Syllabus Art and Women SP 2019

Art and Women 

Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00am-11:20pm HAH 322

Department of Arts, Culture and Media – Rutgers University

Professor Doris Caçoilo

Office hours by appointment

doris.cacoilo {{at}} rutgers.edu

  

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In this course students will be introduced to key issues and theoretical approaches in the study of art and women. The course will provide a historical overview of artworks created by women from the classical world to the present, with an emphasis on those from the 20^th century. It begins with the examination of the socio-cultural conditions in which women artists have often been excluded or marginalized in art history and emphasizes how issues of gender have been encoded in art practice, exhibition and collection.  

The course will use a historic context of feminist art and media studies to interpret and analyze contemporary art and media examples. Students will read across various fields to interpret and critique images in art and media to explore women’s role and perception, women as audience and the importance of women as artists.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students will be able to identify major women artists, their works, and their stylistic characteristics in different periods. Students will develop the ability to create thoughtful and engaging projects and writing assignments. In addition to a rigorous reading schedule students are required to write various projects for the class blog and sustain continued research and writing throughout the course in addition to the scheduled assignments.  Students will understand the socio-cultural conditions in which women artists of different periods and areas have worked

Students are expected to use theory, criticism and philosophy to understand art and art history. Feedback from classmates is a valuable resource for the improvement of student writing and work. Critiques and discussions allow us to share our analysis of the readings with others and express our intentions and interpretations. Class participation is essential and mandatory.

Class sessions will be divided into presentations and class discussion of the readings. Presentations will address both theoretical and analytical issues related to women and art. Students are responsible to be prepared for class, read all assignments on time and post all writing and projects to the blog, paying attention to technical and aesthetic presentation as well as thoughtful and well-developed content. All work must be handed in on time.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:   

Whitney Chadwick, Women, Art, and Society, 4th or 5th edition, (New York: Thames and Hudson), 2007. (earlier edition ok: but you are responsible to find any information that is not included)

          

The Guerrilla Girls, The Guerrilla Girls’ Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art (New York, Penguin Books, 1998)

READINGS Various weekly reading assignments will be assigned from the required texts or available on Blackboard. The reading schedule will be distributed on the blog. Readings are due each week.

CLASS PARTICIPATION For each reading you must select two quotes or passages from the readings with a brief interpretation of each quote to discuss further in class. Choose anything that strikes you or you feel deserves further attention. You must have these prepared (typed up or written out) for each class meeting. These will be collected every week. Several students will be called on each week to share their selected quotes and interpretations during class discussion. 

BLOG You must consult the class blog daily to check for announcements, readings and to post your assignments. The blog is crucial to the course and completion of the requirements. You MUST have access to the blog to complete assignments, readings, post work and comment on students’ posts. 

TWITTER You must create a twitter account -if you do not already have one- we will share articles, art reviews and resources with each other using the class hashtag #artandwomen

REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION OF THE COURSE 

Four writing assignments published to the blog, a group presentation as well as two in-class exams must be completed during the semester. Students must also complete all assigned readings and participate in class discussions. Assignments must be completed thoroughly and on time. 

ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS

*Posts 1-4

Students must develop researched responses to readings and discussions in class. Each post will be specific to the topics covered in class at that time and will be explained during class. Students are responsible to write and edit these posts as well as illustrate them and successfully post them to the blog for discussion and critique in class. 

*Group presentation 

Create a presentation that illustrates the readings for that day. You can choose to focus on one particular theme, reading or theory or give a general overview of themes covered. Presentations should be organized, clear and engaging and should include a visual component in addition to an exciting interactive presentation. All students in the group must participate. These should be 7-10 minutes. The presentations should spur discussion within the classroom. Presentations should end with a question or questions posed to the class. MAKE IT AWESOME! Presentation summaries must be posted to the blog. Every student will present once throughout the semester. 

*Midterm and Final Exams

Students must be prepared for two in-class exams based on class lectures, readings and discussions. Exams will include slide identifications and short essays. A study guide will be posted to the class blog and discussed in class before each exam.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is required. Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class. Absences affect your participation grade. More than five (5) unexcused absences will result in an 'F' for the class. No exceptions. Class begins on time, so you must be punctual. Lateness, leaving early or leaving class unexcused for an extended period of time will also be recorded. Two of these instances will count as one absence. You must bring documentation to class and hand it in to me for any absences to be excused. 

You are required to make up any and all work that is missed if you are absent. Notify the professor if you know you will be absent. As work will not be accepted late, please contact the professor to hand in work on time. If you have missed class and/or assignments for reasons outside your control please communicate with the professor about these issues. NOTE: BACK-UP and save your work frequently as you are working on the writing assignments online.

GRADE 

20% 4 blog posts 

50% 2 in-class exams 

10% group presentation

20% attendance/participation (Contributions to class discussion, on the class blog + attendance) 

The Rutgers Writing Center, located on the first floor of Bradley Hall, can provide very useful guidance, including writing tutors. It is highly recommended that every one visit the center as they are developing their essay. To encourage this visit, extra points will be given to those who provide documentation of their work with the center. The Center's online address http://www.andromeda.rutgers.edu/~nwc/index.html

Plagiarism Plagiarism is a very serious academic offense which will result in penalties ranging from reduction of class grade to failure in the course. Plagiarism occurs when the ideas, images, and words, published or unpublished, of others are presented as one's own without citing the original source. Plagiarism also occurs when the papers, research, or creative works of another person are presented as one's own work. “The sources from which one derives one’s ideas, statements, terms, and data must be fully and specifically acknowledged in the appropriate form; failure to do so, intentionally or unintentionally, constitutes plagiarism. Violations of academic integrity may result in failure in the course and in disciplinary actions with penalties such as suspension or dismissal from the College” (1999-2000 Undergraduate Catalog, p. 43). For the University's policy on plagiarism please read the Rutgers-Newark Student Handbook, PAGE 189, available on-line at: http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/integrity.shtml

SCHEDULE

******PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND I WILL INFORM YOU OF SPECIFICS AND CHANGES PERTAINING TO THIS SCHEDULE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. If you ever have questions or concerns about the schedule, due dates, changes or anything else please check the blog and e-mail me.

***Readings from required texts are found below. Additional readings for each class will be found on the blog. It is the student’s responsibility to check the blog for all readings and assignments due.

Week 1: 1/22 T – Introduction and discussion. Set up students on the class blog.

1/24 Th – Introduction and discussion. Set up students on the class blog.

Week 2: 1/29 T – Classical World/The Male Gaze Discussion session. Readings Due.  two pdfs available ON BLACKBOARD and readings online. Please check immediately to make sure you can access these readings.

MINI POST due on the blog

1/31 Th – Classical World/The Male Gaze Discussion session. Readings Due. Two pdfs available ON BLACKBOARD and readings online.

GROUPS assigned in class

Week 3: 2/5 T – The Middle Ages and Renaissance Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch. 1, 2 + 3  Guerrilla Girls pg.7-37 

2/7 Th – The Middle Ages and Renaissance Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch. 1, 2 + 3  Guerrilla Girls pg.7-37 

Post 1 due

Week 4: 2/12 T – 17^th and 18^th Century Europe Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch. 4 + 5, Guerrilla Girls pg.39-45 

2/14 Th – 17^th and 18^th Century Europe Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch. 4 + 5, Guerrilla Girls pg.39-45 

Week 5: 2/19 T – 19^th Century Victorian England and American Craft, Painting, and Sculpture Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick Ch.6, Ch.7 and Guerrilla Girls pg.47-57 
Group 1 presents

2/21 Th – 19^th Century Victorian England and American Craft, Painting, and Sculpture Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick Ch.6, Ch.7 and Guerrilla Girls pg.47-57 

Week 6: 2/26 T – Impressionism Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch.8 

Post 2 due 
Group 2 presents

2/28 Th – Impressionism Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch.8

Week 7: 3/5 T – Impressionism Discussion session continued and Midterm Exam Review

3/7 Th – EXAM 1

Week 8: 3/12 T – Early 20^th Century Modernism and Abstraction, German Expressionism, Dada and Surrealism Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch. 9 + 10, Guerrilla Girls pg.59-79 
Group 3 presents

3/14 Th – Early 20^th Century Modernism and Abstraction, German Expressionism, Dada and Surrealism Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch. 9 + 10 Guerrilla Girls pg.59-79

Week 9: 3/SPRING BREAK

Week 10:   3/26 T – Gender, Race and Modernism after World War II - Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism and Politics of Race Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick Ch.11 and Ch.14, Guerrilla Girls pg.80-88 
Group 4 presents

3/28 Th – Gender, Race and Modernism after World War II - Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism and Politics of Race Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick Ch.11 + Ch.14, Guerrilla Girls pg.80-88
Group 5 presents 

Week 11: 4/2 T – Feminist and Performance Art Discussion session. Readings Due. Chadwick, Ch.12 +13, Guerrilla Girls pg.89-91 

Post 3 due
Group 6 presents 

4/4 Th – Feminist and Performance Art Discussion session. Readings Due. Chadwick, Ch.12 +13, Guerrilla Girls pg.89-91 

Week 12: 4/9 T – Postmodernism Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch.13 

4/11 Th – Postmodernism Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick, Ch.13

Week 13: 4/16 T – Women Artists Today Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick Ch.14
Group 7 presents 

4/18 Th – Women Artists Today Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick Ch.14

Group 8 presents

Week 14: 4/23 T – Women Artists Today Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick Ch.15

Post 4 due

4/25 Th – Women Artists Today Discussion session. Readings Due: Chadwick Ch.15

Week 15: 4/30 T– Women Artists Today Discussion session continued and Final Exam review

5/2 Th – EXAM 2