Contemporary Non-Western Art: Multiple
Perspectives/Approaches/Objectives
e-mail:
Office Hours: By Appointment
Spring 2005 -Thursday,
Liberal Arts and Sciences (310) 665-6920
Course description:
We will analyze contemporary art produced outside
Western modes of representation. We will cover a range of issues considering
positions within the global economy of art: from indigenous to postcolonial. We
will also consider various venues--such as the
Course learning outcomes:
The
critical analysis of the various discourses on non-Western art will require
that you develop a variety of skills. The successfully completion of this
course will enhance your ability to critically identify and develop your own
research topic; improve your competence to synthesize your research by writing
a clear thesis; and develop your verbal, written, and visual communication
skills for presenting your scholarship.
Required texts:
The Third Text Reader on Art, Culture and Theory. Ed. Rasheed Araeen,
Sean Cubitt, and Ziauddin Sardar.
Course
requirements:
Otis
Attendance policy: Attendance at all classes is mandatory and
you are responsible for all lecture material.
Three absences within the semester constitute automatic failure. Students who repeatedly arrive late and or
leave early will be counted tardy. Three
tardies equals one absence. Missing 45 minutes of class is considered
being absent.
Late paper/work policy: No late assignment will be accepted. All
assignments are to be submitted at the beginning of class on the date due.
Assignments
There are three types of assignments that will allow me to
evaluate your progress in this course: 1) research assignment 2) a term essay
supported by your research (5-10 pages) and 3) a class presentations of your
research.
Research Assignment
Purpose:
This assignment will allow you to analyze the ways in which texts refer to and depend on each other. Seeing how texts contextualize other texts will assist you in writing your term paper, which will be aided by this research.
Format:
On assigned weeks, you will supplement your weekly reading with at least one article of your own choosing. Make a copy of the article for your portfolio and submit a one to two-page typewritten explanation of how your text is connected to the assigned readings.
Dates Due:
This assignment is due the week that your team is scheduled
to present.
Term Essay
Purpose:
The writing of this essay is an exercise that will enhance your ability to synthesize researched information into a coherent argument.
Format:
You will develop a thesis, a stated position you will take on a particular issue covered in the class, which you will defend using the texts from your research assignment. You will develop your own thesis and are encouraged to pursue a topic that is meaningful to you while also relating to the wide scope of issues covered by the course. The assignment will be divided into two sections: 1) a thesis statement and annotated bibliography and 2) a final draft.
Dates Due:
The thesis statement and annotated bibliography are due on
March 3rd. The first draft is due on April 14, and the final draft
is due on May 6th.
Team Presentation
Purpose:
The team presentation is meant to improve your ability to collaborate in presenting your work with others. It will require that you develop a format in which to present your work in a way that will complement that of the other team members. It will challenge your ability to communicate, not only within your group but as a group.
Format:
The class will be divided into teams of five students. Each team will have an hour to present their projects. The format of your collaboration is completely up to the group, as long as the group is able to represent an aspect of each of its members’ work in an hour-long presentation. Please note that this will require careful preparation that takes into account your time limitation and technical requirements. It is imperative that you rehearse this as a team and that you make advance reservations for the equipment you’ll need.
Portfolios
Your portfolios are meant to neatly organize your assignments in a binder, which is submitted during our final meeting. All written work should by typed and double-spaced.
Otis Grade Scale
A 4.0
A- 3.7
B+ 3.3
B 3.0
B- 2.7
C+ 2.3
C 2.0
C- 1.7
D 1.0
F 0.0
Weekly Participation 40
Assignments:
Research 25
Team Presentation 15
Term Essay 20
Grading Criteria:
Weekly Participation:
This will be graded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Satisfactory
participation will be awarded if you demonstrate that you have carefully read
all the assignments and are prepared to critically engage in a discussion
regarding the form and content of the readings.
Research Assignment:
This will also be graded as being either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. To obtain a satisfactory grade you must have selected a supplemental reading that is pertinent to the content of the course and submitted a response paper that explains the relevance.
Team Presentation:
This assignment will be quantitatively evaluated. A successful presentation,
which is worth 15 percent of your grace, will be awarded 5 percentage points
for each of the following three criteria: 1)
individual preparation—the preparation of your individual research project
2) integration—your ability to
integrate the thesis of your project with those of your teammates and 3) collaborative presentation—your role in
planning the coordination of the group presentation.
Term Paper:
A =
Excellent. Your paper will be turned in
on time and :
Have a strong thesis
(main point) that is clearly supported by an organized paper.
Provide excellent
examples to support your thesis.
Show thorough
comprehension of the ideas presented.
Have strong analyses
of material and arguments.
Demonstrate your
ability to go beyond ideas presented in class and in the reading.
Be written clearly,
with virtually no errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation or usage.
Include a
bibliography and all necessary citations if required by the assignment.
B = Very
Good. Your paper will be turned in on
time and:
Have a good thesis
that is supported by a mostly organized paper.
Provide good
examples to support your ideas.
Show thorough
comprehension of the ideas presented.
Analyze material and
arguments.
Be written clearly, with few errors in
grammar, spelling, punctuation or usage.
Include a
bibliography and all necessary citations if
required by the assignment.
C =
Good/Average. Your paper will:
Have a thesis,
perhaps flawed or one that is incompletely supported by the paper.
Show a few flaws
in organization.
Provide average
examples to support your thesis.
Show minor
limitations to comprehension of the ideas presented.
Analyze, with
minor errors, material and arguments.
Be written
clearly, with some errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation or usage.
Include a bibliography and all necessary citations if required by the assignment.
D = Below average, barely passing. Your paper will have one or more major
problems:
A weak thesis, or one that is incompletely supported by the paper.
Incomplete or weak
organization or some lack of coherence.
Week or poorly used
examples.
Show only basic
comprehension of the ideas presented.
Analyze, partially or with some errors,
material and arguments.
Be compromised by too many errors in
grammar, spelling, punctuation or usage.
Lacks
a bibliography and complete citations if required by the assignment.
F =
Failing. Your paper will receive an F if
it meets ANY of the criteria below:
Does not meet the
minimum requirements for a D.
Shows evidence of
plagiarism.
Does not fulfill
the requirements of the assignment.
Is obviously a
first draft
Lacks
a bibliography and complete citations if required by the assignment.
Department
Plagiarism Statement:
Plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language,
ideas, or other original (not common knowledge) material without acknowledging
the source. Two types of plagiarism are: deliberately submitting someone else’s
work (including copying directly from a source without documentation, having
someone else write a paper, cutting and pasting from the internet), and
carelessly or inadequately citing. A student who plagiarizes at minimum will
fail the assignment; beyond that plagiarized papers and exams will result in a
failure for the course. All students who
plagiarize will be reported to the Chair of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the
violation will be filed in the department.
Repeated or serious violations can result in not only failure for the
class but referral to the Student Conduct Committee that has the option of
dismissal or suspension from the college).
Proper citations in
MLA style and a bibliography must accompany all papers. You can find this in The College Writer’s Reference.
You can also find citation information through the Library website.
|
Week Date |
|
|
1 1/20 |
Introduction |
|
2 1/27 |
East/West – North/South |
|
3 2/3 |
Alice
Yang, “Siting China: On Migration and Displacement
in Contemporary Art,” “Why Asia?” and “Beyond Nation and Tradition: Art in
Post-Mao China” (photocopies) |
|
4 2/10 |
Jonathan
L. Beller, “Directing the Real: Orapronobis against Philippine Totalitarianism”: 203-211. |
|
5 2/17 |
|
|
6 2/24 |
Middle East/South Edward Said, “The Voice of a Palestinian in Exile”: 151-159. Groups: 4,5,6 |
|
7 3/3 |
Middle East/South Rustom Bharucha, “The ‘New Thesis
and Bibliography Due Groups: 1,2,3 |
|
8 3/10 |
Pacific: Australia/New Anne-Marie
Willis and Tony Fry, “Art as Ethnocide: The Case of Groups: 4,5,6 |
|
9 3/24 |
Pacific: Australia/New Ian McClean, “Postcolonial Traffic: William Kentridge and Groups: 1,2,3 |
|
10 3/31 |
Olu Oguibe, “Reverse Appropriation as Nationalism in Modern African Art”: 35-47. Groups: 4,5,6 |
|
11 4/7 |
Denis Ekpo, “The Failure of Postmodernity:
How Groups: 1,2,3 |
|
12 4/14 |
Central and Gerardo Mosquera, “The Marco Polo Syndrome”: 267-273. First
Draft Due Groups: 4,5,6 |
|
13 4/21 |
Central and David Craven, “The Latin American Origins of ‘Alternative Modernism,’”: 24-34. Groups: 1,2,3 |
|
14 4/28 |
Native Jimmie Durham, “Cowboys and . . .”: 101-116. Groups: 4,5,6 |
|
15 5/6 |
Native Jean Fisher, “Dancing with Words and Speaking with Forked Tongues”: 181-192. Groups: 1,2,3 Portfolios Due |