Graduate Seminar: Critical Issues
(Mondays 6-9 p.m.; VPAB B157 plus Saturday/Sunday workshops twice during the semester. These additional activities are a REQUIRED part of this course).

***Schedule with assignments & slide lists***

Review page at http://www.sla.purdue.edu/courses/ad/arthistory/ (click on Critical Issues)

	Elizabeth K. Mix
	Office: VPAB 3119
	Office Phone: 496-2958
	Office Hours: Mondays 5:00-6:00 p.m.; Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:30-2:30 p.m.

course abstract:

Examination of issues which have a bearing on the study and practice of studio arts and design disciplines. Readings are drawn from design history and theory, art criticism, art history, artists' and designers' writings and art theory. A profesional studio requirement aids students in preparation of artists' statements, networking through art and design associations and approaching galleries and other agents for representation.

required course texts for students (your books are available locally at the University Bookstore and Follett's). Everyone needs THREE books. Get the first two and then either 3a or 3b depending on your area of focus.:

1. Jean Robertson, Craig McDaniel, Themes of Contemporary Art. Visual Art after 1980. 2005. Oxford. 0195162153 2

2. Anne d'Alleva, Look! Again. Art History and Critical Theory. Prentice Hall 2005. 0-13-189404-8

3a. FOR FINE ARTS M.F.A.s: Nato Thompson, ed., Interventionists : users' manual for the creative disruption of everyday life. North Adams, Mass. : MASS MoCA, c2004. ISBN 026220150X

3b. FOR DESIGN M.F.A.s (Industrial, Interior, VCD): Brenda Laurel, ed, Design Research: Methods and perspectives. MIT Press, 2003. ISBN 0262122634

course objectives:

• Development of understanding of philosophical, theoretical, and critical issues which affect practicing artists and designers, including Sustainability, Ethics and Social Responsibility, Censorship, Copyright & Fair Use, Celebrity and Globalism.
• Improvement of ability to creatively and flexibly understand, interpret, and criticize art.
• Improvement of ability to think critically.
• Development of personal work and ideas by studying and engaging with historical and contemporary theory.
• Development of appropriate vocabulary for expressing theoretical issues.
• Development of quality presentation, writing skills, and professionalism in written work.
• Development of quality presentation, communication skills and effective discussion methods through class participation.
• Professional practice related to presentation, writing and documentation for chosen discipline.
• Other objectives may be identified by individuals and groups within the class.

the famous disclaimer:

This is an equal opportunity classroom in the presentation of ideas and issues raised by artists. Artists create works that become either personal or societal documents of a certain moment in their lives. Topics including censorship, pornography, homosexuality, AIDS and feminism may make you feel uncomfortable because of their unfamiliarity. Much like the goal of a good college education, the work of many contemporary artists challenges us and is designed to, not ask us to change or give up what we believe, but to examine our beliefs in a larger context.

Your success in this course will be directly proportional to your "ownership" of the material. I am here to guide you in your study of this material and in your development of abilities including written and oral communication. Please take responsibility for your education. When you come to my office to discuss a grade on a test or assignment, bring the notes that you've been taking in class and on the reading assignments. This will help me diagnose potential problems more quickly and ultimately help me to help you to achieve in this course.

plagiarism policy:

Plaigiarism is not tolerated in my courses. If you plagiarize, the very least that will happen is that you will RECEIVE AN "F" IN THE CLASS. You may also be subject to expulsion from the University. Telling me that you didn't know, didn't understand or did it by accident will not change the outcome. If you're not sure you know the rules, you'd best see me to discuss these issues. Here are some basics:

Plagiarism is defined as:

• direct quoting without citing a source and placing quotation marks around the quote
• misrepresenting a direct quote as a paraphrase
• misrepresenting a paraphrase as your own ideas (putting someone else's ideas in your own words without identifying the original source of those ideas in a citation)
• a "legal" paraphrase uses no more than TWO words from the original source of the idea
• these rules apply to the course text, which need only be cited as (TCA, p. X) or (Robertson/McDaniel,, p. X) etc.
• these rules apply to any sources other than the course texts, which should include a full citation (author, title, date, page or full URL)
• these rules DO NOT apply to lecture material. It is NOT NECESSARY to provide a citation for lecture material.

Purdue webistes dealing with academic integrity & plagiarism:

http://www.purdue.edu/faculty_staff_handbook/pages/polpro/ac_ad_pro/res_pol_integrity.html http://www.purdue.edu/ODOS/osrr/integrity.htm http://www.purdue.edu/univregs/pages/stu_conduct/stu_regulations.html

notetaking, coming to class, and boilercast:

Dicussions and presentations in this course will be recorded and made available as a podcast. Before you get too excited and think that means you don't need to come to class, it is a VERY BAD idea to substitute podcasts for coming to class. The correct way to use podcast lectures is to fill in your notes and review material.

If you use the podcasts without coming to class, you will miss vital information written on the overhead projector and the visual images shown in class. You will probably be lost. Here's some more incentive. It is a quote from the Indianapolis Star article "Listen While You Learn," by Abe Aamidor, published Sunday Dec. 18, 2005:

http://boilercast.itap.purdue.edu:1013/Boilercast/ is where you need to go to get the lectures. You will need to sign up. You will also need a login and password provided in class to access the lectures. Podcasts will not begin until January 23.

course requirements:

• Attendance is required for all students at all scheduled meetings. Unexcused absence will result in lowering of the course grade.
• Participation in discussions is required for all students at all scheduled meetings. Lack of participation will result in lowering of the grade.
• Preparation of presentations and leading of discussions as scheduled
• Outside readings
• Weekly written assignments
• Workshop with SPURSE is required; workshop with TEMPORARY SERVICES is highly recommended. These workshops will occur on campus on Saturday and Sunday Feb. 4 & 5, and March 25 & 26. The SPURSE action preceding the show being installed in the IMA will occur in Indianapolis between March 29 and April 4. We will arrange carpool transportation to the latter part of the workshop. MARK THESE DATES ON YOUR SCHEDULE NOW!!!
• Final paper with appropriate references and footnotes
• Oral presentation at the end of class
• Professionalism is required at all times. Treat assignments and presentations as you would a "job interview".
• All work (written work and participation in discussion) must be "graduate level" quality.

grading:

• informal presentation of research and own studio/design work (weekly) 120 points.
• written assignments based on reading (weekly) 120 points.
• project (presentation of OWN work in workshops with the collectives SPURSE and/or TEMPORARY SERVICES as related to sustainability, ethics, identity, regionalism/globalism) 120 points. The project includes a paper with footnotes and a formal presentation to the class.

In addition to the above requirements and attendance policy, grades will be determined by quality of participation, presentation, discussion, and writing; conceptual ability; motivation; interest; productivity; and growth.

A= Excellent work, showing exceptional participation, critical ability, motivation, interest, productivity and growth

B= Good work, showing above average participation, ability, motivation, etc.

C= Average work, showing satisfactory participation, ability, motivation, etc.

D/F= Unsatisfactory participation or failure to participate, Excessive absences may result in failure to pass.

Please note: Graduate courses and credit hours for which a grade lower than C is earned will not count toward fulfillment of a graduate degree.

grading scale:

• A 324 pts.
• B 288 pts.
• C 252 pts.
• D 216 pts.
• F < 216 pts.

reserve reading list:

There are additional books on reserve for this course at the Undergraduate Bunker (Hick's Library). To get a book from reserve, you take the call number and title to the reserve desk. To find the books on reserve for this class, from the library home page click on the link for "course reserves" (upper right of the page) and then use the drop down menus to select this class. It's easy and fun!