Instructor: Dr. Warren Olin-Ammentorp
Contact: 655-7102 wolin@cazcollege.edu
Office: 13 Nickerson St – 2nd floor middle office
Office Hrs: MWF 10.15-11.30 (and by appointment)
Course Description / Teaching & Learning Goals: This course presents a broad introductory survey of non-Western art and art-making, with particular emphasis on figurative sculpture, religious architecture, and decorative arts, from regions such as Africa, India, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, the Islamic world, and Oceania. Students in this course will learn to: a) identify and describe art works from various non-Western cultures in terms of their culture, type, materials, techniques, and cultural purpose, and b) to discuss these works in terms of broad themes about the purpose and function of art in human societies, and how cultural values are reflected and expressed through aesthetic principles. Students will also consider why and how an awareness of non-Western art and aesthetic principles informs Western notions of art and beauty.
All-College Competencies: This course addresses and will advance students’ mastery of the following competency areas: Visual Literacy; Cultural Literacy; Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving.
Teaching & Required Work: This course will be based on a key topic system. Each week or so the course will cover a broad topic through general lecture and discussion of specific examples of the topic. Usually there will be one, sometimes two, key works that will serve as central examples of the topic. These key works will be provide the base for assessment of student knowledge. Students will demonstrate basic knowledge (identification, description) and an ability to discuss and compare (analysis) specific works through written exercises and examinations. In general, students will apply and answer the following key course questions to everything we study in the course:
- On the level of INFORMATION for IDENTIFICATION: What is it? (Who made it? When & where? What is it for? What is it made of, and how was it made?)
- On the level of DISCUSSION: Why is it made like that? What does it say? What makes it beautiful? What can we learn from it?
- QUIZZES – both in-class and take-home = 60%
- FINAL EXAM = 30%
- PARTICIPATION & COMPLIANCE = 10%
Course Blog (used for all assignments & study materials): http://fa210spring2012.blogspot.com/
GENERAL STATEMENTS &COLLEGE POLICIES:
Attendance & Basic Expectations [Ungraded but Essential]: To pass this course you will need to meet certain basic expectations for attendance, behavior, and work. You must attend class regularly, arriving on time, ready to participate in the class work, with the proper materials and with all previously-assigned work completed. Also, when present at class meetings you must contribute positively to the course by ensuring that everyone present has an opportunity to work and learn. Any behavior that disrupts the business of the class (by distracting me or anyone else) is unacceptable. And finally, you must make a good-faith effort to do all the work listed on this syllabus as a course requirement. Fulfilling these basic expectations does not guarantee a passing grade; it only means that you are qualified to receive a passing grade. Failure to fulfill any of these expectations may lead to your expulsion from a class meeting, or from the course, or a failing grade. I do not grade on attendance per se but attendance is essential to success in this course. Excessive absences (more than six overall or more than two consecutive absences) for any reason will have a negative impact on performance and grade. Students who must miss class, but who inform me and discuss how they plan to make up the missed work will have opportunities to succeed; students who fail to take responsibility for the problems caused by their absence will lack such opportunities.
Statement on Academic Honesty: Cazenovia College is committed to academic honesty, and so am I. Your work must be your own, produced for this class and no other. Your work must represent your thoughts; any representation of the thoughts of others must be documented according to appropriate standards and formats. The committee on academic honesty reviews reported cases of alleged plagiarism, cheating on examinations, undocumented copying of art, and similar forms of academic dishonesty. At the beginning of each full academic term all students receive a comprehensive orientation on the college’s expectation regarding academic honesty.
Statement for Special Needs Students: Special needs students who require accommodations in classroom or outside work or test-taking procedures should notify the Office of Special Services.
Honors: This class may be taken at the Honors level by students in the Honors Program. See the instructor for details.
