Syllabus: 3DS 3950/Contemporary Ceramic History Spring 2012 Mark Burleson, Associate Professor of Art Georgia State University Office Phone 404.413.5259 eMail mburleson@gsu.edu Office Hours Tuesday 2:30 - 4:30 pm, or by appointment. Office Location 154 Art & Humanities (just inside room 158)
Course Description
This course is an exploration of ceramics from 1900 until the present day. A overview will be given, followed by lectures covering major movements and individual artists. Discussions and Readings will focus on contemporary ideas, movements, practices and influences. A special emphasis will be placed on work that was made between 1950 and the present. The class will follow a lecture format which will vary to include visual presentations, films, biographies, podcasts and digital shorts as well as conversations about the material.
Course Requirements
During the semester, each student will be expected to participate in the class through regular attendance, keeping a Sketch/ Notebook with records from each class, completing reading assignments and leading and participating in class discussions, writing papers and making an oral presentation.
Attendance
It is my hope that you will become engaged in the class and want to participate fully , come to every class and show up on time. You may, however, miss three classes without having your grade lowered. I do not request doctors notes or other justification as there are many valid reasons that one may need to miss class. Travel, research, inspiration, are all valid reasons just as illness, medical emergencies and unexpected or unfortunate life events are. Use them as you wish. If you do go over 3, be prepared to provide justification and documentation. Your grade will be lowered by a full letter for each additional day that you miss unless individual arrangements are made to make up the work. Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class. You are expected to arrive on time. If you arrive late, please do not interrupt class,It is your responsibility to notify me after class that you were late, not absent, and to request a change in the attendance record from absent to late. You will have been marked absent and if you fail to speak to me after class on the same day of your tardiness, it will remain as an absence on the record. It is up to you to catch up with the class by conferring with a fellow student outside of class time. I will not be able to start over for you. It would be wise to save your 3 allowable absences in anticipation of emergencies. It is your responsibility to inform me in advance of a class that you know you must miss. Do Not Forget... You Are Allowed 3 Absences or 6 tardies in order to pass this course.
Syllabus: 3DS 3950/Contemporary Ceramic History Spring 2012 Assignments and Activities
• Notes & Sketches You are expected to take notes each class and make sketches or visual cues of work discussed. This will assist you in the final exam. • Written Assignment There will be one written research assignment. • Oral Presentation There will be one oral presentation that will accompany your written Assignment. • Mid Term Exam The Mid-Term exam that will be comprised of multiple choice and essay questions and slide identification. • Final Exam The final exam that will be comprised of multiple choice and essay questions and slide identification.
Grading. Grading
Percent of Grade
Attendance
20%
Written Assignment
15%
Presentation
15%
Classroom Participation & Etiquette
10%
Mid-Term Exam
20%
Final Exam
20%
Criterion for Grading Letter
Score
Description
A
90-100
Excellent. Above and beyond class requirements.
B
80-89
Good. Fulfilled class requirements with exceptional effort.
C
70-79
Average. Completed class requirements with fair effort.
D
60-69
Poor. Did not complete all class requirements or show effort.
F
0-59
Unacceptable. Failure.
Syllabus: 3DS 3950/Contemporary Ceramic History Spring 2012 Classroom Etiquette
Please be respectful to other students, this course is held in a studio environment. Please do not touch or move another student’s work ever, this could lead to accidental breakage. If for any reason you need to move another students work please ask for assistance from me or another professor. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated In extreme cases this will result in the expulsion from class. Examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to, habitually arriving late or leaving early from class, talking during instruction, offensive behavior, insubordination.
Security Statement
Georgia State University and the Welch School of Art have installed punch code locks to make our buildings safer for students and faculty. You should treat any lab or studio under card lock as a secure space. As such, GSU and the Welch School ask that you abide by the following guidelines to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone: 1.ALWAYS have your GSU ID card with you when on campus. 2.NEVER allow anyone to use your card. If a student or member of the staff or faculty is authorized to be in the area, their cards will give them access. If anyone asks you for your card, report the incident to campus police. 3.ALWAYS report suspicious people or activity to the faculty or graduate student in charge of the studio or lab. If, for any reason, there is no faculty or graduate student supervision, report suspicious people or activity to campus police. The number is 404-413-2100. 4.NEVER try to enter a studio or lab by “piggybacking” on someone else. For example: if someone is entering the lab or studio before you, do not try to get through the door while it is open. Wait for the door to close and then punch in again to gain entry. Similarly, do not allow someone else to come through with you. It can be tempting to hold the door open for someone whose hands are full with equipment, etc. This practice, however, is NOT SECURE and can put everyone at risk. Wanting to help is good, but be smart about it. If you want to help a classmate or friend who is carrying a lot of equipment you can, 1) gain entry to the lab or studio by yourself, 2) wait on the other side of the door for the other person to enter, and 3) help the person with her/his equipment. These procedures are a course requirement and the consequences for violating them range from penalties to your course grade to expulsion from the class. Security is everyone’s concern. GSU and the Welch School of Art and Design thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Access
The combination to the door is 0490. It is important that this door is kept locked at all times for your personal safety, as well as to discourage theft.
Syllabus: 3DS 3950/Contemporary Ceramic History Spring 2012 SPRING 2012
IMPORTANT DATES AND HOLIDAYS Please add these dates to your calendar.
1/16/10
MLK Holiday – No Classes
2/24
Midpoint of the Semester – Last Day to Withdraw with a W
2.27 - 3/4
Spring Break
4/23
Last Day of Classes
4/24 - 5/1
Final Exam Period Topical Timeline for Contemporary Ceramic History
Introduction. Pre 1900’s Traditions in Transition: Native American Traditions after 1900. Maria Martinez. At the Turn of the Century: Arts & Crafts Movement & Beyond. Early America : Southern Folk Pottery and Seagrove, North Carolina. Stalwart Traditions of Asia. Shoji Hamada, Ronsanjin and The British, Invaded. Bernard Leach. Michael Cardew. Bauhaus and The Black Mountain College. The Birth of Modernism. Voulkos and the Otis School. Peace, Love and Pottery: The 60 in America. Revolutions of the Wheel Film Series Ceramics in Space: Architecture, Industry and Technology 4 Ways of Viewing Contemporary Ceramics Pt 1. Masters of The Utilitarian Universe. 4 Ways of Viewing Contemporary Ceramics, Pt 2. Vessel as Metaphor 4 Ways of Viewing Contemporary Ceramics: Pt 3. Spirit, Mind Body, etc: Narratives and The Figure. 4 Ways of Viewing Contemporary Ceramics, Pt 4. Formal Beauty: Abstraction, Color and the Emotional Context. Digital Dirt: Modding the Traditions The Late Greats: Twentieth Century Masters The End of Contemporary Ceramics