Undergraduate Bulletin, 2002-2003

Department of Art


Faculty

Professors Emeritae/i

Dennis Byng, M.S.
University of Wisconsin

Richard Callner, M.F.A.
Columbia University

Robert Cartmell, M.F.A.
University of Iowa

Edward P. Cowley, M.A.
Columbia University

Mojmir S. Frinta, Ph.D.
University of Michigan

Arthur G. Lennig, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin

Thom O'Connor, M.F.A.
Cranbrook Academy

William H. Wilson, M.F.A.
Cranbrook Academy


Professors

Roberta M. Bernstein, Ph.D. (Collins Fellow)
Columbia University

Phyllis J. Galembo, M.F.A.
University of Wisconsin

Edward A. Mayer, M.F.A.
University of Wisconsin


Associate Professors

David Carbone, M.F.A.
Brooklyn College, CUNY

JoAnne Carson, M.F.A.
University of Chicago

Sarah R. Cohen, Ph.D.
Yale University

Mark A. Greenwold, M.F.A.
Indiana University

Marja Vallila, M.F.A.
Cornell University


Assistant Professors

Rachel Dressler, Ph.D.
Columbia University

Daniel Goodwin, M.F.A.
Hunter College


Sculpture Technician

Roger Bisbing, M.F.A.
Syracuse University


Adjuncts (estimated): 6
Teaching Assistants (estimated): 18


Art History Faculty in Mediterranean Archaeology and Art

Distinguished Service Professor

Paul W. Wallace, Ph.D.
Indiana University


Professor

John C. Overbeck, Ph.D.
University of Cincinnati


Associate Professor

Michael R. Werner, Ph.D.
Stanford University


Visiting Associate Professor:

Stuart Swiny, Ph.D.
University of London


The Department of Art offers a 36 credit major in art, a departmental art major of 60 credits, and a 36 credit Faculty-initiated interdisciplinary major in art history. In addition students can minor in art or art history; the department also directs the interdisciplinary minor in Film Studies. The foundation of the studio art majors is a core curriculum in drawing, two- and three-dimensional design, and art history; areas of concentration are painting and drawing, sculpture, printmaking, and photography. The interdisciplinary major in art history offers a range of courses drawn from offerings in art history with the art department, and from other departments and programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, including classics, history, and East Asian studies. The University Art Museum offers a wide variety of exhibitions that enhance and extend the art department's offerings.


Careers

In addition to the traditional careers in fine art, commercial art, art history and criticism, students who immerse themselves in our art curriculum emerge with an understanding of visual literacy at a time when our culture as a whole is becoming increasingly dependent upon visual communication. Career paths include various positions in art museums and galleries, art conservation, art therapy, furniture design, industrial design, interior design, stage and costume design, graphic design, film production, TV production, medical and anthropological illustration, and animation.


Degree Requirements for the Major in Art

General Program B.A.:  36 credits, including at least 12 credits at the 300 level or above, to be distributed as follows: 18 credits are core requirements: A Art 105, 110, 115, 205 and A Arh 170L and 171L; 18 credits are from electives with an Art prefix; 3 of these credits may be from any course that applies to the art history major (see below).


Degree Requirements for the Departmental Major in Art

General Program B.A.:  60 credits including a 27-credit core requirement consisting of A Art 105, 110, 115, 205, 220, 230, 240 or 242, 244 and 305; 12 credits in art history consisting of A Arh170L and 17lL and 6 credits from courses that apply to the art history major (see below); 6 credits in studio art electives; and a 15-credit concentration in either painting and drawing, sculpture, printmaking, or photography.


Admission to Departmental Major in Art

The 60-credit art major is aimed at encouraging students who demonstrate both an unusual degree of accomplishment and potential. In the second semester of their sophomore year, or thereafter, students should submit from 12 to 20 works of art, in a portfolio or sheet of slides, to the Art Department for review. The portfolio should reflect a student's intended area of focus: painting and drawing, sculpture, printmaking or photography. The portfolio review is intended to give students an opportunity to demonstrate a maturing level of visual culture and the emergence of an artistic voice. Ultimately, an exemplary portfolio will display a high level of visual literacy and technical ability at the service of individual expression. This orientation will lead a student to further study at art school or at graduate school. Portfolios should be submitted to the art department secretary during the seventh week of the semester.

If a student is accepted as a 60-credit art major, the student should seek advisement from the undergraduate adviser and the faculty member they work with most to determine a set of personal goals within their remaining course of study.


Honors Program in the Departmental Major in Art

The Honors Program is designed for the exceptionally talented and committed student of art. Successful completion of the program is excellent preparation for graduate work in the Fine Arts. Studio space for Honors Students is limited. Successful completion of the program earns an Honors Certificate in Art and a nomination for graduating with "Honors in Art" from the University.

Students may present a portfolio for admission to the Honors Program to the Undergraduate Director in the second semester of their junior year or the first semester of their senior year. In order to be eligible for admission to the Honors Program, a student must be accepted as a 60-credit major and have completed at least 12 credits of studio course work. An applicant should have an overall grade point average of 3.25 or higher and a 3.5 or higher in all courses applicable toward the major. Applicants must submit a portfolio of 10 works in their area of concentration. The portfolio must demonstrate visual literacy, technical mastery, creative potential, and the drive and maturity to work independently in order to cultivate a distinctive personal direction. The Honors Committee may waive the entry requirements where appropriate. Decisions of the Honors Committee are final and are not subject to review or appeal.

Students in the Honors Program are required to complete a minimum of 60 credits, meeting all the requirements of the major. In addition, students must complete an Honors Project for 6-12 credits of studio course work and complete A Art 496, the Mentor Tutorial. The Honors Project mentor will be a member of the faculty who regularly works with the student in the student's area of concentration. Critiques will be conducted during regular course offerings. An overall grade point average of 3.25 or higher and an average of 3.5 or higher in all courses applicable toward the major must be maintained in each semester of the program. Students dismissed from the program cannot be readmitted unless the grades on which dismissal is based were in error and are officially changed.


Degree Requirements for the Faculty-Initiated Interdisciplinary Major with a Concentration in Art History

The purpose of the interdisciplinary major in Art History is to introduce students to the principles and methods of art history, and to encourage their intellectual exploration of art and architecture in historical culture. The faculty and curriculum for the Art History major are drawn from the Art Department and from the Classics Department. Advisement and internship supervision are conducted in the Art Department.

General Program B.A.:  A minimum of 36 credits: Within the requirements for the major, a student must take a minimum of 6 credits in courses with an A Cla prefix.

Required core courses (9 credits): A Arh 170L, A Arh 17IL, A Arh 499.

Lower Division Electives 9 credits from: A Arh 260, 261; 262; 265, 266, 267; 273, 274, 275; 280L, 298; A Ant 268L; A Cas 240; A Cla 207E/L, 208E/L, 209L; A His 263E, 264E; A Rel 200L.

Upper Division Electives 18 credits, of which no more than 6 credits can be from A Cla courses, from: A Arh 331, 332 or 332Z, 341, 342 or 342Z, 350 or 350Z, 351 or 351Z, 352 or 352Z, 361,362, 363, 364 365 or 365Z, 366 or 366Z, 432, 442, 450 or 450Z, 460, 466, 467 or 467Z, 468 or 468Z, 475 or 475Z, 490, 491; 497, 498; A Cla 301, 302, 303 or 303Z, 307, 310, 311, 401, 402, 403, 405, 406, 407, 490, 497; A His 302Z; 303Z; 364Z; A Thr 380L.


Honors Program in Art History

Honors students in Art History will take a structured sequence of coursework focusing upon the main areas of study offered in the Art History curriculum. They must take at least one three-credit course each in the following areas of Western Art History: Ancient (A Cla 207, A Cla 208, A Cla 209, A Cla 301, A Cla 302, A Cla 303, A Cla 307, A Cla 310, A Cla 311, A Cla 401, A Cla 402, A Cla 403, A Cla 405, A Cla 406, A Cla 407); Medieval (A Arh 331, A Arh 332, A Arh 442); Early Modern (Renaissance, Baroque, and Eighteenth Century: A Arh 350, A Arh 351, A Arh 352, A Arh 450); Modern and Contemporary (A Arh 365, A Arh 366, A Arh 468); Film and Photography (A Arh 260, A Arh 261, A Arh 265, A Arh 266, A Arh 361, A Arh 362, A Arh 363, A Arh 364. In addition, they must take at least one three-credit course in non-Western Art History (A Arh 267, A Arh 274, A Arh 275, A Arh 280, A Ant 268, A Arh 281, A Arh 480.

Honors students in Art History are required to take a research seminar, in which they will perform special work devoted to Honors: A Arh 499 "Research Seminar: Special Topics," A Arh 450 "Art and Society in Early Modern France," A Arh 480 "Yuan and Sung Painting," or equivalent seminars as they are developed. The special Honors work in the seminar will entail at least two of the following features: use primary sources; conduct research in languages other than English; build on an annotated bibliography to develop an historiographic analysis; or conduct research on a primary object in a museum or archaeological setting, using archival documentation when appropriate.

Honors students in Art History will also be required to take six credits of intensive work culminating in a major project or series of projects. This will comprise two additional Research Seminars with Honors level work or one additional Research Seminar with Honors level work plus three credits of Independent Study or, in exceptional cases, six credits of independent study. The Independent Study credit will generally be developed from research the student began in a Research Seminar and will include Honors level research (as defined above). An Internship (A Arh 490 or 491 or A Cla 490) with a particularly strong and focused research component may count as three credits toward this requirement.

When needed, Art History faculty may create a special "honors track" in regular (non-seminar) upper-level courses for a student who wishing to pursue advance research in that area but does not have the opportunity to take a seminar in the area.

ADVISEMENT AND EVALUATION OF HONORS STUDENTS

Selection:  The students should have declared as an Art History major and should have completed at least 12 credits in the Art History program. Their overall grade point average must be at least 3.25, with a grade point average of at least 3.5 in the Art History major.

Project Evaluation:  Honors students are entitled to an evaluation at the beginning of their last semester if the project has been in progress for at least one semester, and must receive a formal evaluation at the end of the third quarter of their senior year through an Evaluation Committee (composed of two members of the Art History faculty in the Art department and at least one member of the Mediterranean Archaeology faculty, The faculty member responsible for grading the student's Honors papers will explain the strength of the student's work and recommend acceptance or denial. The committee is also responsible for waiving program requirements where warranted and for certifying the candidate has finished all outstanding "Incomplete" grades by the end of the third quarter of the senior year.

Advisement:  The student's faculty adviser will also serve as the Honors adviser and is responsible for supervising the student's selection of coursework toward the Honors. If the primary focus of the student's research is in the Ancient area, the student will be advised by a member of the Mediterranean Archaeology faculty.


Courses in Art

A Art 105 (formerly A Art 105A) Beginning Drawing (3)
Drawing encompasses all the visual disciplines; it will be taught as a way of thinking and planning for other fields of creative endeavor. Drawing is a way of seeing, thinking, and feeling through making marks. Students will be exposed to objective drawing techniques with an emphasis on two-dimensional design.

A Art 110 (formerly A Art 110A) Two-Dimensional Design (3)
The principles of two-dimensional design and composition intended primarily as a preparatory course for all other courses concerned with the two-dimensional approach.

A Art 115 (formerly A Art 110B) Three-Dimensional Design (3)
A problem-solving introduction to the principles and elements of three-dimensional design. Demonstrations and implementations of equipment, methods and materials encourage students to develop their interpretive and technical facility, while solving problems that deal with form, space, structure, scale and volume.

A Art 205 (formerly A Art 105B) Life Drawing (3)
A studio course for students with one semester of drawing experience. This course offers extended opportunities to draw the human figure. Emphasis will be placed on the underlying conceptual structures of perceptual relationships. Students will be asked to master the description of bodily forms deployed in a coherent pictorial space. Prerequisite(s): A Art 105.

A Art 220 Beginning Sculpture (3)
Modeling in clay from the figure. Projects include building armatures, modeling portrait heads, doing full figure studies and making a waste mold. Prerequisite(s): A Art 115 or permission of instructor.

A Art 230 (formerly A Art 230A) Beginning Painting (3)
An introduction to the language of painting through studio practice. Students will work toward mastering the skills of color mixing as they apply to painting from life. This course stresses the discipline of perceiving the optical effects of light and color in nature and translating them into a pictorial space. Prerequisite(s): A Art 205 or permission of instructor.

A Art 240 (formerly A Art 240A) Beginning Etching (3)
Studio course using processes of graphic reproduction with concentration on etching, both linear and tonal. Prerequisite(s): A Art 105 or permission of instructor.

A Art 242 (formerly A Art 242A) Beginning Lithography (3)
Introduction to the materials and the process of lithography. Emphasis is on plate printing. Prerequisite(s): A Art 105 or permission of instructor.

A Art 244 (formerly A Art 244A) Beginning Photography (3)
Photography as fine art; covers basic black and white processing techniques and darkroom skills. Principles of photographic composition and introduction of important work by photographers. Prerequisite(s): one studio art class and permission of instructor.

A Art 250 Introduction to Digital Imaging (3)
An introduction to the technical and theoretical issues of the computer in the visual arts. The convergence of photography and digital media is explored through hands-on projects and readings designed to increase students' aesthetic and technical vocabulary. Topics covered include basic scanning and manipulation of photographic imagery through raster-based graphics programs, and fine art digital printmaking, as well as an introduction to web graphics. Prerequisite(s): A Art 244 or one studio art course and permission of instructor.

A Art 298 Topics in Art (3)
Introductory study of a special topic in fine arts not otherwise covered in the curriculum. May be repeated for credit when the topic varies.

A Art 300 Art and Psychology (3)
This course explores the influence of 20th Century psychological thought on the contemporary creative process. We will investigate the works of art and explore creative processes that are directly related to the mapping of the modern psyche. Readings will include writings by both artists and psychologists, including texts by Freud, Lacan, Jung, Breton, Miro, etc. Students will be expected to make class presentations and produce visual projects. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 170L, 171L and A Art 205. May not be offered in 2002-2003

A Art 305 (formerly A Art 305A) Intermediate Drawing (3)
A studio course for students with two semesters of drawing experience. This course offers extended opportunities to draw from life combined with an awareness of various pictorial traditions and procedures. The development of a personal direction is strongly encouraged through challenging projects. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Art 205.

A Art 310 (formerly A Art 310A) Studio Experiments in Visual Thinking (3)
An idea-oriented course designed to help students solve visual and artistic problems through invention and interpretation. Emphasis will be placed on imagination and experimentation with alternative and traditional materials, and students will work toward developing an expanded, personal, visual vocabulary. May be repeated once for credit. May not be offered in 2002-2003.

A Art 320 (formerly A Art 321) Intermediate Sculpture (3)
An exploration of traditional and nontraditional materials, processes and concepts of sculpture with an emphasis on fabrication, assemblage and installation ideas and actualization of finished sculptural pieces. Prerequisite(s): A Art 115.

A Art 321 Sculpture Fabrication Techniques (3)
A sequence of workshops and demonstrations exploring fabrication, additive processes and assembly techniques used in sculpture. Instruction is given on the materials and techniques used to cut, form and join aluminum, steel, wood and plastics. The student will become conversant with oxy-acetylene and electric welding (stick, MIG and TIG) equipment; woodworking tools, mechanical fasteners and industrial materials. Prerequisite(s): A Art 115 3-Dimensional Design or permission of the instructor.

A Art 322 Sculpture Casting Techniques (3)
A sequence of workshops exploring techniques of learning to make molds in plaster, flexible rubber and classic investment, used in casting ceramic, wax, plaster, concrete, plastic resins, aluminum, bronze and other materials involved in generating sculpture. Prerequisite(s): A Art 115 3-Dimensional Design or permission of the instructor.

A Art 330 (formerly A Art 230B) Intermediate Painting (3)
A studio course for students with one semester of oil painting experience. This course offers extended opportunities to paint from life combined with an awareness of various pictorial traditions and procedures. The development of a personal direction is strongly encouraged through challenging projects. Prerequisite(s): A Art 205 and A Art 230.

A Art 331 (formerly A Art 330A) Painting in Water-Based Media (3)
A studio course for students with two semesters of drawing experience. An introduction to the language of painting through the use of a variety of water-based media (ink, gouache, watercolor, egg tempera). Students will be asked to master several media-related procedures and develop coherent pictorial constructions. Prerequisite(s): A Art 205.

A Art 335 Color Theory and Pictorial Tradition (3)
In this combined studio/lecture course, students will examine a range of color theories and their application to specific works of art. Emphasis will be on the expressive role of color in various pictorial traditions. Students will be given an extensive vocabulary of color concepts and related studio exercises. Prerequisite(s): A Art 110. May not be offered in 2002-2003.

A Art 340 Intermediate Etching (3)
Studio course with concentration on color etching collagraphs and other advanced techniques. Prerequisite(s): A Art 240.

A Art 342 Intermediate Lithography (3)
Emphasis on combining ideas with the medium of lithography both on plates and stones. Prerequisite(s): A Art 242.

A Art 344 (formerly A Art 244B) Intermediate Photography (3)
Advanced darkroom skills and introduction to non-silver techniques and analysis of important work by representative studio and photographic artists. Prerequisite(s): A Art 244.

A Art 345 (formerly A Art 345A) The Monotype (3)
Studio experience in most processes in the making of monotypes. Emphasis is on water-based, nontoxic materials. Prerequisite(s): A Art 105 or permission of instructor.

A Art 346 Introductory Film Production (3)
Seeing and thinking in cinematic terms, with an introduction to the process and equipment with which the filmmaker works. Cameras, lenses, film emulsions and editing procedures are studied in the making of short silent films. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 260, or A Com 238 and permission of instructor. May not be offered during 2002-2003.

A Art 347 (formerly A Art 246) Non-silver Photography (3)
Exploration of the various methods of applying light-sensitive emulsions to materials (cloth, paper) and printing from them rather than from the traditional silver-based photographic paper. This method enables the student to work in a more painterly-printmaking manner. Prerequisite(s): A Art 344.

A Art 348 Color Photography (3)
Utilization of transparency and negative materials in color photography with emphasis on color printing. Prerequisite(s): A Art 344 and permission of instructor. A Art 110 recommended.

A Art 350 Intermediate Digital Imaging (3)
An intensive exploration into the uses of the computer in the fine arts. This course builds on concepts introduced in A Art 250. Emphasis is placed on correlating technical concerns with theoretical, conceptual, and aesthetic content. Students are expected to develop a portfolio through challenging projects. Prerequisite(s) A Art 250 and permission of the instructor.

A Art 390 Topics in Printmaking (3)
Special projects in print processes ranging from relief printing to color viscosity etching. May be repeated for credit when topic varies (up to 12 credits). Prerequisite(s): A Art 240 or 242.

A Art 405 Advanced Drawing (3)
A studio course for students with two or three semesters of drawing experience. Individual attention is combined with technical and formal criticism in the development of a personal visual idiom. In this course, stress will be placed on how the history of drawing helps to reveal a student's potential. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Art 305.

A Art 420 (formerly A Art 420A) Advanced Sculpture (3)
A focus on contemporary concerns and attitudes in three-dimensional work and media requiring an application of concepts and experience learned and acquired in prerequisite courses and through research, which results in finished sculptures. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Art 320 and A Art 321 or permission of instructor.

A Art 421 (formerly A Art 421A) Topics in Sculpture (3)
Further exploration of sculptural concepts with a focus on individual problems, covering a wide range of media, methods and techniques. An emphasis is on the development, interpretation, realization and presentation of one's ideas. May be repeated for credit when topic varies (up to 12 credits). Prerequisite(s): A Art 320 and A Art 321 or permission of instructor.

A Art 430 (formerly A Art 430A) Advanced Painting (3)
A studio course for students with two or three semesters of oil painting experience. Individual attention is combined with technical and formal criticism in the development of a personal visual idiom. In this course, stress will be placed on how the history of painting helps to reveal a student's potential. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Art 330.

A Art 434 Topics in Drawing (3)
A studio course for students with at least two semesters of drawing experience. In depth study of selected topics in drawing not otherwise covered in the curriculum. Students will be guided through several pictorial models and procedures, seeking both mastery and a pictorial persona. May be repeated for credit when topic varies (up to 12 credits). Prerequisite(s): A Art 205.

A Art 435 (formerly A Art 435A) Topics in Painting (3)
A studio course for students with two or three semesters of oil painting experience. In-depth study of selected topics in painting not otherwise covered in the curriculum. Students will be guided through a variety of pictorial paradigms, seeking both mastery and a pictorial persona. May be repeated for credit when topic varies (up to 12 credits). Prerequisite(s): A Art 330.

A Art 440 (formerly A Art 440A) Advanced Etching (3)
Studio course with concentration on advanced etching techniques including photo work. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Art 340.

A Art 442 (formerly A Art 442A) Advanced Lithography (3)
Advanced course in lithography. Emphasis on color and stone process. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Art 342.

A Art 444 (formerly A Art 444A) Advanced Photography (3)
Emphasis on aesthetics and archival processing for exhibition-quality work. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Art 344.

A Art 445 Advanced Monotype (3)
Continuation of A Art 345. Emphasis will be on individual approaches to ideas and various print techniques. Prerequisite(s): A Art 345.

A Art 446 (formerly A Art 444B) Topics in Photography (3)
Expansion of camera skills and photographic techniques. Individual interests and abilities play a major role in established course content. May be repeated for credit when topic varies (up to 12 credits). Prerequisite(s): A Art 344.

A Art 447 Advanced Film Production (3)
This course builds on filmmaking skills acquired in Introductory Film Production. Students explore cinematic narrative structures, styles of editing, and setting the mise en schne. Students will make a fictional work on film or videotape that focuses on their own life experience. Prerequisite(s): A Art 346. May not be offered during 2002-2003.

A Art 450 Advanced Digital Imaging (3)
An exploration of some of the more sophisticated concepts, processes, and software involved in digital fine art. Students develop self-directed projects that reflect not only a technical proficiency with the media explored, but a thoughtfully developed conceptual thread. Weekly readings in current digital media theory and criticism provide insight into the work of emerging artists, and a wide range of techniques, media, and software are covered, including: advanced 2-D image manipulation, web graphics, and high-resolution fine art printmaking, as well as introductions to interactive multimedia and digital video. Emphasis is placed on finding the most appropriate solutions for each student's individual project. Prerequisite(s): A Art 250 or permission of instructor.

A Art 490 Internship in Studio Art (3)
Designed for undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in the arts. Students work with art professionals for one semester. Internships may include the Times Union Photography Department, the Center for Photography at Woodstock, or assisting professional artists. Students complete an academic component consisting of required meetings with the faculty supervisor in the area of focus, and may involve a journal and portfolio. Art majors may use three credits toward course requirements above the 300 level. Internships are open only to qualified juniors and seniors who have an overall grade point average of 2.5 or higher. Consent for the internship must be obtained in the preceding semester by the submission of a plan of intent and a signed contract with a professional organization or individual artist. Prerequisite(s): Junior or senior class standing, 2.5 or higher GPA, and permission of the instructor.

A Art 492 Internship in Art Museum Management and Operation (3-4)
Designed for undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in Arts Management or the Gallery/Museum administrative field. Projects may include computer database, archival records retrieval and storage, media relations skills, collections management, and exhibition organization and documentation. A final project will be assigned. Internships are open only to qualified juniors and seniors who have an overall grade point average of 2.50 or higher. Prerequisite(s): interview by gallery administrative staff and permission of Art Department Chair. S/U graded. May not be offered in 2002-2003.

A Art 496 Mentor Tutorial (3)
A tutorial in which readings, discussions, visits to museums and galleries are assigned to build awareness of the relevant traditions supporting an Honors student's development. This tutorial will also include consultation on graduate school applications and instruction on taking slides of works of art. Prerequisite(s): admission into the departmental Honors Program.

A Art 497 Independent Study (1-4)
Studio project in a selected art area. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior class standing and permission of instructor and department chair.

A Art 498 Honors Project I (3-6)
Studio project in a selected area of concentration. Topics and issues vary according to the needs and goals set by the students with their mentors. The goal of this project is to allows students adequate space and opportunity to cultivate a distinctive personal direction and generate a significant body of work to pursue graduate study. Students will attend appropriate MFA critiques. Prerequisite(s) admission into the departmental Honors Program and permission of instructor.

A Art 499 Honors Project II (3-6)
The continuation and completion of a studio project set forth in A Art 498. Upon completion of the project, the student will be required to make an oral defense of the work before the Honors Committee. Successful completion of the program earns an Honors Certificate in Art and a nomination for graduating with "Honors in Art" from the University. Students will attend appropriate MFA critiques. Prerequisite(s): A Art 498.

Courses in Art History

A Arh 170L (formerly A Arh 150L) Survey of Art in the Western World I (3)
Survey of art from prehistoric times through the 14th century focusing on architecture, sculpture and painting of the ancient Near East and Europe. [AR EU]

A Arh 171L (formerly A Arh 151L) Survey of Art in the Western World II (3)
Survey of art from the 14th century to the present focusing on painting, sculpture and architecture of Europe and the Americas. [AR EU]

A Arh 230 The Art of Medieval Knighthood (3)
The art and culture of medieval European knighthood from its beginnings in mounted soldiers of the eleventh century to its role in elaborate tournaments and jousts of the sixteenth. Attention will be given to the social expression of the knightly class through visual and literary means. Objects of study will include architecture, sculpture, manuscript painting and ivory carvings. Literature will include chivalric epics, romances, and manuals of war. Among the topics to be addressed will be arms and armor, castles and manor houses, the arts of courtly love and the visual spectacle of chivalry. [AR]

A Arh 260 (formerly A Art 290) Introduction to Cinema (3)
Survey of the silent and sound classics of the cinema with emphasis on the changing conceptions of cinematographic form and content. Screenings of selected European and American films. [AR]

A Arh 261 Independent Cinema (3)
Introduction to the study of film as an artistic and social practice through an examination of the various genres of independent filmmaking pursued in the United States during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

A Arh 262 (= A Fre 238) Great Classics of French Cinema (3)
An introduction with detailed analyses to a dozen of the most well known French classic films as contributions to the art of cinema and as reflections of French society at various historical moments. Taught in English. May not be used to fulfill the requirements of the major in French. Only one of A Arh 262/A Fre 238 and 315 may be taken for credit.

A Arh 265 History of Photography (3)
A survey of photography from its invention in 1839 to recent trends. Emphasizes why it was developed, the major19th century documentary and artistic uses, and the extraordinary range of 20th century explorations. An integrated approach tied to parallel social and artistic events. [AR]

A Arh 266 Photography 1970 to the Present (3)
A thorough survey of recent photography. Emphasizes fine art photography and the use of photography by artists working in other media, including documentary and photojournalistic work, photography books, mixed media and digital work. The materials for study are drawn from slide lectures, local exhibitions, contemporary criticism, library materials, and the media. No prior photography or art history required. [AR]

A Arh 267 (= A Aas 267) African-American Art of the Twentieth & Twenty-First Centuries (3)
Study of paintings and drawings by African American artists in the 20th and 21st centuries and of the cultural context within which the art was produced. A wide range of artistic styles and media is explored. Consideration is also given to the impact of European, African, and Asian visual arts on the work of African-American artists.

A Arh 273 History of Printmaking (3)
History of fine art techniques for reproducing images from the 14th century to the present, including woodcut, engraving, etching, lithography, photography. May not be offered during 2002-2003.

A Arh 274 Islamic Art and Architecture (3)
This course focuses on the art and architecture of the Islamic peoples in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa from the seventh through the sixteenth century. We will consider the philosophical, political, religious and social context of Islamic visual culture. May not be offered in 2002-2003. [AR]

A Arh 275 (= A Aas 275) African Art (3)
Study of art produced on the west coast and central region of sub-Saharan Africa. Includes a wide range of artistic styles, with particular attention given to artifact designs and to their functional or ceremonial use in particular societies. Also explores the impact of African art on European and American Modernism.

A Arh 280L (= A Eac 280L) Chinese Painting (3)
Introduces students to the major works of traditional Chinese painting and analyzes those works to arrive at an understanding of life in traditional China. The major class activity will be viewing, discussing and analyzing slides of Chinese paintings. Only one of A Arh 280L and A Eac 280L may be taken for credit. [AR]

A Arh 281 (= A Eac 180) Introduction to Chinese Art and Culture (3)
The course combines a rapid survey of Chinese art with selected readings in Chinese literature to present an introduction to the visual and written culture of traditional China. Evidence from archaeology, sculpture, architecture, and painting will be viewed and analyzed to illustrate such topics as the origins and multiethnic character of Chinese civilization, the nature of the Chinese writing system, the growth of religious systems, and the development of the bureaucratic state. No prior knowledge of Chinese or Art History is required.

A Arh 298 Topics in Art History (3)
Introductory study of a special topic in Art History not otherwise covered in the curriculum. May be repeated for credit when the topic varies.

A Arh 303 (= A Cla 303) Early Christian Art and Architecture (3)
An examination of early Christian art and architecture from their beginnings in the third century to the death of Justinian in 565. Architecture, painting, mosaic and the minor arts are examined in their historical setting. A Arh 303Z & A Cla 303Z are the writing intensive versions of A Arh 303 & A Cla 303; only one of the four courses may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Cla 209, or A Clc 134, or A Arh 170L.

A Arh 303Z (= A Cla 303Z) Early Christian Art and Architecture (3)
A Arh 303Z & A Cla 303Z are the writing intensive versions of A Arh 303 & A Cla 303; only one of the four courses may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Cla 209, or A Clc 134, or A Arh 170L. [WI]

A Arh 331 (formerly A Arh 361L) Early Medieval And Romanesque Art (3)
An examination of European architecture, painting, sculpture and minor arts from the 6th to the 12th century. Course covers early Germanic and Celtic art, Carolingian and Ottonian periods. French. English, German, Italian Romanesque architecture and sculpture of the Pilgrimage route of Santiago, Monastic manuscript illumination, mural painting, objects in bronze and precious metals. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 170L or permission of instructor.

A Arh 332 (formerly A Arh 362L) Gothic Art and Architecture (3)
Examines Gothic Art of the 13th and 14th Centuries in France and its spread throughout Europe. Includes a study of religious and lay architecture (cathedrals, castles, town halls); cathedral sculpture; stained glass, murals and mosaics; manuscript illumination, painted altarpieces and art of precious metals. Prerequisite(s): A Art 170L or 331 or permission of instructor.

A Arh 332Z (formerly A Arh 362L) Gothic Art and Architecture (3)
A Arh 332Z is the writing intensive version of A Arh 332; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 170L or permission of instructor. [WI]

A Arh 341 (formerly A Arh 371L) Renaissance Art of the 15th Century (3)
An examination of art and architecture produced in Italy and Northern Europe during the 1400's. Italian art will concentrate on major architects, sculptors and painters, chiefly in Florence and including Umbria, Marches and North Italy. Art in Northern Europe will concentrate on the Netherlands and Germany, and will cover primarily panel painting and graphic art. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 170L or 171L or permission of instructor.

A Arh 342 Art in the Era of Renaissance and Reformation (3)
An examination of art and architecture produced in Italy and Northern Europe during the sixteenth century. Emphasis will be placed upon individual artists such as Leonardo, Michelangelo, D|rer, and Bruegel, as well as on specific artistic themes and their relation to social, religious, and theoretical concerns. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L or permission of the instructor

A Arh 342Z Art in the Era of Renaissance and Reformation (3)
A Arh 342Z is the Writing Intensive version of A Arh 342; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s) A Arh 171L or permission of the instructor. [WI]

A Arh 350 Art in the Courts of Seventeenth-Century Europe (3)
A study of the painting, sculpture and architecture produced in Italy, France and Spain during the 17th Century. Attention will focus on the religious, political and ceremonial demands of the Catholic Church and the royal courts, as well as on the careers of individual artists such as Bernini, Borromini, Caravaggio, Poussin and Velasquez. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L or permission of instructor.

A Arh 350Z Art in the Courts of Seventeenth-Century Europe (3)
A Arh 350Z is the writing intensive version of A Arh 350; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L or permission of instructor. [WI]

A Arh 351 Netherlandish Painting in the Age of Rembrandt and Rubens (3)
An examination of the painting and graphic art produced in the Netherlands during the seventeenth century. In addition to studying artistic trends and individual artists such as Rembrandt and Rubens, students will explore the ways in which the art addressed the social needs and concerns of Dutch and Flemish audiences. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L or permission of instructor.

A Arh 351Z Netherlandish Painting in the Age of Rembrandt and Rubens (3)
A Arh 351Z is the writing intensive version of A Arh 351; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L or permission of instructor. [WI]

A Arh 352 Art in the Era of Rococo and Enlightenment (3)
A study of painting, sculpture, architecture, garden design, graphic and decorative arts produced in Europe during the eighteenth century. Special emphasis will be placed upon the original context, use and significance of the art, as well as upon the association between artmaking and philosophical pursuits during this era of profound European change. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L or permission of instructor.

A Arh 352Z Art in the Era of Rococo and Enlightenment (3)
A Arh 352Z is the writing intensive version of A Arh 352; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L or permission of instructor. [WI[

A Arh 361 European Screen Artists (3)
Study of the European cinema from the silent film era to recent years. Consideration is given both to the careers of prominent artists and to the social and economical context in which they worked. Directors to be examined include, among others, Sergei Eisenstein, Ingmar Bergman, Leni Riefenstahl, and Jean Renoir. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 260.

A Arh 362 Significant Cinema Directors (3)
Examination of the artistry and cultural significance of films by selected directors, such as Charles Chaplin, Stanley Kubrick, Dorothy Arzner, Ingmar Bergman, or Ousmane Sembene. American and/or international in scope. This course may be repeated for credit as the content varies. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 260

A Arh 363 Art of American Silent Films (3)
Examination of the silent film in America, with an emphasis upon Hollywood. Topics to be addressed include: the studio and star systems; significant personalities; the writing of silent film; technological developments; and the various film genres, such as epics, comedies, and melodramas. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 260.

A Arh 365 (formerly A Arh 491) Modern Art I (3)
Survey of the first phase of Modernism, focusing on painting and sculpture in Europe and the USA from circa 1780-1880. Movements covered include Neo-Classicism, Romanticism, Realism, and Impressionism; artists include David, Goya, Manet, Cassatt. A Arh 365Z is the writing intensive version of A Arh 365; only one of the two courses may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L or permission of instructor.

A Arh 365Z (formerly A Arh 491) Modern Art I (3)
A Arh 365Z is the writing intensive version of A Arh 365; only one of the two courses may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L or permission of instructor. [WI]

A Arh 366 (formerly A Arh 492 ) Modern Art II (3)
Survey of Modern art from circa 1880-1945, focusing on painting and sculpture of Europe and the Americas. Movements covered include Post-impressionism, Cubism, German Expressionism, Dada, Surrealism; artists include Van Gogh, Picasso, Kollwitz, Duchamp, O'Keeffe, Douglas, Kahlo. A Arh 366Z is the writing intensive version of A Arh 366; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L or permission of instructor.

A Arh 366Z (formerly A Arh 492Z) Modern Art II (3)
A Arh 366Z is the writing intensive version of A Arh 366; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L or permission of instructor. [WI]

A Arh 432 (formerly A Arh 462) Gothic Painting (3)
Study of the style and technique of stained glass, manuscript illumination, wall and panel painting in the 13th and 14th centuries, with emphasis on France and Italy. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 170L and junior or senior class standing, or permission of instructor.

A Arh 442 (formerly A Arh 472) Early Painting of the Netherlands (3)
Study of northern Renaissance panel and manuscript painting from Jan van Eyck to Bruegel. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 170L or A Arh 171L or permission of instructor.

A Arh 450 (=A Fre 460) Art and Society in Early Modern France (3)
Seminar examining selected topics in art and architecture produced in France from the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries. Special emphasis upon the cultural significance of art in an era that saw the rise and fall of monarchical power as well as dramatic changes in understandings of social hierarchy, gender, the natural world, and philosophy. Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior status and at least nine credits of upper-level coursework in Art History or French Studies

A Arh 450Z Art and Society in Early Modern France (3)
A Arh 450Z is the . [WI] version of A Arh 450; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): Junior or Senior status and at least nine credits of upper-level coursework in Art History or French Studies. [WI]

A Arh 460 (formerly A Art 490) Special Topics in Cinema (3)
In-depth study of selected topics in film not otherwise covered in the curriculum. Can be repeated for credit when the topic varies. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 260.

A Arh 466 Art Criticism of the Modern Period (3)
A study of the major European and American critics of 20th century art up to circa 1970. Student essays in criticism of actual artworks will emphasize understanding of historically significant critical perspectives, as well as the development of personal approaches to criticism. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L; permission of instructor; junior or senior status.

A Arh 467 Art Criticism of the Post-Modern Period (3)
Investigation of practice and theory of contemporary art criticism. Readings will concentrate on critics and writers from the 1970's to the present. In writing about works of art, students will practice basic critical skills of description, formal analysis, interpretation, and articulation of personal responses. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L; permission of instructor; junior or senior status.

A Arh 467Z Art Criticism of the Post-Modern Period (3)
Investigation of practice and theory of contemporary art criticism. Readings will concentrate on critics and writers from the 1970's to the present. In writing about works of art, students will practice basic critical skills of description, formal analysis, interpretation, and articulation of personal responses. A Arh 467Z is the writing intensive version of A Arh 467; only one can be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L; permission of instructor; junior or senior status. [WI]

A Arh 468 (formerly A Arh 490) Art Since 1945 (3)
Survey and critical analysis of art from circa 1945 to the present. The course will cover directions in late Modernism and Post-modernism, including Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism, Feminist Art, Graffiti Art and Political Art. A Arh 468Z is the writing intensive version of A Arh 468; only one can be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L or permission of instructor.

A Arh 468Z (formerly A Arh 490Z) Art Since 1945 (3)
A Arh 468Z is the writing intensive version of A Arh 468; only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L or permission of instructor. [WI]

A Arh 475 (formerly A Arh 455; = A Wss 475) Women in Art (3)
Survey of women artists from 1550 to the present, including Artemesia Gentileschi, Elizabeth Vigee-Lebrun, Mary Cassatt, Alice Neel. The course also includes a feminist analysis of images of women since the Renaissance. A Arh 475Z & A Wss 475Z are the writing intensive versions of A Arh 475 & A Wss 475Z; only one of the four courses may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L and junior or senior class standing, or permission of instructor.

A Arh 475Z (formerly A Arh 455; = A Wss 475Z) Women in Art (3)
A Arh 475Z & A Wss 475Z are the writing intensive versions of A Arh 475 & A Wss 475Z; only one of the four courses may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 171L and junior or senior class standing, or permission of instructor. [WI]

A Arh 480 (= A Eac 471) Y|an and Sung Painting (3)
A seminar on Chinese painting during the Sung and Y|an Dynasties (960-1368) with research into selected paintings. The course will combine a detailed survey of painting during this period with examination of selected topics such as the rise of literati painting, Court painting as government art, and painting as political expression during the Sung-Y|an transition. Prerequisite(s): A Eac 180/A Arh 281 or A Eac/A Arh 280L and permission of instructor.

A Arh 490 Internship in Art History (3)
Supervised placement in an institution devoted to the collection, exhibition and/or conservation of works of art, such as the Albany Institute of History and Art or the State Conservation Laboratory. Provides practical experience in working with original works of art and includes research and writing projects. Art History majors may use 3 credits toward course requirements above the 300 level. May be repeated for credit, with permission of supervising instructor. Internships are open only to qualified juniors and seniors who have an overall grade point average of 2.50 or higher. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 170L and A Arh 171L. S/U graded.

A Arh 491 Internship in Film Studies (3)
Internship in the study of film or in film production. Students are responsible for finding and securing the internship with an organization or individual, subject to approval by the director of the Film Studies minor. May be repeated for credit. Three credits may be applied to upper level coursework in the Film Studies minor or the Art History major. S/U graded. Prerequisite(s): Open only to Juniors or Seniors with a Film Studies minor or with at least six credits of film studies coursework, and an overall grade point average of 2.5 or higher.

A Arh 497 Independent Study (1-4)
Directed reading and/or research in a selected area. May be repeated with approval of department chair. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior class standing, and permission of instructor and department chair.

A Arh 498 Topics in Art History (3)
In-depth study of selected topics in art history not otherwise covered in the curriculum. Can be repeated for credit when the topic varies. Prerequisite(s): A Arh 170L or A Arh 171L or permission of instructor.

A Arh 499 Research Seminar in Art History: Selected Topics (3)
Seminar focusing upon selected topics in art historical research. Students will study all aspects of research in art history, including the formulation of a topic; establishing the state of research on the topic; preparing an annotated bibliography and scholarly notes; and using library and web-based catalogues, databases, museum archives, image banks, and other research tools. The main focus of the coursework will be an individual research project. The course may be repeated for credit as the topic varies. Prerequisite(s): Junior or senior status-Art History major or minor, or permission of the instructor.


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