AD 485: Theories and Practices in Art & Design
Professor: Tracy Wascom
Time: MW 11:00 a.m. – 12:40 p.m.
Room: ART 290
Contact:
E-mail: twascom@nmu.edu
Office: 272
Office Hours:
The objective of this course is to examine the practices of being an artist and
designer from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The first portion of the
course focuses on prevailing theories of art and design, while the second half of
the semester examines issues of culture in relation to both artists and designers, “art’s” role in the modern world, as well as various methodological practices.
(Warning...?) This course is reading and (fairly) writing intensive, and discussion
will be a major focus of class time.
Grading:
Participation
Midterm Exam
Methodology Project/Presentation
Written Responses/Papers (5-7)
Final Exam
25%
20%
15%
20%
20%
!
Exams–Midterm & Final– wil be in essay format. Written Responses are short papers
related to specific questions/issues raised during our readings and/or discussions.
Tuesdays: 11am-2pm walk-in
Thursdays: 10am-1pm by appointment
Course Website:
art.nmu.edu/courses/twascom/ad270/
Schedule*:
Aug. 27
Aug. 29
Sep. 3
Sep. 5
Sep. 10
Sep. 12
Sep. 17
Sep. 19
Sep. 24
Absences and Missed Deadlines:
Sep. 26
The student is allowed two (2) absences without an overall penalty, but missing a day
can reflect in that student’s participation grade. Each day after the second absence
will drop the student’s overall grade for the course by one (1) letter. There will be
NO exceptions without written documentation such as a doctor’s note.
Oct. 1
Oct. 3
Oct. 8
There will be no makeups on either exam without an excused absence, and there are
no late submissions accepted for the Methodology Project or any of the Written Responses. Failure to take the Midterm or Final Exam, or to present your Methodology
Project automatically results in an F for the course.
Cell Phones and Laptops:
All cell phones must be turned off at the start of class. On discussion/presentation
days laptops are to remain closed.
Required Texts & ASL Share
There is no share fee for the course; you will be responsible for purchasing your own
copy the required text (Why is That Art: Aesthetics and Criticism of Contemporary
Art, 2nd edition, by Terry Barrett), which is available at the NMU Bookstore, as well
as printing out any additional assigned readings, which you can access via login &
password on the course website.
Oct. 10
Oct. 15
Oct. 17
Oct. 22
Oct. 24
Oct. 29
Oct. 31
Nov. 5
Nov. 7
Nov. 12
Nov. 14
Nov. 19
Nov. 21
Nov. 26
Nov. 28
Dec. 3
Dec. 5
Dec. 12
Introduction/Syllabus
The Nature of Creativity, On Being
an Artist/Designer (READING 1)
NO CLASS: Labor Day
Aesthetics, Criticism & Taste
(WITA: CHAPTER 1)
Realism: Truth, Beauty, & Ugliness
(WITA: CHAPTER 2)
“Problematic Realism”
Expressionism & Cognitivism–
Psychologicaal Theories and
Existentialism (WITA: CHAPTER 3)
Marx, Class & Schopenhauer
Formalism: Significant Form and
the Sublime (WITA: CHAPTER 4)
Structuralism, Deconstruction,
& Semiotics (READING 2)
Semantics of the Image
Postmodern Pluralism (WITA: CHAPTER 5)
Postmodern Pluralism, continued;
Art & Identity: Feminism & Gender
Art & Identity: Gender & Orientation
Midterm Exam
“Artists/Designers of Interest”
Methodology Project Discussion
Art & Identity: Race & Post-Colonialism
Memory, Artifact, Spirituality (READING 3)
Art & Audience: Agency & Customization
Authorship, Originality & Appropriation
(READING 4)
Art & Politics: Protest & Persuasion
(READING 5)
Methodology Presentations
Review Week: NO CLASS
Review Week: CLASS MEETS
Methodology Presentations
Methodology Presentations
NO CLASS: Thanksgiving
Art & Money: Commerce & Commodity
(READING 6)
“Art of the Steal”
Art as Cultural Capital (READING 7)
“The Great Debate”
Final Exam: 10:00am-11:50am
*Tentative; subject to change, excluding Final Exam
Art & Design Purchasing Cooperative
The Art and Design Purchasing Cooperative procures materials and supplies in large
quantities, minus any overhead, to achieve the lowest possible price as a savings and
a service to students. As a student in this course, you are entitled to purchase materials and supplies through the Coop, but participation is not mandatory. However,
the materials and supplies for this course, as listed in this syllabus, are required and
would be your responsibility to obtain.
Americans with Disability Act
If you have a need for disability-related accommodations or services, please inform
the Coordinator of Disability Services in the Disability Services Office at 2001 CB
Hedgcock (phone: 227-1737; TTY: 227-1543; Fax 227-1714). Reasonable and
effective accommodations and services will be provided to students if requests are
made in a timely manner, with appropriate documentation, in accordance with federal, state and university guidelines.
Student Personal Property Policy
It is the responsibility of the student to safeguard his or her personal property, including any personal property that is required for any course. Northern Michigan
University, the School of Art and Design, faculty and staff, are not responsible for
loss or damage to personal property of students.
Faculty Use of Student Artworks Policy
The instructor may duplicate your artwork from this semester for instructional and/
or promotional uses that relate to the educational mission of the instructor, department, or university. If you are unwilling to allow your portfolio to be copied for
these specific purposes, please inform the instructor.
Print Card Policy
A portion of every print card purchased through the ASL Student Co-Op for use
in the Art and Design Computer Studio will be reserved for repairs for the printers.
Storage of Hazardous Materials
Students may only store hazardous materials in the safety cabinets provided in their
studio classroom. Example: You may not store hazardous materials in your personal
locker located in the hallway of the building. All hazardous materials must have an
MSDS Information Bulletin accompanying their arrival and it must be on file in
the safety binder located within the affected studio. It is the student’s responsibility
to inform faculty or Safety Chairman of personal hazardous materials brought into
the classroom used for assignments.