UAF ART 261: HISTORY OF WORLD ART I
Fall 2012
Class held: MWF 11:45 - 12:45 in MUSI 301
3 credits
Dr. Mary Goodwin's Office Hours: MWF 1:00-2:00 & by appointment MUSI 304
Office phone: 474-7726; e-mail: mary.goodwin@alaska.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will survey art and architecture created
between prehistoric times and the 1300s. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.
COURSE GOALS: It is the mission of Art History classes to increase the
student's understanding of art, cultures, and societies. Art History classes inquire
into the relationships between visual images and the personal, social, and
historical issues that shape culture. Framing the study of art history within a
social context, this course will provide students with the tools for understanding
style and interpreting meaning in individual works of art.
This class will be as much about Art History as an interpretive practice as
about ancient art: we will be concerned as much with our ways of understanding
and accounting for art as we are with particular objects themselves.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: The student will gain an awareness of the
ever-changing socio-economic functions of art. In addition, the student will
become familiar with the language of visual communication. The student will be
able to identify, research, and discuss a variety of multi-cultural monuments and
symbols.
REQUIRED TEXT: The textbook, Gardner's Art Through the Ages, volume I,
“enhanced” fourteenth edition, by Frederick Kleiner et al. (Harcourt Publishers) is
required reading for the course. The paperback book is available new or used or
as a rental through the UAF Bookstore. Several volumes will be available on
Reserve at the UAF library, but they do not give the reader access to the
“enhancements,” of the on-line study guide, as described below.
___________________________________________________________
ArtStudy ON-LINE STUDY GUIDE:
This is a Web Site developed by the publishers of our textbook. There are video study tools,
flashcards, web-links, chapter reviews and chapter tutorial self-quizzes. You can access this
resource only if you purchase or rent the enhanced 14th edition from the UAF Bookstore. You will
have an access code in the back of your book. You can apply it at http://login.cengage.com.
Investment in this “enhanced” edition with access to on-line study is highly recommended for
serious students.
Other required readings are available on the UAF library's electronic
reserve, http://eres.uaf.edu . A suggested reading schedule is included below.
Reading assignments are to be completed before class.
METHOD OF INSTRUCTION: Class format will be primarily lecture with small
group work and discussion. Questions and comments are invited and
encouraged during lecture.
SUPPORT SERVICES: Writing assistance is offered in the 8th floor Gruening
Writing Center (474-5314). If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or
learning disability that may impact your ability to carry out assigned course work,
please contact the UAF Office of Disabilities Services (474-7043) and
appropriate accommodations will be determined. All documentation of disability
is confidential.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
4 EXAMS: There will be four non-cumulative examinations on the text and
lecture material. You are expected to have knowledge of the basic
characteristics and chronological development of each style. In addition, you
should be able to specifically identify and discuss a number of important works of
art. A list of such works, reproduced in your text, will be distributed long before
each exam.
1 FORMAL ANALYSIS PAPER: Students will be expected to write a
three-page paper analyzing the form of an artwork they have studied in the
original. Details of the assignment will be distributed. Due Wed. Sept. 12.
4 ARTICLE-ANALYSIS PAPERS & DISCUSSIONS:
Articles have been selected from a range of methodologies in order to
demonstrate that there is no single, monolithic historical narrative. Articles
demonstrate different modes of art historical analysis applied to the art and
architecture of Egypt, the Aegean, Greece, Rome, Medieval Europe, the Far
East, and North America.
The authors’ methodological approaches include:
FORMAL ANALYSIS - a close reading of the visual appearance of the object's
form, using terminology such as texture, color, and organic shape. Such
readings point to the emotional sensibilities and deeper visual meanings encoded
in works of art.
ICONOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS - analysis of the story depicted in a work of art; the
people, places and events, as well as the symbolism and conventions attached
to those images by a particular religion or culture.
SOCIAL HISTORY - analysis of the work of art's cultural surroundings; its
potential to be politically persuasive; its role in commerce, trade, and market;
aspects of gender and identity constructed in the representations of males and
females, young and old, etc.
Article #1
Vincent Scully, "The Sacred Mountain in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and
the Aegean," from Architecture: The Natural and the Manmade,
1991.
Article #2
A pair of related articles: Sheldon Nodleman, “How to Read a
Roman Portrait,” Art in America, 1975.
Ann Marie Seward Barry, “Political Images: Public Relations,
Advertising, and Propaganda.,” Visual Intelligence, 1997.
Article #3
Albert Elsen, "Images of Gods," from Purposes of Art fourth edition,
1981.
Article #4
Henry Kraus, "Eve and Mary: Conflicting Images of Medieval
Women," from The Living Theater of Medieval Art, 1967.
EVALUATION: Your ART 261 Final Grade is determined by the following:
The 4 exams are worth 15 points each, for a total of 60%.
The 5 papers are worth 8 points each, for a total of 40%.
93-100=A 90-92=A- 87-89=B+ 83-86=B 80-82=B- 77-79=C+ 73-76=C
70-72=C- 67-69=D+ 63-66=D 60-62=D- <60=F
The instructor's Final Grades will include plusses and minuses.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE (subject to change):
DATE
READING
TOPIC
F Sept. 2
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Introduction to course
*Extra Credit Opportunity: T Sept. 6 @ 6:00 p.m.
attend visiting artist presentation by Sitka artist
Norm Campbell in the UAF Art Department Gallery.
Submit 1-page response paper.
W Sept. 5
intro.
Art History as an interpretive practice:
formal analysis, iconographic analysis, and
social history.
F Sept. 7
intro.
" " "
M Sept. 10
Ch. 1
Art in the Stone Age
W Sept. 12
Ch. 2
F Sept. 14
Ch. 3
Art of the Ancient Near East
FORMAL ANALYSIS PAPER DUE
Egyptian Art
DATE
READING
M Sept. 17
Ch. 3
TOPIC
Egyptian Art
*Extra Credit Opportunity: attend visiting artist
presentation by Christa Assad, San Francisco
Ceramic Artist. Time & Place tba. Submit 1 page
response paper. See christaassad.com
W Sept. 19
Ch. 3
Egyptian Art & Review
F Sept. 21
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EXAM #1 of 4
covering chapters 1 through 3
M Sept. 24
Ch. 4
Prehistoric Aegean Art
W Sept. 26
Ch. 5
Ancient Greek Vase Painting and Sculpture
F Sept. 28
Ch. 5
Ancient Greek Architecture
M Oct. 1
Ch.5
Ancient Greek Art, continued
W Oct. 3
Ch. 9
Greek, Etruscan, Roman connections
F Oct. 5
article #1
Vincent Scully, “The Sacred Mountain in
Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Aegean,” from
Architecture: The Natural and the Manmade,
1991. Discussion.
M Oct. 8
Ch. 9, 10
Etruscan Art, Early Roman Art
W Oct. 10
Ch. 10
Roman Art
F Oct. 12
Ch. 10
article set #2
Roman Art; discuss
Sheldon Nodleman, “How to Read a Roman
Portrait,” Art in America, 1975, and
Ann Marie Seward Barry, “Political Images:
Public Relations, Advertising, and
Propaganda,” 1997.
M Oct. 15
Ch. 10
Roman Art & Review
DATE
READING
TOPIC
W Oct. 17
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EXAM #2 of 4
covering chapters 4, 5, 9. & 10
F Oct. 19
Ch. 6
South & Southeast Asia
M Oct. 22
Ch. 6/7
South & Southeast Asia
/ Early China & Korea
W Oct. 24
Ch. 7
" " "
F Oct. 26
Ch. 8
Early Japan
M Oct. 29
Ch. 14
Native Arts of the Ancient Americas
W Oct. 31
Ch. 14
" " "
F Nov. 2
Ch. 15
Early African Art
M Nov. 5
---
Early African Art & Review
W Nov. 7
---
Exam #3 of 4
covering chapters 6, 7, 8, 14, & 15
F Nov. 9
Ch. 11
The Art of Late Antiquity
M Nov. 12
---
“ “ “
W Nov. 14
Ch. 12
Art of Byzantium
F Nov. 16
Ch. 12
" " "
M Nov. 19
Ch. 13
Islamic Art
W Nov. 21
Ch. 16
Early Medieval Art
F Nov. 23
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THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
M Nov. 26
article #3
discuss Albert Elsen, “Images of Gods”, from
Purposes of Art, 1981.
W Nov. 28
Ch. 17
Romanesque Art
DATE
READING
TOPIC
F Nov. 30
Ch. 17
" " "
M Dec. 3
Ch. 18
Gothic Art
W Dec. 5
article #4
discuss Henry Kraus, "Eve and Mary:
Conflicting Images of Medieval Women," from
The Living Theater of Medieval Art, 1967.
F Dec. 7
Ch. 18
Late Gothic Art. Course assessment forms.
M Dec. 10
Ch. 18
" " " & Review
W Dec. 12
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EXAM #4 of 4. 10:15 a.m.