FAll 07

Dr. Andrew Atkinson

5.30-8.00pm, Wednesdays, University Hall 1060.

Office hours: Room CA121, by appointment Wednesday 4-5.30pm, Thursday 1-2.30pm, Tel. x4103. NB: it is much better to email me.

Email: atkinsona@mail.montclair.edu

Web: www.andrewatkinson.net

to expand your knowledge of 20th century art focussing upon the latter half of the century

to encourage critical understanding of, and further dialogue about, the various ideas and artworks of that period

to increase your ability to write about art

to enrich your artistic voice by providing opportunities to further your understanding of your own work, and provide a context for your own work

There is one book required, available in the bookstore or for cheaper online.

Art Since 1940, Jonathon Fineberg, Prentice Hall,

this is used mostly for visual reference and as a secondary source for your papers and the exams. The primary source for the exams will be the lectures. The primary source for the papers will be either, the direct experience of the artwork in the case of the descriptive texts, or recognised journals and books in the case of the final paper. Other texts can be from current journals, newspapers, and art magazines.

You will assessed on two exams, your individual paper and your attendance (including three museum and gallery visits).

Final Paper 25%
midterm 20%
final 20%
class attendance 15%
descriptive museum writing and proof of museum visits 25%

Paper
The presentation will be on an individual artist (the artist must be working after 1944 and the choice must be agreed with the instructor - an email will be sent out with choices). It must be 2000 words - the paper will be handed in by Wed Nov 28th. If you wish me to review a draft of the essay, you can send one to me before Nov 14th. All references must be cited from published paper sources and not online sources - please see here for more information. The paper must include at least 10 images of the artist's work with analysis, including the ideas behind the work, and their context. You may include limited biographical information if that is important to support your analysis of the work. For example, the specific birth date is of little interest or use but their education may be of use. You should, for example, cite their college milieu or teachers if significant, but in most cases it won't. The grading of the paper will be weighted towards the substantiated analysis and the quality of the writing.

Exams
There will be two exams: a mid-term and a final. They will be done online, through blackboard. They will include identifying artworks by name, artist, or period; they will include describing how an artwork relates to a particular concept. They will involving describing the differences between two artworks. Again, you insight, understanding and analysis is a key factor in the grade that you will receive.

The exams will not involve the regurgitation of specific dates, but may involving naming artists and will definitely involved justifying your reasoning.

Attendance and Conduct
Two absences are allowed from the classes for any reason. Any reason at all. By the same logic, any 'legitimate' absense is still an absense. A doctor's note does not get you out of the absense. The point of the absenses is to allow for such contingency's as illness or bereavement. These are not 'on top' of the two absenses. Do not furnish me with 'proof' of the legitimacy of your illness/problem, it is still an absense.

Museum Visits and Descriptive Museum Writing
It is also required that you attend three of the museum/gallery visits on separate days- two of which must be in the city - there will be four opportunities in total where I will be present, but you can attend on your own. You can susbstitute one museum visit for eight gallery visits.
If you attend all four the extra will count against an absense (if you have more than two) or as extra credit. You will need to furnish proof that you not only attended the museums but will provide a short, three page description (written in front of the object and then typed) of one artwork that particularly interested you. Let me emphasise: a description of the work, not an opinion. The point of this exercise is encourage and draw out your ability to look at an artwork and pay attention to all parts, media, relationship to the space. One of the three objects that you write about must be a sculpture, one must be a painting and one must be an installation.

If you are doing this class for graduate credit, the descriptions need to be supplemented by analysis and citations. But the analysis should be grounded in the description of the artwork. Use citations.

1 New ideas of space and time: Syallabus, expectations and the class, plus Michael Wood's introductory video - 9/5/07

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2: New ideas of selfhood: Der Blau Reiter, Expressionism / Die Bruecke, Metaphysicists, Dada, Surrealism et al - 9/12/07
Reading: Fineberg - pages 22 - 31

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3: International idealists: Suprematism, Constructivism, De Stijl / Neo-plasticism, The Bauhaus - 9/19/07

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4: Abstraction (Abstract Expressionism et al) - 9/26/07
Reading: Fineberg 31-40

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5: The use of Popular Culture - February 20th - 10/3/07
Reading: Fineberg Chapter 7

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First descriptive Text Due in prof's office Calcia Hall 121- 10/10/07

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MID TERM - on blackboard, no class - 10/17/07

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8: Mid Century Europe and Representational painting - 10/24/07
Reading: Fineberg 138-170, 405-413

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9: Process and Materials - 10/31/07
Reading: Fineberg 294-307, 309-315, 318-323

Second descriptive Text DUE in class to Prof.
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10 The Environment, Installation, Arte Povera - 11/7/07
Reading: Fineberg 323-337, 356-365, 387-393, 398-405


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11 Politics, Bodies, Happenings and Performance - 11/14/07
Reading: Fineberg 231-236, 339-340, 346-352, 376-383

If you wish me to read the draft of your paper, please hand it in by this date
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12 Post-Modernity: History and Appropriation as Critique Pt. 1 - 11/21/07 (day before thanksgiving)
Reading: Fineberg 365-374, 414-463

Third descriptive Text DUE in class to Prof.
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13 Post-Modernity into 1990s Pt. 2 - 11/28/07
Reading: Fineberg 463-477

Final Paper DUE
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14 The Nineties and the New Millennium - 12/5/07
Reading: Fineberg chapter 15


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Wednesday designated as a friday - 12/12/07

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EXAM WEEK: FINAL ON BLACKBOARD - 12/19/07

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