ARTS2F/ICS5 De Anza College Distance Learning Class
History of Art: Multicultural Arts in the United States
Fall 2014
Instructor: So Kam Lee
Email: leesokam@deanza.edu
Please include your name and course section on all documents and communications.
Office Hours: T/Th 1:45 to 2:15 PM or contact instructor for an appointment
Office: IIS Division Office, MCC-14
Course Description:
A cross-cultural introduction to American art history, which focuses on the interdisciplinary analysis
of diverse art forms, generated by artists of color, including Native Americans, African Americans,
Asian Americans, and Latino/Chicano, and other non-Europeans. Significant attention will be given
to issues related to race, discrimination, bicultural identity, gender, social class, political history as the
cultural traditions, world views, values, and artistic expressions of these diverse societies and their
contributions to American visual culture are explored.
Advisory:
This is an Online class. Students must use course materials inside Catalyst. Students should expect
to spend several hours per week viewing the PDF lectures, writing short essays and online exercises
and participating in class forums in addition to assigned readings.
Contribute to a positive, collaborative learning environment online by being open and receptive to the
ideas and opinions of others. You may disagree with a concept or opinion, but be respectful of the
ideas of other.
Accessing the Catalyst System:
Catalyst is the De Anza College online course management system (CMS). It is built on the
Moodle platform and hosts traditional on-campus courses enhanced with online features,
hybrids and fully online courses (like this one).
As an online course, we never meet in the classroom. Instead, we utilize the course
management system to meet online throughout the session. It is important that all students
understand how to access online course materials.
Access the course at:
https://catalyst.deanza.edu
1. Log-in to the site using your username and password.
2. Once you’ve logged in, find the link for the course and open the course
environment.
3. Follow the instructions for each week of the session.
No students can log into the system until noon of the first day of the quarter. If you ADD
the class after the quarter begins, it may take up to one (1) full business day from the time
you officially enroll, for your account to be created (please be patient). If you cannot log-in
by noon on the next business day after your ADD was processed, contact technical
support at:
http://catalysthelp.deanza.edu/?pg=contact
Course Objectives:
Learn the diverse art heritage of multiple ethnic groups in the United States.
Explore reasons why these American artists were not part of mainstream American art and culture.
Examine the relationship between art making and gender roles in non-European societies in the
United States.
Understand the role ethnic art plays in shaping the vibrant and diverse American cultural history.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
Learn basic skills in stylistic analysis and how to describe a work of art.
Recognize and evaluate visual art works, artists, and art movements of selected African Americans,
Native Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos/Chicanos studied in this class.
Interpret significant artistic styles or major movements in each respective cultural group.
Analyze critically the arts in the context of their social, religious, racial, and political background.
Evaluate artistic traditions from the perspective of economical, gender, and global issues.
Required Texts:
Berlo, Janet
Native North American Art. 1998
Patton, Sharon
African American Art. 1998
Poon, Irene
Leading the Way: Asian American Artists of the Older Generation. 2001
Course Requirements:
Attendance
Class attendance is important. Even in an online environment, courses are seldom selfpaced. Check in regularly and complete work in a timely fashion. Missed assignments
affect grades.
Students should expect to spend several hours per week viewing PDF lectures, writing short
essays and online exercises and participating in class forums in addition to reading textbook
chapters and other assigned readings.
This class is conducted online, most of your grade will be based on short answers, essays, and
forum participations that you write in response to class questions.
Any one student failing to submit class assignments by the end of Week Two may be dropped
from enrollment. However...
Student is responsible to drop/withdraw from the course or select P/NC option in a timely fashion.
(Last day: to add 10/4, to drop 10/5, to request pass/no pass 10/17, to drop with a “W” 11/14)
Research Paper (the artist paper)
Explore the life and works of three artists of different ethnic groups (Native American, African
American, Asian American, Mexican American/Chicano). Select one as the subject of the final paper.
Submit paper to turnitin.com. Class ID 8662545. Password A2F14
Include your full name and course section on all assignments and communications.
One Additional Paper
Museum Assignment (Option One)
Visit an art museum or gallery. Write a report of your visit. Describe your visit. Focus on one exhibit
in the museum and choose two works of art from that exhibit to compare.
Public Art Assignment (Option Two)
Analyze a public art work (mural, outdoor sculpture, etc).
Quizzes (5)
Part multiple choices, part written answers/essay.
Tests will be available between Thursday and Saturday. Take them within the scheduled time.
Extra Credit Options (to receive up to 50 extra credit points)
The other paper assignment.
Attend a cultural performance
Attend a cultural event
Grading Policy:
Quizzes (200 points); Forums (50 points); Exercises (50 points); Film Reviews (50 points); Research
Paper (100 points); Public or Museum Paper (50 points)
Total Possible Points =500
500-465=A 464-450=A- Above 500=A+
449-435=B+ 434-415=B 414-400=B399-385=C+ 350=C
349-300=D
Late work is accepted at the discretion of the instructor with a penalty of 50% point loss. If
compelling circumstances exist, contact the instructor. Do not expect time extensions
unless prior arrangements have been made. In the case of serious medical conditions,
please provide proof from a physician.
No form of cheating or plagiarism will be tolerated. Automatic failing grade for that exam,
assignment, or the course.
Students are expected to be honest and ethical in their academic work. Academic
dishonesty includes cheating and plagiarism. Consciously or unknowingly presenting the
ideas or writings of others as your own will result in academic sanctions, including
suspension or expulsion. It is acceptable to quote or paraphrase other people’s views as
long as you provide the source of the information.
Each student must write his/her own assignments and papers, even if students worked on
the research together. If students turn in the same paper, the points earned will be
divided equally between the parties (resulting in a failing grade).
Course Schedule
Week One
9/22 - 9/28
Introduction to Multicultural Arts and Art History
Introduction to Native American Art
Reading: Berlo, chapter 1
Week Two
9/29 – 10/5 (last day to add 10/4, to drop 10/5)
Native American (Southwest)
Reading: Berlo, chapter 2
Native American (The East)
Reading: Berlo, chapter 3
Quiz 1
Week Three
10/6 - 10/12
Native American (The West)
Reading: Berlo, chapter 4
Native American Art (The Northwest Coast)
Reading: Berlo, chapter 6
Week Four
10/13 - 10/19 (last day to request pass/no pass 10/17)
African American: Colonial to Reconstruction Period
Reading: Patton, chapter 1, pages 19-41, 44-49;
chapter 2, pages 51-58, 64-71, 79-103
Quiz 2
Week Five
10/20 - 10/26
African American (Harlem Renaissance)
Reading: Patton, chapter 3, pages 105-146, 153-156
Week Six
10/27 - 11/2
African American (Social and Political Awareness/Civil Rights Movement)
Reading: Patton, chapter 4, pages 183-205, 242-244
Quiz 3
Week Seven
11/3 - 11/9
Asian American Artistic Heritage
Reading: Poon and online
Asian American (The Immigrant Experience)
Reading online
Research Paper due
Week Eight
11/10 – 11/16 (last day to drop with a “W” 11/14)
Asian American (Exclusion and Internment)
Reading: Poon and online
Quiz 4
Week Nine
11/17 - 11/23
Asian American Art
Reading: Poon
Public Art or Museum Paper due
Week Ten
11/24 – 11/30
Latino/Chicano Artistic Heritage
Reading online
Week Eleven 12/1 – 12/7
Latino/Chicano Mural Movement
Reading online
Quiz 5
Week Twelve 12/8 – 12/14
12/14 is the last day of the quarter. No work will be accepted after that date
Make up Quiz (replaces the score of the lowest previous test)