ART 7 - PRE-COLUMBIAN ART – Sect. 0028
Pasadena City College
Fall 2011 Course Syllabus
Instructor:
Dr. Valerie Taylor – email: vxtaylor@pasadena.edu
Visual Arts & Media Studies Dept. telephone: 626 585 7238
My mailbox is located in the office in R118.
Office Hours:
Thursday Sept 8: 10.30 am -12 pm
Thursday October 13, 10.30 am – 12 pm
Tuesday November 8, 10.30 am – 12 pm
Tuesday November 22, 10.30 am – 12 pm
Class Schedule:
August 31 – December 14, 2011
Course Description: A survey of the major monuments of sculpture, architecture,
painting and the minor arts of Mesoamerica and the Andean region of western South
America from ca. 2000 BCE until the Conquest.
Required Reading: Miller, Mary. The Art of Mesoamerica. New York: Thames and
Hudson (1996). Fourth edition 2006.
Stone Miller, Rebecca. Art of the Andes. New York: Thames and
Hudson (1996). Second edition 2002, reprinted 2006.
Please make sure that you have the most recent editions.
Required Resource: You will need the use of a computer in order to access materials
for this class from the web for a number of research and short
writing assignments. You may need to consult images from
the electronic Reserve. To do so, you must be officially enrolled in
this class and have a current PCC network ID and password.
Student Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Identify the key stylistic and thematic features of Pre-Columbian art and
architecture from different periods, cultural traditions and regions.
2. Compare and contrast two works of a similar and – or different genres, media,
cultures or geographical regions.
3. Identify aesthetic and – or symbolic features of objects from Pre-Columbian
cultures.
4. Discuss the ways in which Pre-Columbian art expresses cultural ideals and
beliefs.
Evaluation: Assigned readings, web research and films will address specific topics
covered in the attached 16-week schedule. You will be tested on this material with
exams, written assignments and class participation.
Read the assigned pages provided on the syllabus before each class. Be ready to
ask and answer questions from the weekly readings listed on the syllabus and class
handouts.
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Tests: You will be tested on terms learned in class as well as slide comparisons in
which you will need to identify works of art and answer questions.
Two tests are scheduled. The last is a non-comprehensive final.
Written assignments: There will be written assignments (either in-class or take-home)
and a museum visit paper.
Make up tests/exams will NOT be given. Only those students with a letter from a
physician (or an equally serious excuse) may make up a missed exam.
You must take all tests and turn in all assignments to pass this course.
Late papers (15 minutes after class starts) will NOT be accepted.
Please see me before the paper submission deadline in case of a problem.
Class Participation: Every student is expected to complete the text-book reading
assignment before class. Please be prepared to participate in a discussion and/or review
of the material.
Grading: The average of the tests and written assignment scores constitute the overall
course score which is equivalent to your final grade. Top possible score: 800 points
3 Written Assignments
Museum Paper
Test 1
Test 2 (Final)
300
100
100
100
The grading scale for the class is: A= 600 – 540, B= 539- 480, C= 479 – 420, D= 419360, F= 359 and below.
Attendance: Attendance is a critical part of this course. Please plan to be in class
for the entire period. After 15 minutes a you will be marked late.
Students who miss more than ONE class will be dropped.
Should you miss a class, it is your responsibility to catch up on missed material before
the next class meeting. Always consult a fellow classmate/webCT for updates.
Overall requirement: You will be expected to write coherent essays in English and be
able to critically analyze the information taught.
Cell phones and all electronic instruments with the exception of lap top computers are
to be turned off and put away. Text messaging is prohibited. If I see a cell phone in
use during class you will be asked to leave.
CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM: Students are expected to be honest. If it appears that
you are cheating on an exam, the exam and cheat sheet will be confiscated immediately
and you will be given an F for that assignment. An Academic Dishonesty form will be
filed with the College Disciplinarian’s Office and you will be fully penalized. Similarly, if it
appears that one exam was copied from another, an Academic Dishonesty form will be
filed and the exams will be submitted to the college as evidence.
Disabilities: Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or
academic adjustments for this course need to let me know immediately. Consult the
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Pasadena City College Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSP&S) in room
D209, 626-585-7127 for information and support.
NOTE: The instructor reserves the right to modify the course content (grading
procedures, tests, etc.) as the situation dictates. The instructor will inform the students
of any such changes via e-mail and/or class announcements.
COURSE OUTLINE
PART 1 – THE ART OF MESOAMERICA
Week 1 (8/31):
Introduction to course
Film: Mountains of the Maya
(Miller, Preface and Chapter 1: Introduction)
Mesoamerican Art Production techniques
(Museo Amparo, Puebla, Collection)
Written Assignment 1 DUE Wednesday 9/7/11
Week 2 (9/7):
Preclassic /Formative Period: 1500 – 200 BCE
The Olmecs
(Miller Chapter 2)
9/11 LAST DAY TO DROP without a “W”
Week 3 (9/14):
Late Formative Period: 400 – 100 BCE
Writing and Calendrical Systems
Monte Alban
West Mexico, Colima
(Miller Chapter 3)
Week 4 (9/21)
Classic Period 250 – 900 CE
Teotihuacan, Cholula
(Miller Chapter 4)
Week 5 (9/28)
TEST 1 [Bring Scantron 882-E]
El Tajin. The Mesoamerican Ball Game.
(Miller Chapter 5)
Week 6 (10/5)
Early Classic Maya: 300 - 600 CE
Tikal, Copan
Film Review
(Miller Chapter 6)
Week 7 (10/12)
Late Classic Maya: 600 - 900 CE
Palenque
Film Review
(Miller Chapter 7)
Museum Visit Written Assignment instructions
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Week 8 (10/19)
Uxmal, Kabah, Labna
(Miller Chapter 7)
Cacaxtla, Xochicalco, Tula
(Miller Chapter 8)
Week 9 (10/26)
Mesoamerica after the fall of Classic cities:
Chichen Itza, Tulum
(Miller, Chapter 8)
Written Assignment 3 hand out
Week 10 (11/2)
The Post Classic: 900 -1521 CE.
The Aztecs: Tenochtitlan,
Tlatelolco, Malinalco,
(Miller Chapter 9)
Week 11 (11/9)
The Aztecs (con’t)
(Miller Chapter 9)
11/13: LAST DAY TO DROP with a “W”
Museum Visit Assignment 6 DUE Wednesday 11/16
PART 2 – ART OF THE ANDES
Week 12 (11/16)
Introduction to Andean Culture
(Stone pp. 9 -16)
Late Initial Period 900 – 500 BCE
Chavin de Huantar
Early Horizon Period: 500 – 200 BCE (Stone pp. 28 - 49)
Week 13 (11/23)
Paracas in the South Coast 600 BCE – 600 CE
(Stone pp. 50 -66)
Early Intermediate Period: 100 BCE – 600 CE
Nasca in the South Coast
(Stone pp. 66 - 82)
Week 14 (11/30)
Moche in the North Coast
(Stone pp. 83 – 118)
Middle Horizon: 500 – 800 CE
Tiwanaku (Southern Peru) and Wari (Stone pp. 119 – 150)
Week 15 (12/7)
Late Horizon: 1460 – 1535 CE
The Inca
Week 16 (12/14)
T
FINAL EXAM (TEST 2) 6 PM
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(Stone pp. 181- 218)
ART 7 – Pre-Columbian Art - Assignment 1 DUE: Wednesday 9/7/11
Techniques of Art Production
1. PROJECT GUIDELINE: NO TITLE PAGE – YOUR NAME AT UPPER RIGHT – TYPED,
DOUBLE-SPACE YOUR TEXT, SPELL-CHECK.
2. Go to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art website:
http://www.lacma.org/collection/ancient-americas.html
3. Select and click on MEXICO from the list of countries at the Right in the Middle of the
screen. There are several pages of images of different kinds of objects.
4. You will select ONE object from one of the following categories:
5. Ceramic sculptures, Ceramic vessels, Figurines, Ritual and ceremonial objects, Stone
sculpture or, Jewelry.
6. Provide an image for the object (download or drawing).
7. Create an ID for the object: What is it (name as given by museum) Date, Material, Size in
inches, Culture, Location.
Follow this Format for object ID (Single-space the ID)
OBJECT/TITLE
DATE
MATERIAL
SIZE
CULTURE
LOCATION
Duck Pendant
CE 250-950
Jadeite
2 inches by 4 inches
Maya
Guatemala or Mexico
Answer the following questions (three sentences per question maximum) in the order provided.
8.
What technique(s) of production was used to create it?
9. What is the function of this object? For example: ceremonial, daily use, ornamental, status,
etc.
10. Does the form of the object, serve, match, and/or enhance the function of the object?
11. Why did you choose this object? Describe the qualities that most impressed you.
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