Western New Mexico University - Expressive Arts
Syllabus - Art 477/577 #20380/#20393 Seminar – Spring 2012
Professor Michael Metcalf - Office JCB 161 - 538-6538 - metcalfm@wnmu.edu
Office Hours: Monday 2:00 - 4:00, Wednesday 1:00 – 4:00, Tuesday/Thursday 12:15 – 12:30
by appointment Tuesday and Thursday after 3:30
ART 477. Seminar. This lecture/discussion course will unite BFA students from different areas
of art specialization into a forum. Students will focus on pertinent issues in art through
discussion, research and presentations. This course may be repeated three times. Prerequisite:
two upper division studio Art courses. Spring only. (1)
Introduction:
 This one credit course meets Tuesday 2:00 – 3:15.
 Required Text: Art Theory a Very Short Introduction, Cynthia Freeland, Oxford University
Press, 2007 ISBN-10: 0192804634 $11.95/$6.82
 Prerequisites: two upper division studio art courses.
Course Objectives - The Student Will:
 Learn presentation skills and how to defend their ideas.
 Develop their passion for why they create Art.
 Develop a sense of aesthetics regarding art content.
 Be exposed to new ways of looking at art and its meaning.
Activities:
Lecture discussion course where students concentrating in different Art areas will collectively
research and discuss defined topics. Students will be assigned numerous readings on classic and
current issues in Art. Students will make presentations relative to their own work and the
designated topic. Students lead topic discussions, which will lead to a cumulative class project
developed through cooperative learning.
Grading/Evaluation:
Final Grade Percentages
Student Presentation
Class Participation
Student Led Discussions
2cr. Seminar and Graduate Students:
Are required to give two presentations
Ideas for Student Driven Content:
Issues Concerning Race & Ethnicity
Art & Gender
Art Science & Technology
What is Art?
40%
40%
20%
Independent Presentations –
Each student will give a presentation on a topic, which interests him or her.
The topic should explore a variety of media.
Should not be about one artist or media.
Ex.
Movement in works of art
Expressing the dark side in art
Depicting spirits in art
The presentations will be 15 minutes in length and should include visual aids to illustrate your
topic. Presenters will then turn in their notes.
Calendar: Thursdays 12:30 – 1:30 (Subject to Change)
Week 1
Tuesday
1/10 Discussion: Image from Art periotical – Like, Don’s Like?
Week 2
Tuesday
1/17 Discussion: Blood & Beauty
Week 3
Tuesday
1/24 Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Week 4
Tuesday
1/31 Discussion: Paradigms and Purpose
Week 5
Tuesday
2/7
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Week 6
Tuesday
2/14 Discussion: Crossing Cultures
Week 7
Tuesday
2/21 Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Tuesday
2/28 Discussion: Student driven content
Week 8
Tuesday
3/6
No Class Spring break
Week 9
Tuesday
3/13 Discussion: Money Market & Museums
Week 10
Tuesday
3/20 Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Week 11
Tuesday
3/27 Discussion: Gender, Genius & Guerrilla Girls
Week 12
Tuesday
4/3
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
4/10
4/17
4/24
Week 16
Week 17
Tuesday
Tuesday
5/1
5/8
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Discussion: Student driven content
Discussion: Digitizing & Disseminating
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Discussion: Student Driven Content
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Student Presentation