Art Appreciation

ARTS 199-01 Home Page
ART APPRECIATION
TR 8:00 - 9:20 AM, Harris Hall, Room 218
revised 28 July 2009

QUICK LINKS:

grading ~ syllabus ~ contact info
lecture & exam schedule ~

other resources for art history

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 information

GRADING:

CONTACT INFO:

Thomas Larose, Ph.D.
tlarose@vsu.edu

Office phone: 524-5188
Office: 216A Harris Hall
Hours: TR 2:00 - 4:00 PM, or by appointment

SYLLABUS:

I          Course Description

            This course will serve as a basic introduction to the study and understanding of the visual arts. The various methods through which humans are able to access, interpret, and interact with art will be discussed. Topics include various cultural definitions of art and its use, the elements of design, the characteristics of art media, and the interpretation of content. Emphasis is placed on the areas of painting, sculpture, and architecture, but other areas (drawing, graphics, crafts, etc.) are discussed as appropriate.

II         Objectives

            Through this course, the student should learn how to:

            A. Identify the major characteristics of the visual arts and the different media.

            B. Identify the basic elements of design and use them to describe artworks.

            C. Interpret artworks through formal and analytical approaches.

            D. Understand the roles and functions of art within society and how they interact.

III        Attendance

            The lectures of this course are the main source of instruction the students will receive, as well as the distribution point for assignments. 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. However, while regular attendance is considered necessary, it is not mandatory. Students will not directly receive reductions in their grades for class absences; their scores on quizzes and tests, however, will reflect their lack of attendance.

IV            Grading

            Two (2) Exams: 20% each (40% total). At the conclusion of each half semester (i.e. during mid-terms and finals), an exam will be given consisting of multiple-choice questions, short answer-definitions, and a brief design analysis of an artwork. these are in class exams and must be taken without books, notes, or any other form of resource.

          Twelve (12) Quizzes: 5% each (60% total). Quizzes must be taken through Blackboard and will only be available from the end of class on Thursday to the beginning of class on the following Tuesday. Each quiz will cover the concepts, terminology, and techniques covered in class during the past week. Questions will be in true/false, multiple-choice, and fill-in formats.

            No late work will be accepted.

            No extra credit will be given.

TEXT:

Paul Zelanski and Mary Pat Fisher. The Art of Seeing, seventh edition, (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2007).

BLACKBOARD:

blackboard.vsu.edu

SCHEDULE

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.

Services for Students with Disabilities

OTHER RESOURCES FOR ART HISTORY:

Art History Subject Guide
(On-line Resources for Art History)

Department of Art and Design

Johnston Memorial Library

more links...

VCU's Anderson Gallery ~ Virginia Museum of Fine Arts ~ National Gallery of Art ~

National Museum of the American Indian ~ National Museum of African Art ~ Sackler and Freer Galleries ~

Metropolitan Museum of Art ~ Chrysler Museum of Art ~ University of Virginia Art Museum ~