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TTH 11:00-12:15 Prof. Kym Pinder ext. 5876 Johnson 405B |
Office hours: T 4:15-5:30pm, TH 1:30-3pm or by appointment |
The textbooks for the course are Samella Lewis's African American Art and Artists, John Michael Vlach's By the Work of Their Hands ; The Portable Harlem Renaissance Reader, the Studio Museum in Harlem's catalog Harlem Renaissance. Art of Black America, and one coursepack.
Discussion will be an important part of this course. You should be prepared to discuss all assigned readings. Attendance is required. (15%)
ASSIGNMENTS: Short papers: 1) a 2-3-page paper (and no more) closely examining a work of art of your choice in the college museum. Discuss how the artist uses line, form, color and composition to express his/her subject. This is a looking assignment. No research should be done. Looking very carefully at your work of art at least twice and describing what you have observed is the assignment. Due Friday Mar.8 at 4pm. Please note museum hours: T-F 10:00am -5:00pm and S-S 12:00-5:00pm.
2) ~written responses(2-5 pages) to questions on the reading listed in the syllabus. (40%)
Midterm is in class on Apr. 2. (20%)
Final assignment is EITHER the exam on May 14, 7-10pm OR a
10-12-page research paper. Due May 14 by 5pm. (25%)
(All topics must be approved by me due to limited library resources).
ALL LATE PAPERS WILL BE PENALIZED
Readings and written assignments are due on the date listed.
| Feb. 13: | Introduction. What is African-American Art? |
| Feb. 15: |
African-American Art and its Decorative Art Legacy Vlach, 1-52 and Walker in coursepack ~What is the role of decorative art in African-American culture? |
| Feb. 20: |
An Architectural Legacy from Africa to New Orleans Vlach, 161-179 and 181-229 |
| Feb. 22: | No class |
| Feb. 27: |
The Academic Tradition I: Portraits and Landscapes ON RESERVE: Lewis, 7-40 OR David Driskell, Hidden Heritage, 13-30 OR Driskell, Two Centuries..., 30-54. |
| Feb. 28 | Amiri Baraka speaks in the Abernathy Room at 4pm |
| Feb. 29: |
The Academic Tradition II: Sculpture ON RESERVE: Lewis, 40-58 |
| Mar. 5: |
Henry O. Tanner and his followers ON RESERVE: Henry Ossawa Tanner (1991), 146-241. |
| Mar. 8 | Formal Analysis due by 4pm |
| Mar. 7: |
The Harlem Renaissance I: Social and political background Harlem Renaissance Reader, intro-52 MOVIE: 7:30pm "Emperor Jones" |
| Mar. 12: |
The Harlem Renaissance II: The "New Negro" Movement HRR, Hughes, "Racial Mtn", Locke and Gates essays in coursepack |
| Mar. 14: |
The Harlem Renaissance III: Who is the African-American? HRR, Hughes, "I, too" and "Blues I'm Playing"; Cullen, "Heritage"; West, "Typewriter" ~How are these writers expressing some fundamental themes of the Harlem Renaissance? |
| Mar. 19: | William H. Johnson and James van der Zee Lewis, 88-95; Powell essay and hooks, "In Our Glory" in coursepack (use ON RESERVE: Harlem Renaissance: Art of Black America for color plates) |
| Mar. 21: | Escape Abroad: African-Americans in Paris Leininger essay in coursepack and HRR, McKay, "New Negro in Paris" |
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Mar. 26 & 28: |
SPRING BREAK |
| Apr. 2: | MIDTERM EXAM |
| Apr. 4: |
Against All Odds: Support for African-American Art Lewis, 115-137: Wright and Reynolds essays in coursepack LECTURE: Robert F. Thompson, "The Black Atlantic Visual Tradition", 4:30 in Twilight |
| Apr. 9: | Romare Bearden: His History of Art Interview w/ Bearden and hooks, "Art on my mind" in coursepack |
| Apr. 11: | Romare Bearden: Picturing Rhythms ON RESERVE: Gilbert Chase, "Jazz: tradition and transformation" ~Write a formal analysis of your favorite work by Bearden . Also describe why it appeals to you the most out of the diverse body of his work. *Include an illustration. |
| Apr. 16: |
Abstract Expressionists Gibson and Coker essays in coursepack |
| Apr. 18: |
1960's and '70's Black Art and Black Power I ON RESERVE: Tradition and Conflict (1985), 45-67. "Evolution of Revolution"(Washington Post article) in coursepack ~Write a response to the following: Define the word "political". What do you think about the political power of art? Can art and politics mix? Should they? MOVIE: 7:30pm "Panther" |
| Apr. 23: |
1960's and '70's Black Art and Black Power II
Tesfagiorgis essay in Coursepack 2. |
| Apr. 25: |
Graffiti: Outside artists, urban activists or criminals? ON RESERVE: essay in Tricia Rose, Black Noise For class discussion: Is it art or vandalism? Using resources at the library or on-line get informed about the graffiti debate. |
| Apr. 30: |
Self-Taught Artists and Folk Artists Lewis, 106-113, West essay in coursepack and HRR, Barnes, "Negro Art and America" |
| May 2: | African-American Art Today I Harris essays in coursepack |
| May 7: |
African-American Art Today II ON RESERVE at Sunderland: video "Free, White and 21" Pindell handout ~How does Pindell comment on racism in her video? |
| May 9: |
Trash, Politics and Pictures: David Hammons Lewis, 276-289, Jones and Mercer essays in coursepack |