METHODS AND APPROACHES IN THE HISTORY OF ART
FA 199A Professor McClendon
Fall 2014 Office: Mandel 209
Tuesday, 2-4:50 pm Tel: x62663
Office Hrs:Wed 3-5pm& by appt.
E-mail:
Course Description: This seminar is designed to introduce you to various methods and approaches in the history of art. Each session will be devoted to a different topic in order to help you become aware of ways to analyze works of art and architecture and to read scholarly literature more critically. This course is required to complete the major in art history and is open only to majors in art history. It is both Library Intensive and Writing Intensive.
Required Texts for Purchase (available at the Brandeis University Bookstore):
The Art of Art History: A Critical Anthology, ed. Donald Preziosi, 2nd ed. (Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press, 2009).
Assignments:
1. Reading: There will be weekly reading assignments from the textbook (The Art of Art History) and from selections on electronic reserve (Latte).
2. Short written exercises (1-3 double-spaced, typed pages) will be assigned periodically as the syllabus indicates and usually due the following week.
3. Research Project
a. A research paper (15-20 double-spaced, typed pages including notes and bibliography; photocopies of illustrations should also be included but are not part of the page count) involving a topic of interest to you, chosen in consultation with the instructor. Rough draft due Nov. 25 and final copy due at the end of the semester, no later than Dec. 16.
b. You will also be asked to present a brief (approx. 15 min.) oral progress report of your research during one of the last class meetings. There is no advantage to going late in the sequence. It is understood that those who go earlier will not have completed all their research and their presentations will be evaluated accordingly. In fact, the oral report can be of great benefit in finalizing the paper.
Requirements: Regular class attendance, weekly reading assignments, active participation in class discussions (on occasion you will be asked to lead a discussion), short written exercises, research paper, and short oral report. This seminar is a group effort, so please feel free to ask questions, offer your opinions, and try conscientiously to keep up with the various assignments.
Grading: There will be no exams. The final grade will be based on several factors which may be broken down generally as follows: 1/3 class attendance and participation; 1/3 written exercises and short oral report; 1/3 research paper. There is no reason why everyone cannot do well in the course if a concerted effort is made to contribute to its success. Above all, relax and enjoy our mutual exploration of the riches of the history of art as a scholarly discipline.
Course Regulations:
Regular attendance is crucial to the success of this course. No amount of reading can replace class discussions. Please notify me beforehand (preferably at least a day ahead) if you are not able to come to class. Absence will be excused only for a family emergency or documented medical reason. More than one unexcused absence will seriously affect your grade. The same holds true for weekly assignment deadlines.
Please use your Brandeis email account for all online correspondence related to the course.
Plagiarism is not tolerated at Brandeis University. You are responsible for understanding what constitutes plagiarism as stated in the University guidelines published in the Bulletin.
If you are a student who needs academic accommodations because of a documented disability you should contact me and present a letter of accommodation as soon as possible. Accommodation cannot be granted retroactively.
Laptop computer/electronic device policy:
Students are allowed to use laptop computers and other electronic devices under the following conditions: 1) The computer/electronic device is to be used exclusively to access material or to take notes related directly to this course; 2) Students using such devices are expected to pay attention to instructor presentations and general course discussions as well as to make a concerted effort to look up regularly and establish eye contact with peers and the instructor during such class activities; 3) if a student does not follow above items one and/or two, the permission to bring such a computer/device to this class will be henceforth denied.
METHODS AND APPROACHES IN THE HISTORY OF ART
FA 199A Professor McClendon
Schedule of Classes and Assignments Fall 2014
Sept. 2: Introduction
Meeting with Lisa Zeidenberg, Arts & Culture Librarian
One-page bibliographical assignment due in class the following week.
Sept. 9: Historiography: The Beginnings of the History of Art
Reading assignments to be discussed in first hour of class:
Excerpts from Pliny, Natural History (excerpts on Latte)
Giorgio Vasari, “Lives of the Painters, Sculptors and Architects: Preface
to the Third Part,” The Art of Art History, 22-26.
Vasari, “Life of Michelangelo,” (excerpts on Latte)
Library Visit with Lisa Zeidenberg in last hour
Biography Assignment distributed, due at next class meeting.
Sept. 16: Historicism and Formalism
Reading Assignment for discussion:
Johann J. Winckelmann, “Reflections on the Imitation of Greek Works,”
The Art of Art History, 27-34.
Heinrich Wölfflin, “Principles of Art History,” The Art of Art History,
119-28.
Suggested reading for philosophical background: The Art of Art
History, (Kant) 62-79, (Hegel) 80-88.
Library Visit with Lisa Zeidenberg in last hour
Stylistic (Formal) Analysis Assignment distributed, due at next class meeting.
Sept. 23: Brandeis Thursday (NO CLASS MEETING)
Sept. 30: Connoisseurship and Iconography
Reading Assignment:
Bernard Berenson, “Rudiments of Connoisseurship,” on Latte.
Erwin Panofsky, “Iconography and Iconology: An Introduction to the
Study of Renaissance Art,” The Art of Art History, 220-35.
“A Portrait by Leonardo?” & “Modern Forgeries” NY Times on Latte.
Library Visit with Lisa Zeidenberg in second hour
Iconographic Assignment distributed, due at next class meeting.
(Sign Up for Wed Office Hrs to Discuss Final Research Topic)
Oct. 7: The “New” Art History: Feminism
Reading Assignment:
Linda Nochlin, “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?”
on Latte.
Mary Garrard, “Artemisia and Susanna,” on Latte.
“Susana” Bible Apocrypha, on Latte.
Feminism Assignment distributed, due next class meeting
METHODS Schedule of Classes Page 2
Oct. 14: The “New” Art History: Social Context and Semiotics
Reading Assignment:
T. J. Clarke, “Bar at the Folies-Bergere,” on Latte.
Mieke Bal and Norman Bryson, “Semiotics and Art History: Discussion
Of Context and Senders,” The Art of Art History, 243-55.
Semiotics Assignment distributed, due next class meeting
Oct. 21: Deconstruction
Reading Assignment:
Deconstruction: Articles by Heidegger, Schapiro, and Derrida in The Art of Art
History, 484-315.
Roland Barthes, “The Death of the Author,” on Latte.
Preliminary outline and bibliography of research paper due.
Oct. 28: Museum Studies
Reading Assignment:
Carol Duncan, “The Museum as Ritual,” The Art of Art History, 424-34.
Boxer, “Snubbing Chronology,” N Y Times article, on Latte.
Linett, “Reinstallation,” on Latte.
Nov. 4: Museum Studies: Class Meets at Rose Art Museum
You should visit the current Rose exhibitions beforehand
Nov. 11: Methodological Challenges in Studying Non-Western Art
Guest Lecturers: Talinn Grigor (Islamic Art) and Aida Wong (East Asian Art)
Reading Assignments: TBA
Nov. 18: Discussion of Research Paper Topics & Format
Scheduling of Oral Reports & Visit with Lisa Zeidenberg, Arts and Culture
Librarian, about aids for PowerPoint presentations
Nov. 25: Rough Draft of Research Paper Due
THANKSGIVING RECESS
Dec. 2: Oral Reports
Dec. 9: Study Day (Class meeting may be necessary to accommodate remaining oral
reports)
Dec.16: Research Paper Due (paper may, of course, be turned in before this date)