Faculty Syllabus

The primary goal of this course is to learn about the ways in which people throughout history express ideas and interpret their world through the visual arts. Art Appreciation cultivates aesthetic discernment and sense-making as we consider how art relates to its own place and time as well as to our lives today. In this course, students will acquire knowledge about diverse media, techniques, styles, and relevant vocabulary and cultural history. Students will visually analyze and experience art through multiple lenses and creative outlets as they work to form grounded, broadly developed responses.

Prerequisites: College level reading and writing skills, strong study skills, and an openness to engage with art in many ways!

Components of the class

• This class will introduce art history chronologically. We will learn about diverse world cultures and frequently examine objects from a thematic, comparative lens.    
• A typical class session involves looking at artworks in slideshows, color prints, and/or physical works of art. We will engage with the art visually, and through inquiry, class discussions, art making, and other experiential learning exercises.
• We will work individually, in small groups, and as a whole class. Students are expected to participate and collaborate when appropriate.
• All course work will be based on art that we view, discuss, and engage with together in class and as assigned in homework. There will be readings, quizzes, exams, written responses, a presentation, art collection reflections, and an art journal requirement that will count toward the final grade.
• Reflections and assignments are embedded within lessons as the course progresses. Students should respond to each topic in a clear, thoughtful, and well balanced manner.
• Students are expected to visit one or more art collections during this course.

Grading System
Formal analysis paper 10%
Midterm 10%
Final (open-book) exam 15% each
Final presentation 15%
Art Journal = 10%

The remaining 40% will be broken into quizzes, discussions, participation, and other assignments. Rubrics for the journal, presentation, paper, and participation will be shared with students in advance of due dates. (Any revisions to the grading structure will be posted to Blackboard.)

Course Policies
Participation: Students are expected to be attentive, respectful, and open to engage with art. Failing to respond to prompts from the instructor, excessive talking, or inappropriate behavior will result in loss of points. 

Missing or late work: Missing assignments will lose the noted percentages; turning in assignments late will result in a deduction of points from the final grade, unless a prior agreement has been made with instructor. Multiple offenses result in lowered final grade or incomplete status.

Attendance:  Repeat absences will result in a lowered final grade or withdrawal from the course.

Students are expected to check Blackboard regularly.

Required readings will be found in the course textbook, Living with Art, Mark Getlein (13th edition), available through the First Access* program. Additional readings will be assigned on zero-cost sites including OER Commons (Open Educational Resources) and Smarthistory.org.

* This is a First Day Access course, a program of Austin Community College. First Day Inclusive Access provides access to your discounted course materials and eBook, provided by the ACC Bookstore. The cost of required digital course materials is added to your tuition and fees when you register. Other advantages include: Be prepared on the first day of your term. First Day materials are easy to access through Blackboard Learn. Materials go where you go, on whichever device you want. Receive the lowest price available from the publisher.

This 16-week course will cover a wide range of art throughout history. Our format will be mostly chronological, examining art objects from cultures around the world starting in prehistory and working through to contemporary art. We will often explore diverse artworks grouped by theme, and through compare/contrast and creative response, while also considering our own individual ways of relating to the art. Some points of focus include (but are not limited to):

Art and the senses

Visual sequencing

Ancient art and the afterlife

Appropriation vs. influence

Theatrical Dutch painting

Earthworks

Matrilineal cultures

Travel through Japanese prints

Conceptual portraiture

Form vs. function

Intuitive artmaking

Questions to keep in mind
    •    What is art? What are our parameters for defining art?
    •    Why does humanity produce art? What motivations and purposes does it serve?
    •    How has the role of art changed over time? How might it change in the future?
    •    What can we deduce about an artwork just by looking? What can’t we deduce?
    •    What does art communicate about identity and community?
    •    How does art offer a reflection of the people and cultures of the artist? How does art offer a reflection of our own lives?
    •    How do we differentiate between the objective and subjective in art?
    •    How does art open our minds to different perspectives?
    •    How does art both connect us to culture and also transcend culture?

    •    Gain knowledge and appreciation of art throughout history and around the world.
    •    Develop a working vocabulary of terms related to media, processes, styles, periods, etc.
    •    Identify key points of emphasis and influence for a wide range of art forms.
    •    Develop tools for reading (visual analysis) and finding meaning in art from many traditions and cultures.
    •    Intensify skills of observation for the purpose of forming well-rounded interpretations and judgments.
    •    Gain experience in thoughtfully engaging with art through multimodal strategies (drawing, sculpting, writing, movement, and more).
    •    Transform sense perceptions into words, both written and verbal.
    •    Examine differences between the universal and personal through observation, inquiry, dialogue, debate, and collaboration.
    •    Learn to explore and question the ways in which we communicate and receive information visually.

1. Introduction: The use of generative AI (GAI) is permitted in this course under certain conditions to enhance learning while maintaining academic integrity.
2. Rationale: GAI is permitted to foster technological fluency and to leverage advanced tools for research, as long as it does not substitute for critical thinking and learning.
3. Definition of GAI: Generative AI encompasses technologies that create content through learned patterns and data without direct human input.
4. Usage Permissions: Permitted: GAI can be used for initial research, idea generation, and learning coding practices. It is NOT to be used for final submissions unless explicitly cited and discussed.
5. Resources: Guidance on the ethical and effective use of GAI will be provided through designated course materials and office hours.
6. Assessment: Contributions of GAI must be clearly cited and will be assessed on the student’s ability to critically analyze and integrate the AI-generated content.
7. Penalties: Misuse of GAI, including a failure to cite, will be considered a breach of academic integrity, with consequences including a failing grade for the assignment and academic review.
8. Exceptions: Should the technology be required as an accommodation, exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.