Renaissance Art to the Present (ART 112)
Wednesday 6:00~9:38 pm
Jackson College/ spring 2015
Cari Jors, Instructor
jorscarolyns@jccmi.edu
Course Description: This course is an accelerated survey of art history and
aesthetics covering the visual culture from the Renaissance through the 21st
century. This broad overview will provide students with information about each
art historical period and the context with which art was viewed.
Course Objectives:
 Provide fundamental information about art history from the 1400s to the present day;
 Demonstrate knowledge through discussion, class assignments, formal analysis, and tests on how the world and
our relationship to it can be understood through the study of art history;
 Understand the influence and continuing validity of art of the past on contemporary artistic developments;
 Develop a vocabulary in order to understand, discuss and write about art.
Required materials for the course:
 Textbook: Gardner’s Art Through the Ages, Volume II, Third Edition, Fred S. Kleiner
Required Classwork:
Class Assignments (10 @25 pts each)
Art Analysis (3 @ 100 pts each))
Tests (2 @150 pts each)
Attendance/participation
250 pts
300 pts
300 pts
150 pts
__________________
1000 pts
Class Assignments:
 You will have an assignment every class period with the exception of test days. Assignments will consist of
vocabulary definitions, discussion questions, essay questions, multiple choice, true/false questions and/or
summarization of theories of periods in art history.
 Do not come to class and ask for missed assignments. If you are going to miss a class it is your responsibility
to make arrangements with me in advance so that you can complete the assignment. The missed assignment
will then be due the next class period.
 In extreme cases it will be left to the discretion of the instructor to allow a student to make up an
assignment.
Formal Analysis:
 During the course of the semester you will be responsible for completing 3 worksheets where you will analyze
(Descriptive, Formal and Comparative) a work(s) of art.
 A descriptive analysis is purely a description of what you see in the artwork, not what you know about the art
work.
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A formal analysis is an analysis of the forms used in the work of art such as color, shape, line, and space. The
formal analysis moves beyond simple description in that it connects the elements of the work to the effects they
have on the viewer.
A comparative analysis starts with a formal analysis of two or more individual works of art, then
assesses relevant similarities and differences between the two works.
Each analysis is worth 100 points.
If you are going to miss a class it is your responsibility to make arrangements with me in advance so that you
can complete the analysis. The missed analysis will then be due the next class period.
In extreme cases it will be left to the discretion of the instructor to allow a student to make up an analysis.
Tests:
 There will be 2 tests during the semester and a review for each test given. Each test is worth 150 points and
consists of information from class assignments, discussions and PowerPoint presentations. Test format will
include image identification, short essay, vocabulary terms, true/false and multiple choice.
 Make-up tests are given only in extreme circumstances and left to the discretion of the instructor.
 Unit 1 Test: Wednesday, July 1st (Northern and Italian Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism)
 Unit 2 Test: Wednesday, August 5th (Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Modernism, Post-Modernism,
Contemporary art)
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Tests are not cumulative.
Attendance and Participation:
 Attendance and participation are essential and mandatory to your success in this class. This course requires
active engagement, not just passive listening. Absences may be excused for illness, bereavement, or other
legitimate reasons with written documentation or prior consultation with the instructor.
 It is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor in a timely manner if they are going to be absent and
the instructor reserves the right to consider what is and what is not excused.
 Attendance includes being on-time for class. Coming in late or leaving early disrupts the learning environment.
Students who are tardy and or leave early without prior notification to the instructor, will not be given credit for
the day.
 Participation involves making a concerted effort to engage with the material each class period as well as
expressing your thoughts and conversing about the topic being discussed.
Grading Scale:
4.0…Excellent…94-100
3.5………………….89-93
3.0…Good……….84-90
2.5………………….78-83
2.0…Satisfactory….72-77
1.5……………………….66-71
1.0…Poor……………..60-65
0.5……………………….55-59
0.0……………………….0-54
Student Learning Goals:
 Identify major works of art, artists, art historical periods and styles.
 Understand the historical, religious, political, and social context of art.
 Recognize the cultural and artistic correlation between art and history.
 Describe elements in art using appropriate vocabulary.
 Understand the evolution of styles, techniques, purposes and public appreciation of art.
Student Responsibilities:
 You are responsible for your own academic integrity. Plagiarism and or cheating is not acceptable or tolerated.
Do not jeopardize your academic career.
 You are responsible for all images covered in class unless otherwise stated. Specific dates are not required for
this class, but art historical time periods are required. Example: Italian Renaissance, Surrealism. Correct
spelling of terms, artist names, cultures and titles of works are required.
 You are responsible for the information covered in class, even if you are not in class. Take notes every class
period, save all handouts, refer to your textbook and get to know your classmates. I do not give out my notes if
you are absent. Do not ask me if you missed anything important if you were not in class. Everything discussed
and images viewed in class could be on a test, therefore making all in-class information important to your
success in taking ART 112.
IMPORTANT INFO:
 All cell phones MUST be turned off and put away during class. If I see you using your cell phone, you will be
given ONE warning. The next time I see the cell phone, you will be asked to leave the class for the day.
 NO LAPTOPS, kindles, ipads etc. are allowed in class, unless approved by the instructor. If you abuse that
privilege, you will be asked to leave the class for that day.
 If you have any special needs, please see me within the first week of class so accommodations can be made.
 If you feel like you are getting behind in the material or do not understand a concept, please see me before or
after class or email me.
 When taking a test, out of courtesy for the grader, please use legible penmanship. If I can’t read it, I can’t
grade it.
 It is essential to this learning environment that respect for the rights of others seeking to learn and respect for
the professionalism of the instructor are maintained. Student conduct which disrupts the learning process will
not be tolerated and may lead to disciplinary action and/or removal from the class.
 Minor Disruptions such as arriving late and leaving early, cell phone use/texting, working on other
assignments, side conversations, sleeping in class and packing up before the end of class are unacceptable and
will not be tolerated.
 Challenging the academic environment and/or taking up class time with: comments and/or questions that are
beyond the scope of the lecture or discussion, repeated interruption during lecture periods, hindering class
discussions or in class assignments will not be tolerated.
 Demeaning comments, vulgarity and stereotyping language will not be tolerated.
COURSE CALENDAR (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
DATE
May 20
LECTURE MATERIAL
IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES
Introductions, syllabus, What is art?, Why is it important?,
Looking at art
Italian Renaissance art
Assignment 1
Northern Renaissance art vs. Italian Renaissance art
Assignment 3
Baroque art
Assignment 4, Descriptive Analysis
Rococo, Neoclassicism
Assignment 5
Romanticism, the Academy and Realism, REVIEW for TEST 1
Assignment 6
Assignment 2
May 27
June 3
June 10
June 17
June 24
TEST 1, Formal Analysis
July 1
Impressionism, Post Impressionism
Assignment 7
Modernism
Assignment 8,
Post Modernism
Assignment 9, Comparative Analysis
Contemporary art, Review TEST 2
Assignment 10
July 8
July 15
July 22
July 29
TEST 2
August 5