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

• 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 often encounter art historical objects chronologically and geographically, tracking development and influence. We will learn about diverse art forms and ideas and frequently examine objects from a thematic, comparative, or personal lens.
• 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 analysis paper, 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 must check Blackboard regularly to assure they are aware of all announcements, expectations, and deadlines.
• Students are expected to visit one or more art collections during this course.

Grading System

Formal analysis paper (from visiting an art collection) 10%

Midterm (Test) 10%

Final (open-book) exam 15%

Final presentation 15%

Art Journal (handwritten and/or drawn reflections art, ideas, and readings) = 10%

Participation 15%

The remaining 25% will be broken into quizzes, discussion posts, and other homework or in-class assignments. (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 after their deadline; 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. Attendance is mandatory — this is not a hybrid format class. (Dual Credit Students are required to communicate with instructor about non AISD testing or holiday-related absences).

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 practices and ideas 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 also 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

Storytelling elements in art

Paths of cultural influence

Appropriation

Repatriation

Learning and challenging canons

Intuitive artmaking

Identity and expression

Body and Space

Street art

Conceptual portraiture

Global Middle Ages

Visual sequencing

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 culture(s) 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 the elements and principles of art, as well as 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 and critical thinking for the purpose of forming well-rounded interpretations and judgments.
    •    Gain experience in thoughtfully engaging with art through multimodal strategies (drawing, sculpting, writing, movement, role play, 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.

AI Policy

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.