ARTS 4391:

American Art Dr. Devon Stewart

Carr 243 dstewart23@angelo.edu

Office Hours: MW 2-5, TR 2-4, and by appointment American Art examines the origins and development of American painting, sculpture and architecture from the Colonial period through the present day. This course seeks to answer the question, “What is American about American art?” by approaching the images, visual practices, and artistic styles of this period in relation to their social, historical, and cultural contexts.

OBJECTIVES: In ARTS 3303, you will learn the major ideas behind the development of American art and of the characteristic forms of various artistic movements and periods associated with it. You will also become familiar with many of the important artistic figures of the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries who played a significant role in these developments. Upon completing the course, you will have acquired an understanding of the way American art evolved in response to our country’s history; and developed your powers of critical thinking through readings, written assignments, and a final paper.

REQUIRED TEXT:

Francis K. Pohl, Framing America: A Social History of American Art. Thames and Hudson, 2012.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You will be responsible for completing and submitting weekly discussion questions based on your reading. Questions will be provided by the instructor, and should be submitted typed, double- spaced, in a standard 12-pt. font.

For the final paper, you will identify a key theme in American art, and write a 5-7 page research paper discussing that theme, using works of art from multiple periods to support your argument.

GRADE SCALE: 90‐

100 = A 80‐89 = B 70‐79 = C 60‐69 = D 59 and below = F

Final Paper : 75% Discussion Questions 25%

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION:

You are expected to attend bi-weekly meetings with your instructor to review your progress and your discussion questions. Attendance at these meetings is mandatory. Any missed meeting without a documented medical excuse will result in the deduction of one letter grade from your final grade.

Angelo State University expects its students to maintain complete honesty and integrity in their academic pursuits. Students are responsible for understanding the Academic Honor Code, which is contained in both print and web versions of the Student Handbook.

University Course Withdrawal Policy:

The last day to drop a course or to totally withdraw from the University will be Wednesday, November 2, 2016. Withdrawal grades will be indicated by W. Any student who withdraws from the course after this date will receive a failing (F) grade for the course.

ADA Compliance:

Persons with disabilities which may warrant academic accommodations must contact the Student Life Office, Garden Level, University Center, (325) 942‐2191, in order to request such accommodations prior to any accommodations being implemented. You are encouraged to make this request early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Class Schedule

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Jan 17-20

Jan 23-27

Jan 30 – Feb 4

Chapter One: Art and Conquest

Chapter One (continued)

Chapter Two: Defining America

Week Four Feb 6-10 Chapter Two (continued)

Week Five Feb 13-17 Chapter Three: Nature and Nation

Week Six Feb 20-24 Chapter Three (continued)

Week Seven Feb 27-March 3 Chapter Four: A Nation at War

Week Eight March 6-10 Chapter Four (continued)

Week Nine March 13-17 Chapter Five: Work and Art Redefined

Week Ten: Week Eleven

March 20-24 March 27- 31

Chapter Five (continued)

Chapter Six: The Machine, the Primitive, and

Week Twelve April 3-7 Chapter Six (continued)

Week Thirteen April 10-14 Chapter Seven Art for the People, Art Against Facism

Week Fourteen April 17-21 Chapter Seven (continued) Week Fifteen April 24-28 Chapter Eight: From Cold War to Culture Wars Week Sixteen May 1-5 Chapter Eight (continued) FINAL PAPER due Monday, May 8.