Participation: Workshops

Participation points for this class are earned primarily through workshops that require class attendance and hands-on performance or independent research. These workshops are designed to enhance the slide lectures and discussion and to demonstrate important principles; missing classes, therefore, severely limits your ability to get the most out of the course. In addition, significant questions on exams will be drawn from material derived from these workshops.

These assignments are worth up to 5 points each. Perfect attendance earns an additional 5 participation points.

Week 2: Photography Before Color

We're so used to color photography these days that black and white images seem to be an acquired taste. But several early photographic techniques offer interesting perspectives on the development of photography as an art form.

In class I will construct a still life inspired by an existing work, or an arrangement typical of those created by early photographers. Students will then take a color photograph of the grouping and, using whatever photo-manipulation software you have available, create an image of the still life that resembles as closely as possible an early phographic form.

Save your images on a flash drive to be loaded onto the classroom computer for discussion week 3 (the discussion might occur later in the quarter if there isn't enough class time week 3). Be prepared to explain to the class what you were trying to accomplish, and how you created your image.

The general question we will address concerns the qualitative difference between the color and "retro" images.

Students who lack image manipulation skills may team up with a more experienced member; teammates will earn the same number of points. No fancy photographic equipment is necessary; a camera phone will work just fine for this assignment. Several apps for smart phones (such as Old Photo Pro) make this a relatively easy assignment, but feel free to exploit your image manipulation skills to the hilt.

Summary of steps:

1. Using any digital camera, photograph the arrangment built in class, which has been selected for compositional interest (line, color, form, texture, scale, light, shadow, etc.).

2. Use a cell phone application or an image manipulation program to transform the color image into one that resembles a daguerreotype, cyanotype, or other early photographic technique. More points will be earned for actual manipulation of the image, but composition and your explanation for what you tried to do count more than technique.

3. Save both images, labeled with your last name and first initial, onto a device that can be loaded onto the classroom computer week three. We will discuss the results at the beginning of class week 6.

Week 7: Synthetic Cubism: Collage and Papier Collé

This is a take-home workshop; some materials will be provided. After viewing the film about Picasso and Braque, and discussing the differences between analytical and synthetic Cubism, we will experiment with the practice of synthetic Cubism as described in the video. Use the photo you took for the Photography Before Color workshop as the model for a Cubist still-life collage, using appropriate materials.

Before completing the assignment, and preferably before coming to class week 7, read Clement Greenberg's essay, Collage. Another helpful article called Synthetic Cubism: History, Characteristics of Cubist Painting, Collage, Papier Colles.

Please note that the term collage does not refer (in the sense we're using in class) to the rather precious multi-media pieces produced in popular craft magazines, nor does a collage consist of bits of crap randomly strewn about a page. A collage is also not simply a cut-up image re-configured on the page. The purpose of this exercise is to help you learn to distinguish between analytical and synthetic Cubism--concepts my students are finding it increasingly difficult to understand.

Once again, a successful product will exhibit evidence of careful thinking and reading and your ability to interpret information presented in the lecture and the video. Be able to explain what you have created to your classmates, providing reasons for why your work looks the way it does and what you were trying to accomplish.

The Kelley Library also has books on the subject; don't forget to check there if you need help.

A workshop procedure guide will be available in class.

Week 7: Project Development and Research

Part of the class will be conducted in the Library, time permitting, and is devoted to conducting research toward the completion of your final project.

The workshop is worth five points, which will be earned by attending the lecture, visiting the library, and by submitting a properly formatted, annotated bibliography with your final project. Before leaving class, please be sure to consult with me about your final project selection and concept.

Note: further workshops have been abandoned to allow for appropriate assesment value on the Formal Analysis Essay assignment.

home l schedule
11.12.11