Art

• Identify the formal elements of art.
• Describe artworks in formal terms.

Course Assignments

1. CheckPoint: Exploration of Form – Simulations

• Review: 4–6 of A World of Art.
• Review Appendix A regarding Final Project requirements.
• Access Exploration of Form – Simulations available on your student website.
• Complete the following simulation exercises:

o    Click on the Exploration of Form – Simulations

o    Complete the Section exercises for the following:

• • Elements of Form (Line only)
  • Organizing Space (Linear, Spatial, and Directional)
  • Elements of Color and Light (Functions, Properties, Expressive, and Optical)

o    Complete the corresponding test at the end of each section. Use the e-mail box function to e-mail the results to yourself and then attach a copy to your CheckPoint Assignment, to submit to the Assignments Link for your instructor.

2. Assignment: Formal Analysis of Art

• Write a 200-word paragraph (a total of 600 to 650 words) on each of the following topics:

• View Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night on p. 61 and Sol LeWitt’s Wall Drawing No. 681 on p. 64 in Ch. 4 of A World of Art and describe both paintings in terms of their lines. What does each artist’s use of line communicate about the artist’s personality and view of the world?

• View Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez on p. 155 in Ch. 8 of A World of Art and describe the formal qualities of this work in terms of its organizing Do the formal qualities working together create a particular effect? If so, what is it and how is this accomplished? You might find it helpful to also watch the Closer Look discussion of this painting on the MyArtsLab website under Ch. 8.
• View Nighthawks by Edward Hopper on p. 510 in Ch. 21 of A World of Art and describe the formal qualities of this work in terms of its color and light. Do the formal qualities working together create a particular effect? If so, what is it and how is this accomplished?
• Organize your responses into one Microsoft® Word document according to APA guidelines.

Weekly Reminders

Summary of Week 3 Deliverables 

Week Four

Design

• Identify principles of design within a composition.
• Identify historical design movements.

Course Assignments

1. Readings

• Read 8, pp. 384–396 in Ch.16, & Ch. 21 of A World of Art.
• Read 169–175 in Ch 9, Ch. 11, & Ch. 20 of A World of Art.
• Review Appendix A regarding Final Project requirements.

2. CheckPoint: Design Movements

• Complete Appendix C matrix. Add two more design movements to the matrix with respective examples for each.
• Include approximate dates for each movement.

3. Discussion Questions

• Review the video podcast at the EwArt website on the composition of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper: http://ewart.sbc.edu/2006/12/leonardos_lahtml. Looking at The Last Supper, what design elements do you recognize? Discuss them in your response.

• Consider Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper or any artwork that interests you. What do you think is the most useful element of design? Which element do you think is most important and integral to the creation of a successful work of art? Explain why.

Weekly Reminders

Participation: Remember to participate in the class discussions 4 out of 7 days during the week with Substantive Posts.

Summary of Week 4 Deliverables

Week Five

Drawing and Painting

• Explain the relevance of drawing to the creative process.
• Compare painting methodology of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.

Course Assignments

1. CheckPoint: Drawing

• Review the nature and function of Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings on the Drawings of Leonardo website, http://www.drawingsofleonardo.org/ .
• Review the nature and function of Michelangelo’s drawings on the British Museum website, located in Appendix B.
• Describe how each artist viewed drawing as a part of the creative process, in 200 to 300 words.

2. Assignment: Painting Styles

• Resource: Appendix B

• Review 504–518 in Ch. 20 & Ch. 21 of A World of Art

• View the Neoclassic piece The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries by Jacques Louis David, on the National Gallery of Art website, located in Appendix B. To access the piece, do the following:

3. Type The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries into the Search This Site box.

   • Click The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries.

• View the Impressionist piece The Luncheon of the Boating Party by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, on the Phillips Collection website, located in Appendix B. To access the piece, do the following:

4. Click the link to go to the Phillips Collection home page.

   • Select Collection.
   • Click Luncheon of the Boating Party from the drop-down menu on the left side of the screen.

• View the Abstract Expressionist piece Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) by Jackson Pollock, on the Metropolitan Museum of Art website, located in Appendix B. To access the piece, do the following:

• Click the link to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art home page.
• Select Works of Art.

  • Type Autumn Rhythm in the Search box, and select the first item that comes up.
  • You may also find the following helpful:

• The Works in Progress explanation of Pollock on pp. 134–135 in Ch. 7 of A World of Art
• MyArtsLab – The Closer Look at Pollock’s Autumn Rhythm under Ch. 7
• MyArtsLab – The video link of Jackson Pollock at Work under Ch. 7

• Write a 500- to 700-word summary that compares and contrasts Neoclassicism, Impressionism, and Abstract Expressionism. Use the selected artwork as your examples. Include the following in your discussion:

• How each style reflects its era and the culture
• Discussion of painting techniques
• Formal elements

• Format your summary consistent with APA guidelines.

Summary of Week 5 Deliverables

Week Six

Camera Arts

• Compare early and modern photography methods.
• Compare artistic film and popular cinema.

Course Assignments

1. Readings

• Read 130–140 in Ch. 7 & Ch. 12 of A World of Art.
• Read 15, pp. 419–426 and 429 in Ch. 17, & Ch. 18 of A World of Art.
• Review Appendix A regarding Final Project requirements.

2. CheckPoint: Film and Popular Cinema

• Resource: 12 of A World of Art
• Summarize the distinction between film and popular cinema in 150 to 250 words.
• Provide examples of each and explain why they fall into either category.

3. Discussion Questions

• Explore the daguerreotype process at The Metropolitan Museum of Art website: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hi/hi_dgrrlouisjacques.htm. In your opinion, what is the most significant difference between the daguerreotype process and modern photography? How do early and modern photos differ in the creative process of image production?

• Think of a suspenseful or comedic movie or TV program you have recently seen. Identify the sequence of shots in this film that builds dramatic or comedic tension successfully. What technique did the director use to achieve suspense or comedy in your example?

Weekly Reminders

Participation   Please remember to post with Substantive Posts 2 times for 4 out of 7 days each.

Summary of Week 6 Deliverables

WINTER BREAK: 12/21/10 THROUGH 1/4/11

Week Seven

Architecture

• Distinguish between Greek and Roman contributions to architecture.

• Explain the function of architecture in different cultures.

Course Assignments

1. CheckPoint: Greek and Roman Architecture

• Resource: 15 of A World of Art
• Write a summary comparing the characteristics and innovations of each Greek and Roman architecture in 200 to 300 words.
• Provide two representative examples of architecture for each Greek and Roman cultures.

2. Assignment: Architecture and Function

• Review 15, p. 429 in Ch. 17, & Ch. 18 of A World of Art.
• Create a 5- to 8-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation which includes the following:
• Two examples of architecture from Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, respectively
• Brief explanations of elements of architecture as they relate to specific aspects of each religion
• Names of types of buildings associated with each religion
• A separate slide with references

• Format your citations consistent with APA guidelines.

Weekly Reminders

Summary of Week 7 Deliverables    

Week Eight

Sculpture

• Compare sculptural styles.
• Describe installation art.

Course Assignments

1. Readings

• Read 13 of A World of Art.
• Review Appendix A regarding Final Project requirements.

2. CheckPoint: Comparison of Three Sculptures

• Resource: Podcast David vs. David; p. 49 in Ch. 3, pp. 130–131 in Ch. 7, & pp. 452–453 in Ch. 19 of A World of Art
• View the David vs. David podcast on MyArtsLab. Follow these directions:

  • Click on the link to MyArtsLab
  • Select Videos and Podcasts
  • Select 7, David vs. David

• Examine the sculptures of Donatello’s David (Early Renaissance), Michelangelo’s David (High Renaissance), and Bernini’s David (Baroque).
• Write a 300- to 350-word comparison of the different styles of the David sculptures by these three artists.

3. Discussion Questions

• Discuss the representation of the human body by the ancient Egyptians and the ancient Greeks. What are the similarities and differences between the two? What does the sculptural representation of the human form say about each culture?
• Using Internet resources, find one example of installation art. Describe the artwork you have found, including the title, artist, year created, and where it is installed. What is the meaning of the work? How does the meaning relate to what the artist has created? Provide your personal reaction to your chosen work and comment on each other’s examples of installation art.

Weekly Reminders

Participation:  Remember to participate in the class discussions 4 out of 7 days during the week with Substantive Posts.

Summary of Week 8 Deliverables

• Week Nine

Art in Context

• Evaluate systems of support for art in local communities.

• Analyze artwork.

Course Assignments

1. Capstone CheckPoint

• Write a 200- to 300-word summary of the following questions:

• How are the arts in your community supported by various agencies and citizens?
• Do you think there is enough or not enough support of the arts by these entities? Explain why or why not.

• What is your role in the creation and support of art in your community?

2. Final Project: Art Timeline

In the final project, you assume the role of a museum curator who receives the following e-mail from the director of the museum:

Following a meeting with our museum’s web design team, it is now my priority to improve the content of our museum’s website. We decided on an interactive timeline focused on one art medium. It is your responsibility to choose one art form such as a painting or sculpture for the timeline. You must also have a common theme for the artwork you select. If you were to choose sculpture, your theme might be 20th-century sculpture.

Whatever your selected focus is, make sure you do not make the timeline too long. Ten works of art should suffice. After selecting the 10 works of art, write a short paragraph to accompany each one. You have approximately 9 weeks for this project before you turn over your selected artworks and content to the design team.

• Select one art media on which to focus. Examples include:

• painting,
• architecture,
• performance art,
• film
• sculpture
• others

Whereas these are broad areas, you must select a single medium, then make your timeline focused on that single medium.

• Research the Internet or Grove Art Online in the Oxford Art Online database in the Axia Online library, and find 10 representative examples of your chosen medium that are thematically connected. Examples of thematically linked art media include the following:

• Linear perspective in European paintings
• Black-and-white film noir
• Greek figural sculpture
• International video art

• Organize, in a Microsoft® Word document, the 10 works in chronological order and include a 100-word paragraph for each in short essay form.

• Format your timeline consistent with APA guidelines.

Weekly Reminders

Participation:  Note, like Week 1, CheckPoint for Week 9 is due on Thursday Day 4 rather than Friday Day 5.

Summary of Week 9 Deliverables