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Survey of African American Art
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ARTS 403-01 Home Page
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| SURVEY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN ART: Colonial Period to Contemporary |
| TR 11:00 AM - 12:20 PM, Harris Hall, Room 219B |
| revised 16 December 2008 |
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GRADING:
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A .....93-100%
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A- ....90-92%
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B+ ...87-89%
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B .....83-86%
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B- ....80-82%
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C+ ...77-79%
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C .....73-76%
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C- ....70-72%
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D+ ...67-69%
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D .....63-66%
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D- ....60-62%
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F ......59%...
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CONTACT INFO:
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| Thomas Larose, Ph.D. |
| tlarose@vsu.edu |
| Office phone: 524-5188 |
| Office: 216A Harris Hall |
| Hours: TR 2:00 - 4:00, or by appointment |
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SYLLABUS
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Course Description
This course serves as an introduction to the historical and social forces that shaped the works of American artists of African ancestry from the Colonial period to the present. The course will examine the roots, main currents, forms, styles, content, aesthetics, and ideological dimensions of African American art, as well as the extent to which the latter has captured the spirit of the black experience.
Objectives
Through this course, the student should learn how to:
A. Identify the major characteristics of art for each period studied.
B. Identify the major artists and their works of art of each period.
C. Recognize the major cultural movements and ideas, and their effects on art.
D. Understand the roles and functions of art within their respective societies and how they have shaped each other.
Attendance
The lectures of this course emphasize areas related to the development of the arts, such as historical and political events, religious movements, etc., that are not thoroughly covered in the text. Relationships between the visual arts and the other humanities of the various cultures will also be examined. The text serves only as a summary of course content, providing limited examples for study. Therefore, effective note taking, concentration, and regular attendance are a must to achieve a satisfactory grade.
Attendance is mandatory. Each student may have up to two (2) unexcused absences during the semester. One more than this will result in a reduction of the final grade for the course of ten (10) points, with additional reductions of ten (10) points for each multiple of two (2) more unexcused absences. Tardiness by more than 10 minutes will be considered an unexcused absence. Any tardiness less than 10 minutes will accumulate on a per minute basis up to 30 minutes, where it will be counted as an unexcused absence. Leaving before being excused will be considered an unexcused absence. Sleeping and any disruptive behavior in the class will likewise be considered an unexcused absence.
To obtain an excused absence, the instructor must be notified in advance (or, in case of an emergency, as soon as possible) and written proof must be provided. Discretionary meetings (doctor's visits, advisement, employment, etc.) should not be scheduled to conflict with class and will not be considered an excused absence.
Grading
The course will be graded on three exams, each worth 25% of the final grade. They will consist of slide identifications, true-false questions, multiple choice questions, short answer definitions, and a short essay. Dates and content for the exams are listed on the schedule. The remaining 25% of the final grade will be based on a research paper concerning a particular African American artist or one of the artforms and/or styles covered in class. The artist to be researched must be selected and approved in consultation with the instructor by February 5. Length will be approximately 8-10 pages, due on April 16. Guidelines for this essay are detailed on a separate page. All essays will be returned within a reasonable time, with comments and grade.
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REQUIRED TEXT:
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| Sharon F. Patton. African American Art (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 1998). |
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| SUGGESTED READINGS: |
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Romare Bearden and Harry Henderson. A History of African American Artists from 1792 to the Present (New York: Pantheon Books, 1993).
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Monica Blackmun Visona, Robin Poynor, et al. A History of Art in Africa (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Inc., 2001).
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| John Michael Vlach. The Afro-American Tradition in Decorative Arts (Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 1990). |
| Frank Willet. African Art: An Introduction (New York: Thames and Hudson, 1993). |
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SCHEDULE - Week of
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Jan. 19
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Introduction, Black/White, African/American: pp. 11 - 16
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Jan. 26
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African Civilizations Before Columbus: (Willet, Visona et al.)
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Feb.2
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From Kings to Slaves
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Feb. 5: Topics for Research Papers DUE. |
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Feb. 9
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After the Middle Passage: pp. 19 - 42, 58 - 71; (Vlach)
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Feb. 16
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Charting a New Course: pp. 42 - 58, 71 - 103
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Feb. 23
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The Move North
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Feb. 24: First Exam: Africa, 18th and 19th Centuries
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March 2
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The Harlem Renaissance: pp.105 - 145
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March 3: Working Bibliographies DUE.
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March 9
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The Depression Years and Beyond: pp. 145 - 159
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March 16
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Spring Break: NO CLASS
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March 23
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Finding a New Path: pp. 159 - 181
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March 27- Last day to withdraw |
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March 30
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1960s and the Civil Rights Movement
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March 31: Second Exam: 1860s through 1950s
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April 6
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Art and Black Consciousness in the 60s and 70s: pp. 183 - 216
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April 13
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Individualistic Tendencies: pp. 217 - 232
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April 16: Research Papers DUE |
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April 20
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A PostModernist Condition: pp. 232 - 254
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April 27
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Returning to the Roots: pp. 254 - 273
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TBA
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Third Exam: 1960s through 2007
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Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
INFORMATION:
Student Affairs: Services for Students with Disabilities
Campus location: Room 412 Memorial Hall, 1 Hayden St.
Petersburg, VA 23806
Voice/TDD: (804) 524-5061
Academic Adjustments and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 require Virginia Commonwealth University to provide academic adjustments or accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Students seeking academic adjustments or accommodations must self-identify with the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities on the appropriate campus. After meeting with the Coordinator, students are encouraged to meet with their instructors to discuss their needs, and If applicable, any lab safety concerns related to their disabilities.
Please note that students who have self-identified through the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities should provide their instructors with an official memo from the Coordinator detailing needed academic adjustments or accommodations. Students who have not self-identified with the appropriate Coordinator should do so.
It is the responsibility of each department chairperson to provide testing sites for students who require isolated areas to complete examinations. If a quiet space is not available, faculty may contact the appropriate Coordinator for assistance. Students who require exam modifications using auxiliary services or aids such as readers, proctors or scribes should make arrangements for those modifications through the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. A minimum notice of 72 hours prior to the exam, by either the instructor or the student, is requested.
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Services for Students with Disabilities
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This site is developed and maintained by Thomas Larose, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Music, Art and Design, Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia, USA. Last updated on 16 December 2008. All photographs © Thomas Larose unless otherwise noted. Send comments to tlarose@vsu.edu . Author takes full responsibility for all content. This is a course web site, part of the official Virginia State University site.
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