Course Description
Introduces visual, written and musical works of art to increase understanding. Develops techniques and terminology in the arts through lectures, discussion, and live performances and events.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to
- Develop tools of perception to increase students’ understanding and appreciation of works of art
- Reinforce writing and communication skills by providing opportunities for students to express themselves intelligibly in writing and speech
- Cultivate students’ discernment, taste, deepened appreciation of artistic methods and a more profound self-knowledge
- Develop and exercise critical judgment through the study of significant works of art
- Introduce students to terminology associated with works of art
- Provide intellectual and artistic resources for personal growth
Week 1
Lecture: What is Art?
Outcomes
- Perceive their role in the world of art and begin to approach all art with a methodical, analytical method
- Begin to examine purpose of art beyond what they may currently believe or expect
Lecture: Analyze This
Outcomes
- Explain the Aesthetic Response
- Recognize changes in Aesthetic Response through time
- Establish a plan for analyzing and discussing the arts
- Evaluate the basic questions in approaching a work
Week 2
Lecture: Elements of Art, Part 1
Lecture: Elements of Art, Part 2
Outcomes
- Identify the ingredients, the elements of which art is composed
- Discuss how an artist uses elements to create ideas, emotions and communicate to the observer
Week 3
Lecture: Principles of Art
Outcomes
- Describe the order in which elements of art are put together to form recognizable principles of art
- Observe and discuss, in detail, more complex ideas generated by artists’ work
- Discuss how an artwork’s components affect the student/viewer
- Describe what elements and principles helped the artist achieve this response in the student/viewer
Lecture: Art Movements through the 19th Century, Part 1
Outcomes
- Identify artistic periods, major artists and their key stylistic points through the 19th Century in visual art
Week 4
Lecture: Art Movements through the 19th Century, Part 2
Outcomes
- Identify artistic periods, major artists and their key stylistic points through the 19th Century in visual art
Lecture: Art Movements in the 20th Century
Outcomes
- Identify schools and movements, major artists and their key stylistic points in 20th Century visual art
Lecture: Music, Part 1
Outcomes
- Discuss elements that make up music in general
- Learn what comprises “listening to music” and how it affects the way in which music is heard
- Discuss what responses a piece engenders in the student/listener and describe what the composer did to achieve this effect
Week 5
Lecture: Music, Part 2
Outcomes
- Identify periods, major composers and their key stylistic points in music through the 20th Century
Lecture: Photography
Outcomes
- Discuss the general history of photography
- Identify the impact of photography on society and the other arts
Week 6
Lecture: Drama, Part 1
Outcomes
- Identify and discuss categories of drama and unique qualities in relation to other arts
- Identify and discuss Aristotle’s Elements of Drama
Week 7
Lecture: Drama, Part 2
Outcomes
- Identify the periods and genres of drama and key characteristics
- Identify and discuss general development and history of drama
Lecture: Film, Part 1
Outcomes
- Perceive film as an art
- Discuss the art of film and its impact on society and other arts
- Discuss the general history and development of film through the 1950s
Week 8
Lecture: Film, Part 2
Outcomes
- Discuss the general history and development of film from the 1960s to the present
- Discuss the place of film today in our society as an industry and an art
Lecture: Architecture
Outcomes
- Identify what makes “good” architecture
- Identify elements in architecture
- Identify major structural styles
The course description, objectives and learning outcomes are subject to change without notice based on enhancements made to the course. November 2011
