GenEd Arts
Theater 0807 – The Creative Spirit
Temple University Fall 2013
David O’Connor – Lead Instructor
dmoc@temple.edu
215-760-5782 (cell)
Nancy Boykin - nancy.boykin@temple.edu
Elizabeth Carlson – ecarlson@temple.edu
David Girard – tue82991@temple.edu
Office Hours: Meeting by individual appointment.
Lecture: Tuesday 3:30- 4:50 PM in Tuttleman 105
Breakout Sections:
001: Thursday 3:30-4:50 Barton 300 Nancy Boykin CRN
5450
002: Thursday 3:30-1:50 Barton 301 David Girard CRN
19965
003: Thursday 3:30-4:50 Barton 302 Elizabeth
Carlson CRN 19966
004: Thursday 3:30-4:50 Barton 303 David
O'Connor CRN 19967
005: Friday 3:30-4:50 Barton 300 David O’Connor CRN
5451
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Creativity is not just for artists. Creativity can be found in
every area of our life, whether we are making art or making
work or making dinner; making relationships, making families
or making community; making discoveries or making a
difference. In this course we will investigate Creativity –
what it is and how it works – and look specifically at
Creativity from the inside-out in a wide variety of Artistic
disciplines. We will see art in Philadelphia, talk to artists
about making work, define and discuss creativity and the
creative process, practice making creative artistic work
ourselves, and explore the broader application of creativity in
our daily lives.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The Creative Spirit is a Gen/Ed Arts course and as such is
geared to develop your understanding of the arts.
• Experience and respond to a work of art or creative
process;
• Recognize or interpret a work of art or creative
process in its social, historical and cultural context;
• Describe or evaluate a work of art or creative
process using appropriate terminology;
• Appreciate the value of art and creativity in our lives
and in society.
COURSE COMPONENTS
LECTURE SESSIONS:
In lecture, the class will explore the fundamental
concepts of Creativity – going “Inside Creativity” – an
examination of the basic elements of creativity: what it
is, how it happens, what distinguishes creativity from
novelty; the fundaments of the process; what we can
do to encourage innovation. We will talk with artists
who are at work in their domains, currently creating
new work. We will probe into what makes them
create, how they create, and what steps they take to
actively improve their creativity. Finally, we will
propose steps we can take to lead a more Creative
life.
PHILADELPHIA EXPERIENCES (PEX):
The semester will also include several Forensic Field
Experiences in Philadelphia. Students will venture out
into the city of Philadelphia (PEX) and engage in
primary encounters with art and artists in the field,
interview them and analyze your experiences in blog
postings. (See Blackboard for list of PEX
Experiences)
BREAKOUT SESSIONS:
Meeting once a week outside of lecture, Breakouts
will center primarily on exercises and assignments
focused on engaging your personal creativity in telling
your own stories. You will create a Personal
Statement to present to your breakout, and the
breakout sessions will culminate with a course-wide
Breakout Group Performance at the end of the
semester.
MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS
In-Class Participation, Exercises and Presentations:
Breakout groups are led, observed and monitored by a
faculty section leader. Exercises and assignments will
include projects that require homework and substantial
preparation requiring the student to engage fully in the
creative process hands-on both as an individual and as part
of a group effort.
Lecture Attendance and Quizes: Attendance at lecture and
weekly quizzes to demonstrate comprehension of lectures
and reading material.
Philadelphia Experience Blogs: Create your own public
blog and post a response to each Philadelphia Experience,
and submit your posts on Blackboard.
Personal Statement: Your midterm assignment in your
breakout group. You will present a one-minute piece of your
own creation, with a subject and form of your own choosing.
Final Breakout Group Presentation: Each Breakout
Group will undertake the creation and production of a
signature performance piece, performed anywhere on
Temple's main campus, that incorporates contributions made
by each member of the team; the form and content and
mode of presentation will be evolved in a series of
workshops lead by your breakout leader during your
breakout sessions.
Museum Paper: After experiencing the Philadelphia
Museum of Art, you will select a piece of art that grabbed
you on a gut level, and then write a 750-1500 word research
paper on the life and times of the artist who created it, and
how this artist was creative.
Final Course Paper: a 750-1500 word paper reflecting on
your experience creating the final group piece, and on the
work of two other groups in the course.
REQUIRED TEXTS, MATERIALS, AND OTHER COSTS
TEXT: Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of
Discovery and Invention by Mihaly
Csikszentmihalyi
Additional assigned readings, web videos and podcasts will
be posted on Blackboard periodically during the
semester.
It is recommended for you to keep a separate journal
for this course.
You will be responsible for admission costs to the
Philadelphia Museum of Art (up to $12), and to the
Temple Theater production we see ($5), and your ticket
to the Phialdelphia Fringe festival.
You will also be responsible for transportation to and from
each Philadelphia experience.
Your course fee covers the cost of admissions to PAY UP,
World Cafe Live and Kun-Yang Lin.
COURSE POLICIES
Grade Breakdown:
Breakouts 20% (10 points each breakout)
Lecture Quizzes 20% (10 points each lecture quiz)
PEX Blogs 20% (20 Points for each experience)
Personal Statement 10% (presented to the breakout
group)
Breakout Project 10% (presented to the whole class)
First Paper 10% (Museum paper)
Final Paper 10% (Interview profile paper)
Breakout Grading:
For each breakout class, you will be assigned up to 10
points for participation. A 10 will be someone who is on time,
ready to work, with all assignments completed in a way that
demonstrates preparation and attention to the requirements
of the assignment, and who participates meaningfully in
discussion and feedback. For full credit, you must always
make your best effort, and take a risk each class.
4 Points for Preparation
4 Points for Participation
1 Point for Giving Your Best Effort
1 Point for Taking a Risk
There is no opportunity to make up in-class assignments.
Lecture Quiz Grading:
There will be a quiz each lecture that will cover that week’s
reading, and previous lectures.
Each quiz will be worth 10 points, half for attendance, half
for contents of the quiz.
Philadelphia Experience (PEX) Attendance:
Attendance at Philadelphia experiences is required. Treat it
as class time.
In your blog posting, include an artifact or image
demonstrating your attendance.
You will create a public blog for the course. (tumblr,
wordpress, blogspot)
After each PEX, you will respond with a blog posting where
you come up with an original idea in response to the
event.
Support your idea. Link to other ideas you are borrowing
from.
Include an image or video that relates to your post.
You will also read and evaluate the blogs of 4 other
students.
The blogs will be graded by your instructor with the
following rubric:
Blog Grading Rubric - 20 points total
5 points for an Original Idea - An original, interesting ,
clear and relevant idea that is connected to an
event in a meaningful and effective way.
5 points for Adequate Support - The idea is well argued,
using support with examples from the experience,
references to other writing or media that supports
the idea, or set the idea in an interesting light.
5 points for Word Economy - every word is essential. the
necessary words are present. Needless words are
eliminated. The post is well edited and
is complete.
5 points for an image or video that relates to, supports and
adds interest to your post.
Attendance:
Prompt and regular attendance is expected.
You will receive a 0 for the day’s work if you are not in
attendance.
Unexcused absence, arriving late or leaving early
demonstrates disrespect for the work and your fellow
classmates, and will also result in a deduction for that
day’s work.
Please note that in order for an absence to be excused,
you must provide a doctor’s note, a program or other
document from a funeral, or notify your instructor ahead
of time of a religious commitment.
Because life happens, you are allowed the following
unexcused absences without penalty
one unexcused absence from breakout
one unexcused absence from lecture
one unexcused absence from a Philadelphia experience
No Late Assignments Accepted:
Project and assignment deadlines are final and no late
work will be accepted.
In extreme circumstances, a student may apply to their
section leader for an extension, but this arrangement
must be made BEFORE the assigned due date.
Peer Evaluation:
Most assignments in the class will be peer evaluated. You
will write a blog for each PEX, and also evaluate 4 blogs.
You will evaluate each other's museum paper. You will
evaluate each other's participation and preparation in
Breakout. Evaluating each other's work is central to the
pedagogy of this class.
Access to A Computer:
You must have access to a computer to complete this
course. All documents, assignments and
announcements related to the work of this class will be
made available to you on Blackboard. You must be able
to check your email daily to stay up to date. Changes
occur frequently in this course.
You are responsible for all the content communicated to
you through email.
Cultivating the Citizen Artist
The Temple University Department of Theater strives to
instill in our students an ethical aspiration to become true
Citizen Artists; highly trained, creative and deeply informed
individuals committed to making a difference in the future of
our human community through applied artistry; citizens who
support and promote the use of artistic expression as a
valued tool for creating and sustaining a culture of
enlightened and compassionate citizenship and civility.
Freedom to teach and Freedom to learn:
These are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The
University has a policy on Student and Faculty Academic
Rights and Responsibilities, (Policy # 03.70.02) which can
be accessed through the following
link: http://policies.temple.edu/getdoc.asp?policy_no=03.70.02
Disabilities:
Any student who has a need for accommodation based on
the impact of a disability should contact your instructors
privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as
possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services at (215)
204-1280 in 100 Ritter annex to coordinate reasonable
accommodations for students with documented disabilities.