EDUC Outline

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http://www.educ . .calugradprogs/Outlines/Educ456richmond.html

EDUC

DR. STUART RICHMOND

Office: EDB

8546

Phone: 291-3163

TUESDAY 8:30-12:20 @ Harbour Centre Campus

PREREQUISITE:

60 hours of credit

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course examines the forms, processes, values and conceptions of the contemporary visual arts and

relates these ideas to modernist perspectives and the development and practice of art education in

schools.

MAJOR COURSE TOPICS

The course examines the main ideas, themes, approaches, media and guiding assumptions of

contemporary art. Contemporary art involves ways of working that are frequently conceptual,

improvisational, exploratory, and interdisciplinary. Such art is often personal, small scale,

process-oriented, relativist, reflective and collaborative. It tends to focus on meaning rather than form or

beauty; uses ordinary materials and skills, employs construction, found materials and objects,

assemblage, bricolage, performance and installation, photography, scrapbooks, drawing and painting;

deconstructs the grand narratives of modernism (truth, beauty, the fine arts, artist as creative genius,

judgments of taste), and explores social and aesthetic issues such as the nature of art, aesthetic quality,

uniqueness, consumerism, politics, ecology, gender, sexuality, the market, technology, culture,

language, the media, identity, etc. The course critiques and compares modern and postmodern

approaches to art with a view to providing a balanced understanding that is of value to education.

Contemporary approaches provide a needed challenge to tradition, privilege and interests and are

legitimate in themselves as art. But also, learning skills and an appreciation of form constitute a powerful

route to understanding. Furthermore to judge by the art people buy and pay to see, traditional art still

matters. Through readings, discussions, and art activities, students explore the range, meaning and

value of art today, and ways in which it can be developed in the school curriculum. Participation in class

activities is essential. Some basic art materials required

ASSIGNMENTS

1. Term paper 3000 words---30%

2.

Reading Logs and in class discussion---30%

3.

Art activities and projects---40%

REQUIRED TEXTS

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EDUC Outline ?

http://www.educ.s .ca/ugradprogs/Outlines/Educ456richmond.html

Freeland, Cynthia (2002). But is it Art? New York: Oxford University Press.

ISBN 0 19 210055 6 pbk

Walker, Sydney, R. (2001) Teaching Meaning in Artmaking. Worcester: Davis Publications. ISBN

87192

583 4

pbk

Return to Education's Undergraduate 2006-2 Course Outlines Main Page.

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