Department of Visual Arts 2015/16
Brock University Course Outline
VISA 2P50 - Canadian Identities: Art and Visual Culture in Canada Before 1960
A.B. Frost, Salmon Fishing in Canadian Waters (1883)
Image Source: ARTstor
Teaching Team
Course Instructor: Dr. Keri Cronin (keri.cronin@brocku.ca)
Office Hours: In Person: Thursdays 1:30-2:30 or by appointment (Office Location: MW 335)
Online: Wednesdays 3-4 (via Sakai)
VISA 2P50 Teaching Fellow: Sonya de Lazzer (sd04nb@brocku.ca)
Office Hours: Online: Mondays 10-11 (via Sakai)
Liaison Librarian: Justine Cotton (jcotton@brocku.ca)
VISA Research Guide: http://researchguides.library.brocku.ca/VISA
VISA 2P50 (Winter 2016) 2
Course Description
VISA 2P50 (D3, Winter Semester)
Thursdays, 10am-1pm (MW 156)
This course focuses on cultural production in Canada from early First Nations art practices
until the middle of the twentieth century. Through thematic explorations we will consider
some of the histories of Canadian art during this time period. This course is intended to give
students a foundation in applying social and contextual analysis to the study of early
Canadian art.
Through a combination of lectures, readings, and film presentations, students in this course
will gain a historical overview of early Canadian art. In addition, emphasis will be placed on
the continued development of research, writing, and critical thinking skills necessary for
success in this and other Faculty of Humanities courses at Brock University.
Required Texts and Resources
-Sakai (https://lms.brocku.ca/portal)
-recommended text: Sylvan Barnet, A Short Guide to Writing About Art (9th or 10th edition)
-There is no textbook for this course. All assigned readings will be available through the
James A. Gibson Library. Students are expected to take the citations listed below and
retrieve the articles using library databases. During our first class meeting Justine Cotton,
the liaison librarian for Visual Arts, will be visiting our class to give instruction on how to
access the assigned readings.
Course Objectives
►to present students with an opportunity to learn about the key artistic movements of the
period under consideration in this course
►to encourage critical engagement with ideas surrounding socio-political aspects of image
culture and consumption
►to foster dialogue surrounding the relationship between visual arts and ideas of national
identity
►to provide students with the opportunity to view Canadian art in a gallery setting
►to give students opportunity to engage in contextual and visual analysis of images beyond
the introductory level
►to provide students an opportunity to build upon existing academic research and writing
skills through assignments and workshops
Schedule
*The following schedule is a guideline for this course and is subject to change.
*Attendance is expected in this course. The lectures, readings, discussions, and film
screenings are intended to complement one another, but do not replace the other
components of the course. You are responsible for all material presented in lecture,
discussions, films, and course readings. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to get
notes from a classmate.
*Please ensure you have completed the assigned reading prior to the class meetings for the
week in which it is assigned.
*Students in VISA 2P50 should plan to spend at least three hours per week (one hour for
every hour of class time) outside of regularly scheduled class meetings on readings,
research, assignments and studying.
VISA 2P50 (Winter 2016) 3
Week #1 (January 7, 2016): Course Introduction
-review course outline, assignments, requirements, and expectations
-introductory session with Justine Cotton, liaison librarian for Visual Arts
Week #2 (January 14, 2016): French & British Traditions
Assigned Reading: John E. Crowley, “‘Taken on the Spot’: The Visual Appropriation of New
France for the Global British Landscape.” The Canadian Historical Review 86 no. 1 (March
2005): 1-28.
Week #3 (January 21, 2016): Representations of “Self” and “The Other”
Assigned Reading: Kevin R. Muller, “From Palace to Longhouse: Portraits of the Four Indian
Kings in a Transatlantic Context.” American Art 22 no. 3 (Fall 2008): 26-49.
Week #4 (January 28, 2016): Cultural Production by Canada’s First Peoples
Assigned Reading: Gerald McMaster, “Art History Through the Lens of the Present?” Journal
of Museum Education 34 no.3 (Fall 2009): 215-222.
Week #5 (February 4, 2016): Field Trip to RiverBrink Art Museum in Queenston
Today we will be going to the RiverBrink Art Museum in Queenston. RiverBrink is home to
the Weir Collection, a collection of early Canadian art with a special focus on the Niagara
Region.
The cost of the trip will be approximately $15 (it will depend on the final number of students
enrolled in the course as the cost will be divided evenly among all participants), which gives
you admission into the gallery and return transportation to and from Queenston. Payment
must be made prior to the trip (cash only). There will be no refunds issued if you miss the
trip.
There will be questions on the exhibitions at RiverBrink on your midterm exam, so if you are
unable to make the class field trip it is strongly recommended that you visit the museum on
your own time. The Winter hours for River Brink Art Museum are Wednesdays-Saturdays,
10-5.
Week #6 (February 11, 2016): MIDTERM PROGRESS EXAM
February 15th-19th, 2016: READING WEEK
**NO CLASSES SCHEDULED AND OFFICE HOURS CANCELLED**
Week #7 (February 25, 2016): Landscape, Nature and the Art of Building a Nation
Assigned Reading: Georgia B. Barnhill, “Looking North: Views of Canada Published in the
United States.” Journal of Canadian Art History 32 no. 2 (2011): p12-37.
Week #8 (March 3, 2016): Emily Carr and the Group of Seven
Assigned Reading: Robert Linsley, “Landscapes in Motion: Lawren Harris, Emily Carr and
the Heterogeneous Modern Nation.” Oxford Art Journal 19 no. 1 (1996), 80-95.
VISA 2P50 (Winter 2016) 4
Week #9 (March 10, 2016): Beyond Group of Seven and Canadian War Art
Assigned Reading: Laura Brandon, “Words and Pictures: Writing Atrocity Into Canada’s First
World War Official Photographs.” Journal of Canadian Art History 31 no.2 (2010): 110-126.
Week #10 (March 17, 2016): Fine Art, Commercial Art and Graphic Art of the 40s and
Beyond
Assigned Reading: Bart Beaty, “The Fighting Civil Servant: Making Sense of the Canadian
Superhero.” American Review of Canadian Studies 36 no. 3 (2006): 427-439.
Week #11 (March 24, 2016): working on final projects, no scheduled class meeting
Week #12 (March 31, 2016): presentation of final projects
Assignments and Course Requirements
o Seminar Activities: 15% (weeks 2-4, and 7-10)
o Exhibition Assignment: 20% (due at 11:55pm on February 22nd)
o Midterm Exam: 25% (written in class on February 11th)
o Final Project - Creative Response Component: 15% (due March 31st in class)
o Final Project - Written Report Component: 25% (due at 11:55pm on April 11th)
Seminar Activities: 15%
In-class seminar activities will be conducted in the third hour of each class during weeks 2-4
and 7-10. During this time, students will be responding to weekly course topics and/or
relevant news in the art world. The seminar hour is designed to engage dialogues at various
scales, as learning will occur through various in-class activities and discussions, ranging
from small groups/pairs to the larger seminar group. All assignments will be conducted
during class time and will include a hardcopy “worksheet” component to be handed in at the
end of each seminar hour, serving as proof of each student’s attendance. If a student misses
a seminar hour, he or she misses the opportunity to do the assignment. Unexcused
absences will result in a loss of a seminar activity grade for that week.
Exhibition Assignment: 20%
For this assignment you will need to critically reflect upon a piece (or pieces) from our Week
5 field trip to RiverBrink Art Museum in Queenston, Ontario. The assignment can be a
focused analysis of one piece (or more than one piece) or can be structured as a “compare
and contrast” analysis of two pieces from any of the various exhibitions on display. Students
may be particularly interested in the “Treasures from the Collection” exhibition currently on
display in the long gallery as it relates to some of the course themes discussed from weeks
2-4.
Your assignment should be between 750-1250 words (roughly 3-5 pages), double-spaced,
typed in 12pt. font and include citations, image captions, and a bibliography where
appropriate.
Questions to consider while selecting and writing about works can include, but are not
limited to:
-What type of narrative of Canadian identity is expressed through this piece(s)?
-How do the pieces work together? How do the pieces differ?
-How does the piece(s) relate to course themes?
-How does the way the piece is displayed in the gallery shape the way you
understand it?
VISA 2P50 (Winter 2016) 5
No additional research is required for this assignment. This assignment requires you to
analyze the work(s) from RiverBrink based on your observations and class material.
This assignment is due (via Sakai) by 11:55pm on the 22nd of February.
Midterm Exam: 25%
The midterm progress exam will cover material presented in class and in the assigned
readings from the start of the semester to Week #5 (this includes the field trip). The midterm
progress exam will be written in Week #6 during the regularly scheduled class meeting time.
Exam questions will draw from material presented in readings, lectures, the field trip, film
screenings, and seminar discussions. The format for the midterm exam for this class will be
a combination of fill-in-the blank, multiple choice, and short answer questions.
Final Project: Written Report and Creative Response (15% + 25%)
For your final project you are required to produce a creative response that addresses the
multi-faceted composition of “Canadian Identity,” as explored in the various topics of this
course. You may wish to focus on one particular theme presented in the course;
alternatively, you may wish to engage with a number of different ideas in your final project.
Your final project includes two components: the creative response and an accompanying
written report.
Written Report (25%)
All final projects must be accompanied by a written report (approx. 10-15 double-spaced
pages) discussing how the project relates to the study of early Canadian Art and cultural
production. Projects that are not accompanied by a written report will receive a grade of
zero. Your written report must adhere to standard academic formatting and citation
guidelines. In order to discuss how your project fits within the study of early Canadian Art
and cultural production, you will have to do a bit of research.
Your research references for this project must go beyond the assigned course readings and
include at least five additional peer-reviewed academic books and journal articles. Other
sources (e.g.: essays found on gallery websites, for example), may also be included. When
using online resources, please be judicious in your choices--ask yourself: “is this a credible
source? How do I know?” If in doubt, do not hesitate to send the URL to any member of the
teaching team for VISA 2P50.
Some things you may wish to discuss in your written report include (but are not limited to):
-which aspect of the course you chose to focus on and why
-how you came up with/made your project
-how it relates to course themes
-how it relates to broader issues in the study of early Canadian Art and cultural
production
Creative Response: 15%
The format your creative response takes is entirely up to you, and you may wish to combine
formats depending on the theme(s) you address in your project. Some suggested formats
include (but are not limited to):
-paintings, photographs, or drawings
-a scrapbook or illustrated journal
-posters, postcards, or flyers
-textiles (quilting, knitting, etc.)
VISA 2P50 (Winter 2016) 6
-collage
-video
Important Dates for the Final Project in VISA 2P50
In-class work session: March 24, 2016
Creative Response Due: March 31, 2016 (in-class showcase of final work)
Written Report Due: April 11, 2016 at 11:55pm (submit via Sakai)
Final Project Closing Remarks
1. Please remember this is an art history course, not a studio course. This means that you
will not be judged on your level of artistic ability – no previous artistic practice or
experience is required! What we will be looking for is your level of engagement with
course themes and how you attempt to express this through your final project.
2. You are strongly advised to work on your final project throughout the semester.
Students are responsible for all materials and fees associated with the production of this
project.
3. Students will take their projects home after the March 31st in-class showcase.
4. Written Report to be submitted via SAKAI.
COURSE POLICIES
Academic Civility
Common courtesy is expected in this course, and disruptive and disrespectful behaviour
will not be tolerated. While debates and the exploration of different points of view are
encouraged, it is absolutely essential that these discussions unfold in a professional and
courteous manner. Debating different points of view is the basis of academic inquiry, but
under no circumstances will personal attacks or insults be tolerated.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is expected in this course, and students are encouraged to familiarize
themselves with what constitutes appropriate behaviour in this respect. Students are
strongly encouraged to read Brock University’s academic integrity policy
(http://www.brocku.ca/academic-integrity) and the relevant section of the University
Calendar (http://www.brocku.ca/webcal/2015/undergrad/areg.html#sec67)
Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are serious academic
offences. Penalties range from a warning, to failure of the course with a notation on your
transcripts, or suspension from university. It is the responsibility of the student to be aware
of the rules and terms governing academic honesty.
In relation to this, it is the instructor’s responsibility to track and report plagiarism in the
university. Turnitin.com is an anti-plagiarism tool that works in conjunction with Sakai. It
screens all assignments against a database of the internet, e-journals, e-books, a range of
other scanned material including other assignments for this course. This ensures that all
assignments are graded on a level playing field and means I can read your papers for
ideas and content, and can spend my grading time providing all students with the
feedback they deserve rather than spending inordinate amounts of time investigating the
few papers that seem to present academic honesty issues.
*Please note that if you have a principled objection to Turnitin.com, you must come and
speak to me by January 15th so that alternate arrangements can be made. Students who
object to using Turnitin.com will instead submit research notes, drafts, and photocopies of
all sources along with their papers rather than uploading their papers to the website.
VISA 2P50 (Winter 2016) 7
Accommodations
As part of Brock University's commitment to a respectful work and learning environment,
the University will make every reasonable effort to accommodate all members of the
University community with disabilities. If you require accommodations related to a
permanent disability to participate in this course, you are encouraged to contact the
Student Development Centre Services for Students with Disabilities and also discuss
these accommodations(s) with the professor. For more information, see
http://www.brocku.ca/services-students-disabilities
Email
Email is often the preferred method of communication between many students and faculty
members. It is a quick and efficient way of asking a question or getting information,
however it is important that we have guidelines about appropriate use of email
communication in classes such as this:
1) Email exchanges about Brock courses are considered to be professional
communication and should be composed accordingly. This does not mean they need to be
uncomfortably formal, but they should be polite and proofread for clarity.
2) Always sign your emails so that members of the VISA 2P50 teaching team know who
they are corresponding with.
3) Identify which course you are writing about (VISA 2P50) in either the subject line or
body of your email. Your teaching team is involved with several classes each year, and
cannot answer vague questions about “class” without knowing which course you are
referring to.
4) We are happy to answer questions about class material, policies, or assignments via
email, however we would ask that you please consult the course outline and the Sakai site
to see if you can find the answer to your question before you send an email. Emails that
ask questions which can easily be answered by consulting these resources (i.e.: What is
the assigned reading for this week? When is the midterm?) will not receive a response.
5) Your professor will strive to answer email relating to VISA 2P50 within 48 hours of
receiving it. Please note that this applies only to regular working hours – email will not be
checked on weekends or holidays. Likewise, frantic emails sent in the middle of the night
hours before a due date or an exam will likely not be answered in time.
Important Dates
*The last day to withdraw from a D3 course without academic penalty is March 4, 2016
*Reading Week: February 15-19, 2016
*April 5th and 6th are scheduled as snow/reading days.
*Final exam period: April 7th-20th (note: there is no final exam in this course. These dates
are provided for your information only)
Late Penalties and Extensions
Late assignments will be deducted 5% a day. Extensions will be given only in extreme
circumstances and must be accompanied by supporting documentation. Extensions are
only granted in extenuating circumstances and only when a student has provided
appropriate documentation.
Under no circumstances will vacations, concerts, sporting events and other extra-curricular
activities be considered a valid excuse for missing an exam or a due date. Students are
given assignment due dates at the beginning of term and are expected to plan their time
VISA 2P50 (Winter 2016) 8
accordingly. You are strongly encouraged to work on your assignments throughout the
semester and not attempt to complete your assignment right before it is due. Running out
of time or failing to budget your time appropriately does not constitute grounds for an
extension on assignments in this course. Any assignment submitted after the due date will
be subject to a late penalty of 5% per day.
Requirements for Written Assignments
1. All written assignments must adhere to a standard academic citation style (e.g.:
Chicago Manual of Style, MLA, APA). The James A. Gibson Library at Brock has
resources to assist you with this. http://researchguides.library.brocku.ca/styleguides
2. All written assignments will be marked with attention to style, grammar, and spelling.
Students who received 60% or less on a written assignment are encouraged to attend a
writing workshop. For more information on these and other academic skills workshops,
please visit the Student Development Centre.
Sensitive Material
Due to the nature of the themes explored in this course, there will occasionally be
inclusion of sensitive material presented in lectures, films, readings, and discussion. By
remaining in the course, a student is understood to have given their informed consent to
exposure to such materials.
Grades (Excerpt from Section VI of the University Calendar)
The following grades are awarded for undergraduate courses:
A - 90 to 100
Reserved for students where work is of outstanding quality that provides clear evidence of
a rare talent for the subject and of an original and/or incisive mind.
A - 80 to 89
Awarded for excellent, accurate work in which evidence of a certain flair for and
comprehension of the subject is clearly perceptible.
B - 70 to 79
Indicates competent work that shows a sound grasp of the course goals without being
distinguished.
C - 60 to 69
Represents work of adequate quality which suffers from incompleteness or inaccuracy.
D - 50 to 59
Given where the minimum requirements of a course are barely satisfied.
F - 49 or lower
Means that minimum requirements have not been met and no credit has been given for
the course.