Art History



Advanced Placement Art History Syllabus 2012 - 2013

Ms. Andrea Fuentes, Instructor

andreafuentes@

Room 113B

Brief Description of Course

The AP Art History course helps students understand visual art works through the contextual filters of history, society, politics, religion, gender, and ethnicity. Students also learn to conduct formal visual analysis of works of art, and begin to connect artworks through major themes such as sacred spaces, power/authority, religion, propaganda, family, and narration. Contextual and visual analyses are an integral part of the course.

Our current time period has a dramatically enhanced visual culture. In fact, it looks like a good third of us are already experiencing our 15 minutes of fame on You-tube. I hope students will gain respect for and appreciation of imagery from a variety of cultures and time periods, and will connect the visual arts with other disciplines and their own daily lives.

Art history is not a dry list of dates and facts. Students will realize how humanity is all connected by an innate desire to create imagery to commemorate, record, question or convey our emotions and ideas. In the best situations, the arts (including dance, music, etc.) speak truths that surpass the ability of words to express them. This is especially true when experiencing art "live." For that reason, there are two field trips offered during the year.

Course Objectives

This course is intended to prepare students for the Advanced Placement History of Art Examination. There are seven basic course objectives:

(1) Visual Literacy: An emphasis will be placed on visual literacy, that is, the ability to apply art historical methods to the student’s visual environment so that students understand how images encode social ideologies.

(2) Historical Research: Students will learn to suspend judgment when looking at works of art, developing critical thinking skills by considering the assumptions they bring to an evaluation and learning how to gather evidence before launching into opinions.

(3) Canon of Images: Students will learn a canon of images and be able to understand the basic problems and flux of that canon. Moreover, they will learn

to understand the strengths and problems with labels.

(4) Multiculturalism/Transculturalism: Students will be encouraged not only to appreciate works of art from other cultures, but also attempt to understand them on the aesthetic criteria of those cultures. Furthermore, the student will understand how cultures influence and interact with one another.

(5) Social Context Methodology: Students will learn how history, a discipline emphasizing social context art, is a field of study which makes connections between many other disciplines.

(6) Serendipity: Students will be encouraged to be a traveler who seeks the intellectual and emotional joys of aesthetic experiences.

(7) Art Matters: Students will learn how art mediates a vast range of experiences including faith, our place in history, people who are different from us, civic life, and our emotional, psychological, and intellectual understanding of self.

Breakdown of the course

While the course is primarily focused on Western art and architecture, students explore non-Western art including arts from Asia, the Americas, Africa, Oceania, ancient Egypt, and the Islamic world. Five of the twenty units deal with non-Western art. Students give at least one presentation and one project on art from outside the Western canon.

The emphasis is on art history as a web, rather than a linear timeline, with influences woven throughout different places and cultures. However, the time frame addresses the ancient world through the present day, from ancient Babylon to this year’s exhibits at Art Basel Miami.

Breakdown of types of artwork

Due to the nature of Western art history; we heavily study painting, drawing, ceramics and sculpture. However, architecture makes up about 20% of our studies. In the 20th Century unit and the Contemporary Art unit (2000 - present), students evaluate and experience assemblages, installation art, digital art, earthworks, and performance art.

Textbook & Resources

Issued: Art History , 3rd edition, by Marilyn Stokstad. (two volume soft cover)

Highly recommended: The Annotated Mona Lisa; (Strickland, around $20)



Optional: Barrons AP Art History Study Guide, The Annotated Arch

Students who prefer to learn by listening are encouraged to purchase the downloadable mp3 review files for $19.95 at

Grading

• Exams & quizzes 60%

• Projects/Presentations/Papers/Museum 15%

• Class participation/classwork 15%

• Homework 10%

The mid-term is a combination of free response, essay, and multiple-choice questions on ancient art through the proto Renaissance. All exams are modeled on the AP Examination.

For students taking the AP exam, a fun hands-on art project completed in the 3 weeks of class following the exam will count as the final exam grade.

For students who do not take the AP exam, a cumulative final exam will be given with similar format to the midterm, to count as the final exam grade.

Make up exams will be harder than the original exam. Make up work/exams are due the day after you return from an excused absence.

Art History Websites

See the class website for hyperlinks … specific unit handouts will list specific websites for your use.

I will not list all websites here for brevity’s sake; every unit incorporates at least one museum or related website as a resource. These are some websites that may be generally useful.

Textbook Website: Practice essay questions, multiple choice, flashcards, vocabulary, and objectives for each chapter.



Vangonotes: (Textbook Review Audio Files) Website with downloadable mp3 files for each chapter of course text. Optional resource for students. $19.95 for the entire textbook.

Class website: go to click on Academics, then Classes, then find AP Art History. Links, syllabus, handouts, and assignments are there.

Writing about art: Writing tips and examples for art history students.



Artchive Website: Excellent source for students and teacher. High resolution images from Western art history canon and primary source readings.

Louvre Website: with online tours and exhibitions. The Closer Look sections and the Thematic Mini-Units will be used for independent study and class discussion.



Metropolitan Museum website…lots of good info here.

National Gallery of Art website with a wealth of videos, online tours, images, and writings about art.

UNESCO panophotography of world’s great architectural wonders and ruins of ancient cities.

ArtBasel: Art Basel is probably the most important art event in the United States. It takes place in December on nearby Miami Beach. We plan a field trip to attend this event.

Timeline of Art History:

Frost Art Museum at FIU (located 15 minutes from our high school). Free student admission; collection focuses on 20th Century American & Latin American art..

Lowe Art Museum at UM – Coral Gables. Diverse multicultural collections spanning 5000 years..

Powerpoints: I will upload powerpoints for the various units as we proceed and link you to them from the class website. If you miss class, this is a great way to catch up.

So here are a few KEY points to think about.

Workload and What You Will Need to Do:

1. You need to read…check out the size of the textbooks. We’ll work on reading comprehension skills. You need to learn to process and organize a LOT of information.

2. Yes, there’s some memorization… you need to recognize major artworks, artists and their time periods. However, the focus is on understanding artworks in context and relating them across cultures and times.

3. You’ll write, talk, or present about art every week, using good critical thinking skills… connecting the dots, comparing, and analyzing. I will help you develop these skills.

4. Your active participation will do more for you than getting an A in classwork. Class discussion, group work, and activities will help you process the concepts we are learning! Added bonus: an active class makes for an interesting class that actually relates to your life!

5. Plan on 5 hours homework/study time per week. If you budget an hour per weekday, you should come out OK with no need to “cram” for exams. If you don’t have regular internet access, you will be at a big disadvantage. Please see me ASAP to discuss.

6. You should plan on taking the AP exam, to get college credit for the class. Even if you don’t score that well, just the experience of this course will help you a lot in your college classes, especially the humanities. Remember this course is the equivalent of 2 semesters in college!!

Nuts and Bolts – Class Requirements.

BTW: The syllabus is long. Yes, it’s a college level course. Get used to it.

1. Art History Binder:

• 3 Ring Binder (soft cover, 1” or larger). $1.99 at Target as of early August.

• 20 dividers or inserts or tabs for binder for each of 20 units. (make or buy)

• Notebook sized 3-hole punch for binder recommended

• Some lined notebook paper for the binder for notes, class work, essays

• Inexpensive highlighters, colored pencils, or markers for class activities

• The binder will be for note taking, essays, assignments, & handouts for each unit. It will be checked regularly for a grade. Bring it to class every day.

2. Flash Cards for art images– index cards (size & color your choice)

• I will provide images via the school website, but you need to create your own flashcards (color or BW). It’s the process that is important. About 500 for the whole year

• Glue stick or tape to stick images onto cards.

• Also you can use electronic flash cards on the Stokstad website

3. Internet Access – (beyond the limited access we have at school)

• For study, research, and projects, plan on needing 1-2 hrs per week.

• Doral Public Library has free internet if you don’t have internet at home. Other alternatives: McDonalds (w/ laptop), smartphone, etc.

• Let me know any problems ASAP!!

4. Field Trips or In-Person Art

• Seeing art in person is an important component of the class. I have 2 field trips scheduled; try to attend at least 1.

• If you cannot go on a field trip, you will be required to visit art in a public place and submit a short report on it. (art gallery, museum, student art exhibit, etc.) I will give you a list of possibilities; many of which are free.

AP ART HISTORY SIGNATURE PAGE

I have reviewed and understand the syllabus together with my parent(s) or guardian(s).

I understand that:

• It’s a college level class using college level textbooks, with most students needing 5-8 hours per week outside reading & research.

• I need regular Internet access outside of class time for research, taking online quizzes, and study.

• The class website and the textbook website have information to help me learn.

• I need a few basic supplies: note cards, soft 3 ring binder with dividers, colored pencils or markers, highlighter.

• If I pace myself and keep up with the assigned readings and projects, I can do well in the class.

• If I participate and take notes, (cell phones OFF), I can enjoy the class and learn the material.

• I will go on a field trip OR visit an art museum/gallery on my own.

• I will take the AP exam in May.

• I will keep and turn in my textbook at the end of the year or pay to replace it.

Student:______________________________________________________________

Printed Name:_________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian_______________________________________________________

Date:____________________________

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