Art 110, World Arts: The Western Tradition
Spring 2016
Katherine Daley Laris
Email: katherine.daley.105@my.csun.edu
Office Hours: Friday, 11am-12pm, Sagebrush 224
Catalog Description
Survey of the visual arts of the Western cultural tradition from ancient to modern times
emphasizing historical, religious and socio-cultural contexts. Discussion, research and writing on
the visual arts, including painting, sculpture, architecture, book arts, ceramics, textiles and body
arts.
Art Department Program Goals Addressed in This Course
 Art Knowledge: Broadening knowledge of ancient through contemporary art and to
develop an understanding of art within theoretical, cultural, and historical contexts.
 Critical Thinking: Analyzing, interpreting, and questioning traditional methodologies and
pre-conceived notions of art and art making through the process of generating and solving
problems.
 Global Perspectives: Promoting an appreciation and tolerance of diverse perspectives
dealing with art, culture, teaching and learning.
Course Student Learning Objectives
1. To understand important terms, issues and ideas of the Western tradition and to recognize
how artistic styles and techniques travel trans-nationally and globally.
2. To investigate how meaning is constructed and expressed in art works through contents,
styles, materials, symbolic processes, and through transnational disseminations and
exchanges of ideas, people, & objects.
3. To develop skills for reflective and critical thinking and to foster a global perspective for
understanding different cultures and value systems.
4. To acquire skills for both oral exchanges and public presentations pertinent to the
discipline of art history.
5. To foster individual and collective learning through class participation and team work.
6. To acquire ability to apply information technologies to individual research.
Arts and Humanities Learning Objectives
Students will understand the rich history and diversity of human knowledge, discourse and
achievements of their own and other cultures as they are expressed in the arts, literatures,
religions, and philosophy.
Classroom Etiquette
CSUN expects all of us, you and me, to conduct ourselves in an honest and professional manner.
Disrespectful activities such as inappropriate comments, texting, emailing, Internet surfing or
talking shall not be tolerated in the classroom.
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Please turn off all cell phones during class. Recording lectures is not permitted.
Taking photos of slides is not permitted.
Academic Integrity:
 If you are caught cheating in any form, you will receive a failing grade for the course and be
reported to the University for appropriate disciplinary action.
 Plagiarism (copying others’ ideas and/or words in your work without clearly acknowledging
the source of that information) is a major offence in academic contexts and will not be
tolerated.
 If you aren’t sure what plagiarism means, consult
http://library.csun.edu/Guides/ResearchStrategies/AvoidingPlagiarism or
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml, where they write: “Plagiarism
is using others’ ideas and words without clearly acknowledging the source of that
information.”
 Assignments or tests with plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be marked with a
grade of “zero” and make-ups will not be allowed.
Email and Moodle:
CSUN considers your CSUN email account to be the official means of contacting you. This means
that if I send something to this address, I will assume that you received the information and you
are consequently responsible for it. If you regularly use another account, please set your CSUN
mail to forward to your preferred email account. Moodle is the official course website. I will post
announcements and course handouts through Moodle. You are expected to check Moodle on a
weekly base for course materials and activities.
 When you write to me, please have “ART 110” and the class day listed in the subject line!
Without the required info, your email may not get read in a timely manner!
 Please Note: Emails will be responded to within 48 business hours of being sent (M-F),
please do not send multiple emails within this time period. Queries in regards to exams
and required projects must be made in a timely manner.
Requirements for All Written Assignments
All written assignments will be typed on 8 1/2 X 11 paper, in Times New Roman font (12
point) with standard 1” margins and footnote citations. You MUST cite all sources of
information in a college paper. If you are confused about proper citation styles, Google
“Chicago style (endnotes)”. Correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation are expected.
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. If you are caught cheating or plagiarizing in any
form, you will receive a failing grade for the course and be reported to the university for
appropriate disciplinary action.
OVERVIEW OF COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
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Note: All writing assignments and exams must be completed in order to pass the course
1. Exams: (140 points total)
These tests will address materials from the class lectures, in-class videos and reading material from
your text. Each exam will cover approximately four chapters and will be non-cumulative.
 Exam 1 (30 points total)
 Exam 2 (35 points total)
 Exam 3 (35 points total)
 Exam 4 (40 points total)
2. Museum Visual Analysis Paper: (50 points total)
This project involves visiting an LA based art museum (we will go over options later in the
semester) and writing a 3-4 page visual analysis of work on view from a period/geographic region
applicable to this course. Further details and grading rubric will be posted on Moodle.
3. Participation: (10 points total)
There will be regular group activities conducted through the entirety of the semester. Participation
in these activities will count toward your in-class participation grade.
LATE WORK will be marked down 10% per class meeting, and will not be accepted more than
one week late. Note: Absence on the day a project is due does NOT delay due date; if a student is
absent, an electronic version of the paper must be submitted by the start of class. If you are an
athlete or are involved in other university sponsored activities that require you to miss this class,
please inform me within the first two weeks of the semester.
ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION (GRADING)
Exams = 140 points (30-40 points each)
Museum Paper = 50 points
Participation/Attendance = 10 points
TOTAL POINTS: 200 POINTS
Grading will follow:
A
200-180
B
178-160
C
158-140
D
138-120
FAIL 118 and below
*please note that all papers and tests must be completed to pass the course, regardless of point
accumulation
Grading Rubrics will be posted on Moodle for each writing assignment. It is up to the students to
maintain knowledge of their grades through Moodle, any believed discrepancy must be brought to
the instructor’s attention within 2 class meetings of the grade posting.
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Course Schedule
Please note that this schedule is tentative and all assignments and dates are subject to change at
the instructor’s discretion. All changes will be posted on Moodle.
Week 1: January 29th- Introduction
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

General welcome to the course
Syllabus review
Ensure that this class is right for you
What is Art History?
Week 2: February 5th- Prehistory and the First Civilizations
 Gardner’s Chapter 1
Week 3: February 12th- Ancient Greece
 Gardner’s Chapter 2
Week 4: February 19th- The Roman Empire
 Gardner’s Chapter 3
 Exam #1 Review
Week 5: February 26th- Early Christianity and Byzantium & The Islamic World
 Gardner’s Chapters 4 & 5
 Exam 1
Week 6: March 4th- Early Medieval and Romanesque Europe & Gothic and Late Medieval Europe
 Gardner’s Chapters 6 & 7
Week 7: March 11th- The Early Renaissance in Europe & High Renaissance and Mannerism in
Europe
 Gardner’s Chapters 8 & 9
 Exam #2 Review
Week 8: March 18th- Baroque Europe
 Gardner’s Chapter 10
 Exam #2
Week 9: March 25th- NO CLASS! SPRING BREAK!
Week 10: April 1st- Rococo to Neoclassicism in Europe and North America
 Gardner’s Chapter 11
 Writing Workshop
Week 11: April 8th- Romanticism, Realism and Photography, 1800-1870
 Gardner’s Chapter 12
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Week 12: April 15th- Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and Symbolism, 1870-1900
 Gardner’s Chapter 13
 Exam #3 Review
Week 13: April 22nd- Modernism in Europe and North America, 1900-1945
 Gardner’s Chapter 14
 Exam #3
Week 14: April 29th- Modernism and Postmodernism in Europe and America, 1945-1980
 Gardner’s Chapter 15
 Museum Paper Due!
Week 15: May 6th- Contemporary Art Worldwide
 Gardner’s Chapter 16
 Exam #4 Review
Week 16: May 13th- Final Class Session
 Exam #4
 Museum papers returned
Textbook:
Required: Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages: A Concise Western History, 3rd Ed.
Recommended:
 Sylvan Barnet, A Short Guide to Writing About Art. Longman Publishing Group; 10th edition
 William Strunk Jr and E.B. White, The Elements of Style. Longman Publishing Group; 4th
edition
Course website: https://moodle.csun.edu/ for guidelines, quizzes, assignment submissions,
videos, and surveys of your learning experience. Additional recommended and required readings
will be posted on moodle throughout the semester.
Note: Students are expected to read the assigned material. You will be responsible for the weekly
reading assignments from the text, as well as any additional material and/or links posted on
Moodle. Various links to websites and videos will be posted on Moodle each week that correspond
to the material in that week’s assigned chapter.
Support Services for Students:
http://www.csun.edu/csbs/departments/urban_studies_and_planning/resources/supportservices.html
The university has a variety of resources available; please take note of the following:
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Learning Resource Center: http://www.csun.edu/lrc/, 818.677.2033, Bayramian Hall 408. The
mission of the LRC is to enable students to improve their academic performance through a variety
of learning programs including workshops, one-on-one and group tutoring, Supplemental
Instruction classes and interactive subject area computer programs and videos. Students who use
LRC learning programs will develop and strengthen their critical thinking skills, study strategies,
writing skills and performance in subject matter courses.
Academic Advisement: The college-based academic advisement centers are available to assist
students in selecting courses and programs of study and in choosing or declaring a major or minor.
Visit the website to locate the advising center for your major, or for undeclared majors.
http://www.csun.edu/csbs/departments/urban_studies_and_planning/resources/advising.html.
University Counseling Services: http://www.csun.edu/counseling/, 818.677.2366
Bayramian Hall 520. UCS provides resources and information to assist students in dealing with a
variety of large and small psychological obstacles that may interfere with academic progress
and/or relationship satisfaction. Services include individual, group and crisis counseling.
Center on Disabilities: http://www.csun.edu/cod/index.php,
818.677.2684, Bayramian Hall 110. The Center on Disabilities serves students with a wide range of
visible and hidden disabilities, in a confidential environment. Students are encouraged to meet
with the professional staff and explore the services available to support their academic, career and
personal goals. Discover accommodations and strategies for help with disabilities in an academic
setting.
The Career Center: http://www.csun.edu/career/students/, 818.677.2878, University Hall 105.
Need some help in deciding on a career? Or do you know your career and need to meet
employers? Perhaps your resume needs some sprucing up? The Career Center offers a variety of
services for students, from those new to the University to those about to graduate into the world
of work.