CCA Interdisciplinary Critique class

INTERDISCIPLINARY CRITIQUE
FALL 2006

Instructors: Tammy Rae Carland and Stephanie Syjuco
Wednesdays 4:00-7:00pm

in·ter·dis·ci·pli·nar·y <adj>
1. involving two or more academic subjects or fields of study

cri·tique <noun>
1. a written or broadcast assessment of something, usually a creative work, with comments on its good and bad qualities – also called criticism
2. criticism – to discuss or comment on something, for example, an artist’s work or a political policy, giving an assessment of its good and bad features

Objectives

• To acquire critical interdisciplinary skills in terms of art discourse
• To conceptualize and analyze ones studio practice
• To develop strategies for the critique process and learn how to practice them
• To learn how to situate your practice as an artist into a larger frame of cultural production
• To develop professional strategies
• To collectively create a learning environment that is generous, mature and inspiring

Expectations

• Attendance is mandatory for all classes. Unexcused absences and/or repeated absences will result in the lowering of your final grade. You are required to always show up on time for the beginning of class and to stay for the duration. Habitual tardiness and/or early dismissals will affect your grade.
• Participation is a key component to the success of this class. Students who are curious, prepared, open and respectful of the class will do well. Students who do not take themselves or their work seriously and who behave in an irrespective manner will do poorly.
• Grades are based on the following: attendance, on time and successful completion of all work and class participation.

Class Structure
The class is primarily structured around presentation and critique. All bold entries indicate when you must present finished work for critique (this may be your senior show or another show but doesn’t have to be). In addition, you have been assigned a second slot during the semester. What you present for critique during this second slot is entirely up to you; it could be work in progress, show ideas or proposals, an artist statement, more finished work, a set of documentation, a grad school application, etc. You are required to tell us in advance what you will be presenting, so that we can plan accordingly.

9/6 Introductions and overview of Presentation Assignment

9/13 Presentation Assignment (3 Kinds of Wonderful)

9/20 Presentation Assignment (3 Kinds of Wonderful)

Presentation Assignment

3 Kinds of Wonderful

1. Bring in documentation of two specific art works that when you saw them you said, “God damn, that’s incredible” or “That blows my mind”, or some similar statement of awe and inspiration. These could be works you’ve seen in person or just in reproduction. Each work should be by a different artist, even if you love this artist don’t show us all their work, just one piece. When presenting these works be extremely detailed about what makes it so powerful to you.
2. Bring in one non-art element from your life or the world that also blows your mind, for whatever reason. This can be literally anything -a coffee mug, a TV show, a family photo, a book or sentence, a piece of music, a friend, etc.- just as long as it is pivotal or inspirational to you. Be prepared to talk about it.
3. Bring in 3 slides (or brief video segments) of your work. Be prepared to orally present this work in detail. Also be prepared to situate your work in relationship to #1 and #2.