Humanities 101 Final Exam: Due 4/17

No late finals accepted, no exceptions, no emailed drafts will be accepted.


In this course, you've gotten an overview of how the visual arts--and their functions--have changed over time. You've also gotten a brief sampling of literature and music, and a selection of rule-breakers and iconoclasts in all the arts. Since this class has been so wide-ranging, your final exam will give you a chance to respond to the parts of this course you've found most interesting. For your final paper, choose one of the following topics on which to write a short paper:

1. Research a rule-breaking artist (or musician, philosopher or writer) that we have NOT discussed in class. Give an overview of his/her work/life on the first page, then spend the rest of the paper describing how his or her work is rule breaking. You'll want to be able to describe the conventions of the artform to show just how the artist challenged them. Finally, discuss why his or her work is important. Why was it important to break the rules he/she did? How did this rule-breaking contribute meaningfully to art or society?

2. Reread the packet on Emerson. After reading the packet, write a profile of the most Emersonian character you know. Explain how their personality or the way they’ve lived makes them Emersonian. You can even talk about their struggles using Emerson’s terms. For this option, you must integrate five quotations from Emerson into your paper, including two from a work of his we did NOT read in class.

3. You’ve learned a fair amount about how art has moved from classical idealistic works to the conceptual and abstract work we see today. For this option, I want you to write a three page paper that imagines what visual art will become in the year 2050. Create a vision of future art, supported by observations of what art has been moving towards. For this option, you must integrate a discussion of the work of at least THREE artists from your book or from class.

Four pages minimum, Times New Roman Font. Double spaced. One inch margins, no spaces between paragraphs. Cite any sources and be sure 2/3 of the paper is your own words (not from sources). Cite any sources you do use.

Goldsworthy Assignment & Misc.

Here's the Goldsworthy assignment again:

Andy Goldsworthy Assignment Due 3/2/08

Create your own "nature art" using only what can be found, unaltered, in nature.
Document your experience of making the work by writing a 2 page paper explaining your methods and "vision" for the work.
Be sure to describe your piece even if you do include a photo.
For extra credit, email me a photo of the work by Tuesday March 25th .


Extra Credit Breakdown

And here's the breakdown of a the extra credit assignments due next class:

a. Henry Darger Extra Credit--see last post.
b. Jackson Pollock extra credit: Watch this movie and write a one page response.
c. Email me a photo of your Goldsworthy project by Tuesday 3/25.

P.S. And, for those of you who want to distract yourself from this work and all others, go here at your own risk.

Darger & More

Here's some info on the latest extra credit:

Due 3/27 (You have an extra week).

The Natalie Merchant song is called "Henry Darger." So you can google that to find it & listen to it.

The John Ashbery book of poems about Darger is called "Girls on the Run."

Your assignment is to read or listen to one of these two artists that reflected on Darger's work, and write a response. Why do you think either one was interested in Darger? What do you think of the way they respond to his works? One typed page, TNR font, 12 pt.

As far as the two papers due next class, refer to your "Starter Kit" (in the book) if you're struggling with the Pollock assignment. You might also want to google "Formal analysis of painting" or "Elements of Design" to help you. Remember both Darger and the Pollock assignment are due next class,

Questions? Email. See you thurs!

Monica

FYI

Thanks for all your great responses to the internet assignment! Remember, this assignment counted for both points AND attendence, so if you didn't enter it in it will count as an absence against you as well as missed points.

Also, please note that I will not be posting the Exam assignment here. You'll have to wait for Thursday's class. Don't worry, though, you'll still have ample time to get it done.

Finally, an EXTRA CREDIT opportunity. If you've bombed a quiz or missed an assignment, here's a chance to redeem yourself! I've included a link to Anton Checkhov's stories to your right. If you'd like 10 points extra credit, read one of the short stories linked off the page (any one is fine) and TYPE a page about what about it seems "realistic" to you. This assignment is due on 2/28 at the latest. After that, the offer expires!

And even if you don't need/want extra credit, do check the stories out. They're short and sweet and very thought-provoking.

See you Thursday,

Teach

Revised HUM 101 Schedule

Humanities 101
Unit One Schedule
**REVISED**

Unit 1: The Personal, Social, and Political Functions of Art
Social Functions:

2.7
Discuss the descriptive and prescriptive role of the arts in society
Political cartoon activity
Political Art Video
Homework: Unit One Exam due 2.28
Online assignment due by 6pm 2/14/08

Steps:
1. Click on the 2/14/08 assignment post to your right.
2. Read the post and follow instructions.
3. Leave your comment to get credit for attendance and points.
4. Having trouble? Email me before 2.14. No late posts will count. Do the assignment EARLY so if you have trouble I can help you. I can’t help you at 5:59 on 8/14!
5. No “my comp died/froze/blew up etc” excuses. If you have trouble accessing a computer for the assignment speak to me after class and I’ll help you. I will not accept excuses after the fact.



2.14
NO CLASS MEETINGINTERNET ASSIGNMENT REPLACES CLASS
ONLINE ASSIGNMENT due by 6:00pm
here at our blog!
Homework:
Read “Shock Art.”
Read “Starter Kit” (the unnumbered section at the beginning of your book)

2.21
Discuss “Shock Art.”
Mock debate on censorship.
Begin Unit 2
Formal Elements Day
Homework
Read TBA _____________
Unit One Exam Due 2.28


Unit 2: Rules and Rule Breaking
2.28 In Class: Turn in Unit One Test
Abstraction Slideshow
Pollock Movie
Handout Pollock/Darger Assignment

3.6 SPRING BREAK-NO CLASS

3.13 In Class: Discuss Pollock Movie.
Watch Henry Darger Movie
Watch part of How to Draw a Bunny (?)
Discuss “Outsider Art”
Homework: Darger and Pollock Assignment Due 3/20

3.20 In Class: Turn in Pollock & Darger
Discuss Darger assignment
Watch Andrew Goldsworthy Movie
Homework: Goldsworthy Movie Response
Reading TBA_______________

**Grading Note***
The three movie responses combined
will comprise the exam points for unit 2.

3.27 In Class: Goldsworthy Slide Show
Architecture Rules and Rule Breaking Introduction
Frank Ghery Video--Discuss!
Homework: Rule Breaking House
Read Literature Packet

4.3 Literature Rules and Rule Breaking
Homework: Final handed out

4.10 TBA (Catch up day)
4.17 Turn in Final TBA
4.24 Last Day of Class--Final Returned & Wrap Up

2/14/08 Assignment

Hello students of Robinson's Thursday night Humanities 101: Modern Culture and the Arts class! Remember, we will not be meeting in person on February 14 (Valentine's Day). Instead, you have an assignment right here at our new Hum 101 Blog!

What I'd like you to do is consider the following "controversial" works of art below. After looking at each piece, answer the questions at the end of this post by commenting on the blog. Please put your name at the end of your post (or use it as your username) so I know to give you credit. Remember, this assignment MUST be done by 2/14/08 at 6:00pm or you will NOT get credit! Doing this assignment will count as your "attendence" and points for 2/14.
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#1 Andres Serrano "Piss Christ"

#2 Chris Ofili's "The Holy Virgin Mary"--The blobs you see are elephant dung.

#3 Karen Finley-Performance where she covers the lower half of her body in chocolate. http://www.artinterviews.com/Karen.html

#4 Robert Mapplethorpe's photography
(One of his photos famously depicts a man in bondage gear with a whip protruding from his anus. I won't post it here but you can find it yourself through Google Image search. Other images can be seen at the link) http://www.mapplethorpe.org/index.html

#5 Michelle Hine's "World Record"

(No picture of this will be posted here, but this is a piece of performance art.) http://intermaweb.net/index.php/2005/10/29/world-record-4-peristaltic-action/

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Now, answer the folllowing questions in the comment area of the blog. Use your first name and the first initial of your last name as your username.

*Please note* Depending on whether or not you think these works should be censored, you may not answer each question. Everybody should answer #4 and #5 and #1, #2, or both depending on your views. Your answers should be numbered like the questions, refer to the works above and should at least be a couple paragraphs long.

1. Which, if any of the works above should be censored? Why? (Give a seperate reason for each work). If you think any of the works should be censored, explain HOW they should be censored (should they be made illegal to make? Should they not be allowed public arts support monies? Should they be shown only in restricted places, etc? Describe how you would censor them.)

2.If you think any of the works should NOT be censored, explain why not. What benefit could these works have for society? (give a reason for each work you chose NOT to censor).

3. If the government withholds grants from these artists (while giving grants to less offessive art) would you consider that a form of censorship? Why or why not?

4.Which of these do you think caused the most public uproar and why?