Wednesdays 2:10 - 4:55PM VAB B25
Office hours: Wednesdays 12:45-1:45pm by appointment
Prof. Doris Cacoilo
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course students will be introduced to key issues and theoretical approaches in the study of art and women. The course will provide a historical overview of artworks created by women from the classical world to the present, with an emphasis on those from the 20th century. It begins with the examination of the socio-cultural conditions in which women artists have often been excluded or marginalized in art history and emphasizes how issues of gender have been encoded in art practice, exhibition and collection.
The course will use a historic context of feminist art and media studies to interpret and analyze contemporary art and media examples. Students will read across various fields to interpret and critique images in art and media to explore women’s role and perception, women as audience and the importance of women as artists.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to identify major women artists, their works, and their stylistic characteristics in different periods. Students will develop the ability to create thoughtful and engaging projects and writing assignments. In addition to a rigorous reading schedule students are required to write various projects for the class blog and sustain continued research and writing throughout the course in addition to the scheduled assignments. Students will understand the socio-cultural conditions in which women artists of different periods and areas have worked
Students are expected to use theory, criticism and philosophy to understand art and art history. Feedback from classmates is a valuable resource for the improvement of student writing and work. Critiques and discussions allow us to share our analysis of the readings with others and express our intentions and interpretations. Class participation is essential and mandatory.
Class sessions will be divided into presentations, lecture and class discussion of the readings. Presentations will address both theoretical and analytical issues related to women and art. Students are responsible to be prepared for class, read all assignments on time and post all writing and projects to the blog, paying attention to technical and aesthetic presentation as well as thoughtful and well-developed content. All work must be handed in on time.
- Students will gain knowledge of a large set of art objects from a variety of cultures and periods.
- Students will be able to apply Art Historical concepts and vocabulary.
- Students will become adept at visual analysis of works of art in a variety of media.
- Students will be able to place art in historical, stylistic and cultural contexts.
- Students will learn how to communicate effectively about art.
- Students will be introduced to a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to Art History.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS: Whitney Chadwick, Women, Art, and Society, 4th or 5th edition, (New York: Thames and Hudson), 2007. (earlier edition ok: but you are responsible to find any information that is not included)
The Guerrilla Girls, The Guerrilla Girls’ Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art (New York, Penguin Books, 1998)
READINGS Various weekly reading assignments will be assigned from the required texts or available on Blackboard. The reading schedule will be distributed on the blog. Readings are due each week.
CLASS PARTICIPATION For each reading you must select two quotes or passages from the readings with a brief interpretation of each quote to discuss further in class. Choose anything that strikes you or you feel deserves further attention. You must have these prepared (typed up or written out) for each class meeting. These will be collected every week. Several students will be called on each week to share their selected quotes and interpretations during class discussion.
BLOG You must consult the class blog daily to check for announcements, readings and to post your assignments. The blog is crucial to the course and completion of the requirements. You MUST have access to the blog to complete assignments, readings, post work and comment on students’ posts.
REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION OF THE COURSE
Four writing assignments published to the blog, a group presentation as well as two in-class exams must be completed during the semester. Students must also complete all assigned readings and participate in class discussions. Assignments must be completed thoroughly and on time.
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS
*Posts 1-4
Students must develop researched responses to readings and discussions in class. Each post will be specific to the topics covered in class at that time and will be explained during class. Students are responsible to write and edit these posts as well as illustrate them and successfully post them to the blog for discussion and critique in class.
*Group presentation/performance
Group participants must design and perform one short performance that connects to the readings due that day. Each group can choose to focus on one particular artist, theme, or genre. Presentations should be organized, clear and engaging and should include a visual component in addition to an exciting interactive presentation. Presentations are not lectures. You must design and act out a performance, an interaction involving the class or a live skit. All students in the group must participate. The performance should be 7-10 minutes and should present the artwork and themes we have been studying and spur discussion within the classroom. Present a question to the class at the end of the performance to begin a short discussion. Get creative! MAKE IT AWESOME! Presentation summaries must be posted to the blog. Every student will present once (as part of a group) during the semester.
*Midterm and Final Exams
Students must be prepared for two in-class exams based on class lectures, readings and discussions. A study guide will be posted to the class blog and discussed in class before each exam.
ATTENDANCE
Attendance is required and is taken at the beginning of each class. Class begins on time, so you must be punctual. Lateness, leaving early or leaving class unexcused for an extended period of time will also be recorded. Two of these instances will count as one absence. You must communicate with me as soon as possible when you are absent. You may email me or speak with me in class. More than 4 unexcused absences will result in the loss of all of your attendance/participation credit.
GRADE
50% 2 in-class exams
20% blog posts (weekly)
10% Gallery Response Essay
10% Class Trip to NYC
10% attendance/participation
HEALTH AND SAFETY
You are not to risk the health or safety of yourself or any of the other people in the Art department. To ensure safety strictly follow all safety procedures explained to you as well as the New Jersey City University regulations. If you have any concerns or questions or are ever unclear about proper safety and health procedures, then ask the instructor or appropriate authority.
If you feel you have any special concerns or problems that you would like to address please feel free to bring them to my attention. If there are any health concerns, either physical or psychological, that may affect your ability to fully participate in the class or complete assignments I am available to discuss possible solutions or address any of your concerns. If you have health or disability concerns that you would like to address but do not feel it is appropriate to discuss them with me there are services on campus available to address your concerns; contact Student/Health Services (Vodra Hall, Suite 107, 201-200-3456), the Art Department Office, or feel free to see me for contact info.
SCHEDULE
******PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND I WILL INFORM YOU OF SPECIFICS AND CHANGES PERTAINING TO THIS SCHEDULE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. If you ever have questions or concerns about the schedule, due dates, changes or anything else please check the blog and e-mail me.
***Readings from required texts are found below. Additional readings for each class will be found on the blog. It is the student’s responsibility to check the blog for all readings and assignments due.
Week 1: 9/3 Introduction and discussion. Set up students on the class blog.
Week 2: 9/10 Classical World/The Male Gaze Discussion session.
Readings Due. Guerrilla Girls, pg.7-17 and two pdfs available ON BLACKBOARD.
INTRO POST 1 due on the blog
Week 3: 9/17 The Middle Ages and Renaissance Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch. 1,2+3 Guerrilla Girls pg.7-37
Post 2 due
Week 4: 9/24 17th and 18th Century Europe Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch. 4 + 5, Guerrilla Girls pg.39-45
Post 3 due
Week 5: 10/1 19th Century Victorian England and American Craft, Painting, and Sculpture Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick Ch.6, Ch.7 and Guerrilla Girls pg.47-57
Post 4 due
Week 6: 10/8 Impressionism Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch.8
Week 7: 10/15. Impressionism Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch.8 (MIDTERM EXAM postponed)
Post 4 due
Week 8: 10/22 MIDTERM EXAM and VAB Gallery Visit
Week 9: 10/29 Early 20th Century Modernism and Abstraction, German Expressionism, Dada and Surrealism Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch. 9, Guerrilla Girls pg.59-79
Week 10: 11/5 Feminist Representations of the Female Body, Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick Ch.10, Guerrilla Girls pg.80-88
Week 11: 11/12 Gender, Race and Modernism after World War II -Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism and Politics of Race Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick Ch.11, Guerrilla Girls pg.80-88
Post 6 Due
Week 12: 11/19 Feminist and Performance Art and Postmodernism Discussion session. Readings Due. Chadwick, Ch.12 +13, Guerrilla Girls pg.89-91
Week 13: 11/26 Women Artists Today Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick Ch.14 + 15
Week 14: 12/3 FINAL EXAM and Class Trip to NYC
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