UMM
Fall 2004
ArtH 1111: Ancient to Medieval Art
Prof. Julia Dabbs
Office:
HFA 5
Phone:
x6232
Office
Hours: M/W:
Email:
dabbsj@morris.umn.edu
TA: Alycen Sletto
Email:
slet0058@morris.umn.edu
Office
hr: Weds.
Class
meets: M/W/F
Required
texts:
1)
[a copy of this is also on
reserve: N5300 .G25 2003]
2) ArtH 1111 Coursepack
- you will need to bring this to each class, but do not need to bring
the textbook.
Course Website: http://cda.morris.umn.edu/~dabbsj/AncMed.htm).
[works best with
Netscape as your browser]
Updated slide lists will be posted here, along with links
to images you will need to know that are not in the text. There will also be links to websites of
interest concerning works of art we’ll be studying. Feel free to make further suggestions!
Scope and Objectives of the Course:
What inspired human beings to create works of art in
ancient and medieval times? What
functions did their creations serve? And
how do these works relate to art today?
This introductory art history course will examine these questions
through an overview of
art and architecture created in the Near East and
Grading: 3 exams
(total): 55% (first
exam 15%, others 20% each)
Term Paper/project: 20 %
Attendance and
participation: 15%
Short paper: 10 %
[see
specifics below]
Grading
Scale and Policy (based on the
A: 93 -
100 “A” work represents achievement
that is outstanding relative to the
level necessary to meet course requirements;
A-:
92 - 90 excellent
comprehension of material; noteworthy originality or creativity
B+: 87 - 89
B: 86 - 83 achievement
that is significantly above the level
necessary to meet course requirements;
very good comprehension of material,
B-:
82 - 80 evidence of some
extra effort in originality or creativity
C+: 77 - 79
C: 76 -
73 achievement that meets course
requirements in every respect
C-:
72 - 70 (Basically, is “o.k.”)
D+:
67 - 69 achievement that is worthy of
credit even though it fails to meet
D: 66 -
63 fully the course requirements (or
does not show very good
D-:
62 - 60 comprehension of
material)
F: 59 and below
failure in meeting course requirements (lacking comprehension
of course content)
*Academic dishonesty
(including deliberate plagiarism) in any portion of the work for the course
shall result in a grade of
“F” or “N” (no grade) for the entire course.
**Incompletes will only be
given in the event of unusual circumstances (such as hospitalization, for
example).
Exam
dates: [please mark your calendars now!]
Exam
1: Fri. Oct. 1
Exam 2:
Fri. Nov.12
Exam
3: Fri. Dec. 17 (official exam
date)
Typical
exam format: (any changes to this
will be announced in class)
Exams will generally have 3 parts: the first section will involve the
identification of selected images seen in class which are also illustrated in
your text, OR on class website. You will
be asked to identify the image by artist [if known], title, and stylistic
period (i.e., Egyptian, Gothic, etc.).
NOTE: you will not be asked to provide the date the work was
created, but a general understanding of chronological development is still
important to keep in mind. In addition,
there will be a short-answer question for each slide that will ask you either
to identify the subject matter and its symbolism, or discuss the function
(purpose) or technique of the work, or something else of significance about
that image, based on information from lecture.
Approximately 10 to 12 slides will be shown, for about 3 minutes each. This
section is typically worth about 60 (out of 100) points.
The second part will involve the identification of terms
(selected from those on your slide lists, and defined in class). You may be asked to label a diagram, or fill
in the blank (I will give the definition, you give the
term and indicate a work of art that illustrates its usage). This section is typically worth about 15 pts.
The third section will generally consist of a question
involving a longer written response (slides may or may not be shown). For example, you might be asked to make
comparisons between two works of art, or to discuss a certain theme (such as
art and death), making specific reference to works of art studied. This section is typically 25 pts.
Please note:
*The exams will not be cumulative in terms of
content.
**Make-up exams will only
be given if you have a legitimate, documented excuse for your absence.
***If you have any special
needs regarding test-taking or other aspects of the course, please contact me
early in the semester; accomodations will be made if
you have registered with the Disabilities Services office.
Attendance and Participation:
Good attendance is crucial to doing well in this
course! I will be keeping track of
attendance throughout the semester; if you should come in late and don’t
get to sign the attendance roster, it is your responsibility to sign it at the
end of class. Regular tardiness will
affect your grade, since it disrupts the class (please let me know if you are
late for reasons beyond your control, so I can be more understanding). Also, sleeping during class does not count for attendance (yes, I do
notice!).
More than 1 undocumented absence
will also negatively impact this portion of your grade - if you’re sick and
want the absence excused, please bring a note from Health Services or your
doctor. In the event you miss a class,
be sure to get notes from a classmate (yes, you will have missed something
important!). If on occasion it is
necessary for you to leave class a few minutes early due to an important
obligation, please let me know at the beginning of class. You will be responsible for finding out what
you missed.
NOTE: If you have more than 9 unexcused absences, you will have an “F” for this portion of the
grade, and extra-credit points will not be awarded.
Participation points can come not only in the form of oral
responses to my questions, but also your own relevant questions and
observations made during class.
To enable more people to
participate, and to give you more practice analyzing works of art, there will
occasionally be in-class writing on works of art we’re discussing that
day.
Short Paper:
(due Oct. 22)
This will involve a 2-3 page response to the Elgin Marbles
controversy. Further details on this
will be given in class.
Term Paper/project Assignment: “Dejá vu” (Due Mon. Dec. 6)
Using visual and verbal comparisons and
descriptions, you will show how some aspect of ancient-medieval art or
architecture has influenced an example of modern (i.e. 19th-21st century) art
or architecture. For example, you might
compare an ancient to a modern stadium, or a medieval to a modern church, or
statues of athletes, or political leaders, past and present. This research, combined with your own
observations, will then take the form of a research paper, website, or
original, independently-created work of art.
Further details about this project will be forthcoming in a separate
handout, and discussed in class in October (though if you are anxious to get
started, you can see me earlier).
*Late work:
will be graded down 5 pts/day, unless there is a either a documented medical
excuse or other official university exception.
No work will be accepted after the last day of classes. Extensions may be granted for compelling circumstances if requested in advance
of the due date.
Extra-Credit possibility:
- A thorough
(i.e. 2 page) evaluation of a website pertaining to a topic/artwork covered in
this course. You can do up to three
different evaluations, with a max of 3 pts each.
NOTE: last date for
turning in extra-credit work is Wed.
Dec. 15
General Advice for Doing Well in the Course:
Introductory courses in art history require a lot
of memorization, both visual AND verbal, so it can involve twice the study time
of other courses. You are strongly urged
to review the required images in
your text or from the website, as well as your lecture notes, on a weekly
basis. Oftentimes students find it
useful to make “flashcards;”
but this generally works best if you do it periodically rather
than waiting until the night before the exam!
The CD-ROM included with the text may also be useful for review
purposes.
Another recommendation is to minimally look over the
material to be covered in a given chapter prior
to coming to class (see coursepack slide lists for
figure numbers to concentrate on). Focus
your reading on these works, as well as the general historical content at the
beginning of each section. “Warming-up” before
class will likely make the material more accessible and interesting,
and you’ll be able to ask more informed and pertinent questions.
Other helpful hints:
- take thorough class notes; I will be providing much information not in the text,
and on exams will be
looking for a thorough comprehension of the material.
- form a study group; compare notes, test each other’s
knowledge.
- contact me or Alycen if you are
having any difficulties, of if you just want to
talk
more about art!