ARH 390 Survey of Decorative Arts & Design: The Ancient World to Present Online, Sec. 01, 03 Credit Hours Summer 2017 Catherine Moran Email: cmoran1@umassd.edu Office: N/A Phone: TBD Office hours: By Appointment Catalog Course Description: This course examines how man made objects create meaning in a world full of distinction and complexity. The investigation is a broad consideration of the history of global decorative arts production from the Ancient World to present. Rather than attempt to gain a comprehensive view of a single region or culture, specific topics of inquiry provide insights about how material choices, styles, forms, and designs communicate knowledge related to culturally specific spiritual expressions, cultural traditions, political and economic contexts which inform our global experience of being human. The inherited world view is critically examined through exercises, readings, and discussion. In examining artifacts this course raises critical consciousness and expands knowledge of the world of decorative arts and design. Course Objectives: By the end of the course the student will be able to: Identify the major artists stylistic elements of the periods & cultures producing decorative arts Make specific connections between the form, material, content and styles of these works of art and their larger social and political context. Discuss the specific properties of various methods of presentation & reception indicative of art made by a variety of civilizations Analyze the formal elements of cultural artifacts using the proper vocabulary of the discipline. Discuss the different viewing contexts and perceptions of the audience of for Western and Non-Western pieces Form and express interpretations and/or analysis of cultural production in written and visual form. Become familiar with terminology related to the decorative arts beyond the western world. Increase knowledge of world geography. Understand basic tenets of world religions as depicted through works of art, ceramics, textiles, furniture, and other objects.
This course fulfills Cluster 3B of the University Studies Curriculum. The learning outcomes for this cluster are: Articulate the cultural context, history and formal and conceptual aspects of the art form the periods studied. Interpret and create informed responses (via writing, presentation, performance or artifact) to the art form studied through the analysis of the form, content, context and methods of production using appropriate disciplinary terminology. Explain the ways in which the art form expresses the values that humans attach to their experiences. Text: Pat Kirkham and Susan Weber, eds. History of Design: Decorative Arts and Material Culture, 1400-2000 (New York: Bard Graduate Center, 2013). ISBN# 978-0-300-19614-6. The readings from the textbook will occasionally be complemented by articles, essays, and newspaper articles. These materials can be found in the corresponding weekly module on the MyCourses website. Final Grade Assessment: 1400-1600 Project: 10% 1600-1750 Project: 10% 1750-1900 Project 10% Project 10% Discussion Posts: 20% Final Project: 40% Projects: Select an object from the indicated time period and explore ways in which the object is a manifestation of the values of the society that produced it referring to one of the themes listed for your final project. This assignment will be presented via discussion board & include both a documented written component and PPT slides with appropriate images. Details provided on MyCourse under assignments. Final Project: Students will select a minimum of three objects from a culture covered in the textbook and relate them to one of the following themes: Commodities and Consumption, Cross-Cultural Contact, Design and the Designer, Identity (national, cultural, racial, gender, personal, religious, etc.), Materials and Materiality, Patronage, Social Status,Techniques or use. Your textbook is organized around these central themes and you will find evidence supporting these approaches in the course reading and especially delineated in the Further Reading section of your textbook
Participation While your contribution to class discussions and level of engagement with various in-class activities come into play in figuring your participation grade, the primary factor in your participation grade will be attendance. You must sign-in to be counted as present. The following represents the maximum participation grade possible for a given number of absences. Absences Highest Possible Participation Grade 2 95 3 90 4 85 5 80 6 70 7 60 8 50 9 0 10 or more - automatic failure of the course Course Policies: Attendance: Since we will be covering material that is often not in the assigned reading and or unpacking difficult ideas from the readings, attendance is crucial to your success in this course.if you do happen to miss a class, it is your responsibility to get the notes from a classmate. Not only will attendance figure prominently in your participation grade (see above), but so will it largely determine how well you perform on exams. Each class a sign-in sheet will be distributed. It is your responsibility to make sure you sign-in before you leave. If you do not sign-in, you will not be counted as present. Punctuality: It is important that you arrive to class on time for two reasons: first of all, because you will often miss important information if you don t and secondly, tardiness disrupts the rest of the class. If you come in late it is your responsibility to sign-in. Two tardies equals one absence. Makeup Exams: There will be no makeup exams in this course unless there is an unforeseeable event or circumstances which makes attendance impossible. This includes hospitalization, death of a loved one, etc. In these cases, supporting documentation will be required. Participation: You are expected to not only have completed the reading (and writing) assignments by the beginning of class, but to contribute your ideas to class discussions and group activities. Your active participation is crucial to the success of this class. For this reason, you verbal contributions will be figured into your final grade as discussed above. Reading Assignments: Reading assignments should be completed before you come to class so that the material will be more meaningful when discussed in lecture and also so that you can participate in class discussion. I highly recommend taking notes on your readings so that you can review these before class.
In- Class Etiquette: While it is permissible to use laptops for note taking, online chatting, surfing or other uses not relevant to the class are prohibited. Also, please turn off all cell phones before coming into class. Academic Integrity: The University has an Academic Integrity Policy that specifies our institutional expectations for honesty and integrity in the learning environment. The policy explains what counts as violations of academic integrity and the penalties associated with those violations. Please consult the policy at the following link: http://www.umassd.edu/studenthandbook/academicregs/ethicalstandards.cfm Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the appropriation or imitation of the language, ideas or thoughts of another person, and the representation of them as one s original work. The written work you turn in must be yours and yours alone. It must not be written by someone else, or contain passages quoted or paraphrased from another s work without proper citation. Plagiarism is a very serious offence. For a full explanation of plagiarism visit: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/research/r_plagiar.html Incomplete Policy: According to the university catalogue, an incomplete may be given only in exceptional circumstances at the instructor's discretion. The student must be passing at the time of the request or be sufficiently close to passing. If the work is not completed within one year of the recording of the incomplete grade, the grade will become an F (I). The incomplete policy for this course is that at least 70% of the course must be already completed and an exceptional circumstance (i.e. medical issue) must exist. If you feel you require an incomplete for an exceptional reason, you need to email me and state your reasons for the incomplete in writing. We will then decide on a course of action. Late Papers: All papers will be docked a full letter grade per day. This means that you should not wait until the next class to hand in late work. Instead, email the file to me ASAP. You will be responsible for bringing in a hardcopy to class next time. If I am sent a corrupt file or a file that will not open for any reason, the student is expected to send a working file within 24 hours or be docked accordingly. Disabled Students: In accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please meet with the instructor at the beginning of the semester and provide the appropriate paperwork from the Center for Access and Success. The necessary paperwork is obtained when you bring proper documentation to the Center, which is located in Liberal Arts, Room 016; phone: 508.999.8711. Academic Support Services: The Academic Advising Center provides academic advising, primarily for Liberal Arts Undeclared Majors (LAUs). In addition, forms listing degree, major/minor, and General Educa-
tion (GenEd) requirements are available here, as are advisors working with the study abroad program The Academic Resource Center, located on the ground floor of Group I, Room 005, x8709 or 508-999-8709, offers one-on-one and small group tutoring, study groups, helpful handouts and more. If you need additional help, please visit the Writing & Reading Center, located in Group I, Room 220A, x8710 or 508-999-8710. College Now is a special admissions and support program for low-income and/or first generation college students, located in Group I, Room 005. Call x8703 or 508-999-8703. The Counseling Center addresses a variety of academic and educational needs, in addition to providing counseling/psychotherapy services. The Center provides assistance with academic motivation, Attention Deficit Disorder, goal setting, test anxiety and time management skills. Call x8650 or 508-999-8650. The Frederick Douglass Unity House was created in response to the increasing diversity of our students at UMass Dartmouth. Unity House provides a "supportive environment for the academic, cultural, recreational and social pursuits of the UMass Dartmouth students of color." Email: unityhouse@umassd.edu. The Pride Alliance supports students, faculty, and staff of all sexualities. Campus Center Room 208 (near CAB office) Phone: 508-999-8163. email: pridealliance@umassd.edu Disabled Student Services, a support organization helping students who are disabled to pursue their educational goals. Located on the ground floor of Group I, Room 016. Call x8711 or 508-999-8711.
CLASS COURSE CON- TENT READING ASSIGNMENTS Week 1 Introduction Introduction The decorative arts within art historical discourse: where is the dialogue now and where is it heading? Christina M. Anderson & Catherine L. Futter Welcome / Introduction Post Week 2 PART I 1400-1600 East Asia & India (1&2) Discussion Post 1 by Fri., Week 3 Week 3 PART I 1400-1600 The Islamic World & Africa (3&4) Discussion Post 2 by Fri., Week 4 Week 4 PART I 1400-1600 Europe & The Americas Cont: Chaucer and Decorative Art by Joan Evans Project 1400-1600 Due by Friday Week 5. Week 5 Part II 1600-1750 East Asia & India (7&8) Discussion Post 4 by Fri. Week 6 Week 6 Part II 1600-1750 The Islamic World & Africa (15 &16) Discussion Post 5 by Fri., Week 7 Week 7 Part II 1600-1750 Europe & The Americas (17 & 18) Project 1600-1750 Due Friday Week 8 Week 8 Part III 1750-1900 East Asia & India (19 & 20) Discussion Post 6 by Fri., Week 9 Week 9 Part III 1750-1900 The Islamic World & Africa (21-22) Discussion Post 7 Due by Fri., Week 10 Week 10 East Asia & India (19 & 20) Discussion Post 7, Due by Fri., Week 11 Week 11 Week 12 The Islamic World (21) Discussion Post 8 by Friday Week 12 Africa (22) Discussion Post 9 by FridayWeek 13 Week 13 Europe & The Americas (23)!900-200 Project Due Friday Week 14
Week 14 Modern Approaches to Decorative Arts Article Discussion Post 10 by Friday, Week 15 Week 15 Final Research Project Due: last day of term