Syllabus Fall 2010

AP 3300.001
Elements of Art and Performance
TR 10-11:15

Professor Contact Information: Mary Medrick, Office Hours MW 12-1 and by appointment;
mary.medrick@utdallas.edu, JO 4.638, 972-883-2754

Course Pre-requisites: completion of ARTS 1301 or equivalent; enrollment limited to School of Arts and
Humanities students except by permission of the instructor

Course Description:
This class is an exploration of the artistic process, the path to aesthetic judgments, and the role of the artist in
society. Readings and discussions will include the topics of music, theater, dance, visual art, film and performance
art, as the class pursues important themes in creativity and performance.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes:

1. Students will describe and apply basic methodologies and processes by which aesthetic judgments are made.
2. Students will demonstrate the effective oral and written communication skills.
3. Students will be able to relate the process of creative practice that underlies different forms of artistic expression
and apply their understanding of creating works to the interpretation of artistic and humanistic works.

Required Textbooks and Materials: 1. A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future by
Daniel H. Pink (paperback 2005); 2. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell; 3. But is it Art? By
Cynthia Freeland (2001) and 4. The Twentieth Century Performance Reader by Huxley and Witts (any edition
Routledge

Suggested Course Materials: Additional readings will be on the internet.

Grading Policy: Grades: attendance (20%), Reading Questions and participation in class discussion (30%),
Projects (40%), Final Project (10%)

Course & Instructor Policies: Prompt attendance and class participation are required. No late work will be
accepted. Makeup work will only be given for excused absences, according to university policy. No cell phones or
other distractions are allowed in class.

Course Syllabus Page 1

Assignments & Calendar: Reading assignments to be completed by the date listed.

R Aug 19 Syllabus and planning Assignments, AP Majors & Success

ASSIGNMENT #1: Write a 1 - 2 page personal response to Ken Robinson video

T Aug 24 WEEK 1 THEME: Creativity and Play READ: A Whole New Mind
R Aug 26 1-5

T Aug 31 WEEK 2 THEME: Empathy READ: AWNM 6- end

R Sep. 2

T Sep 7 WEEK 3 THEME: Aesthetics READ: Cage and Humphrey

R Sep 9 TURN IN: Project 1

ASSIGNMENT #2: Write a 1-2 page discussion of personal aesthetic development.

T Sep 14 WEEK 4 THEME: Transfiguration of the Commonplace
R Sep 16 READ: online/handout

T Sep 21 WEEK 5 THEME: Ritual/Entertainment READ: Schlemmer

R Sep 23

T Sep 28 WEEK 6 THEME: Comedy READ: Marinetti

R Sep 30 TURN IN: Project 2

T Oct 5 WEEK 7 THEME: Meaning and Intent READ: But is it Art?

R Oct 7 Discuss ALL MY SONS Oct. 7 – 16

T Oct 12 WEEK 8 THEME: Arts Advocacy READ: online

R Oct 14

T Oct 19 WEEK 9 THEME: Success READ: Outliers

R Oct 21 TURN IN: Project 3

T Oct 26 WEEK 10 THEME: New Media

R Oct 28

T Nov. 2 WEEK 11 THEME: Futureshock READ: online

R Nov 4

T Nov 9 WEEK 12 --- Catch up week

R Nov 11 TURN IN: Project 4

T Nov 16 WEEK 13 THEME: The local scene READ: online

R Nov 18 Final Presentations

T Nov 23 Final Presentations
T Nov 30 Final Presentations
R Dec. 2 Final Presentations

Course Syllabus Page 2

PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS:

Project 1: Keep a Design Notebook. 1) Collect examples of “good” designs and “bad” designs.
Annotate 5 of the examples, stating the reasons for their inclusion. 2) Visit the “Art Barn” and
create a fictional story about one of the artists. 2) Eavesdrop on a conversation. Write a story
about the characters, their wishes, desires. 3)

Project 2: Choose an artistic example that shows your personal aesthetic. This may be your
own work or a lesser-known and/or controversial work that you believe deserves to be
considered aesthetically important. Write 3 separate pages: 1) pure description, 2)
context/meaning, 3) personal response.

Project 3: Attend --- All My Sons AND at least two of the following: Ana Cervantes (Oct. 28),
OR Jazz Soirree (Oct. 29-30) OR Lori Stephens “Song of the Old Moon” (Oct. 27) OR any
Faculty at Five performance. For each event, write a 1-page paper and choose an essay from
The Twentieth Century Performance Reader to relate to it. Briefly and specifically describe the
event and relate the author’s thoughts on the creative process.

Project 4: Find out everything you can about the projects funded in the last year by the NEA or
the NEH. Select a project in your artistic field and search for other possible sources of funding
through private foundations or other. 2 paragraphs required, one describing the project, one
suggesting funding sources.

Final Project: Form a group of 3-5 students. Create a detailed proposal for an arts project that
you believe could be funded in the nonprofit sector. Prepare a 5-7 minute presentation in which
the project is “pitched”, and the discussion includes the creative aspects, community benefit,
viability and on-going potential for the project. Each team member writes a different paper,
discussing the research for their role in the project, such as 1) Project Coordinator, 2) Design
Coordinator, 3) Theme Coordinator, 4) Presentation Coordinator, 5) Funding Coordinator.

To review university policies and procedures, go to:

http://provost.utdallas.edu/home/syllabus-policies-and-procedures-text

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

Course Syllabus Page 3