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Information and Syllabus

Media Arts Practice II: Live Art - S22


Location: Comm 1251
Time: M W 09:00am-10:50am

Professor: Robert Spahr
Contact: rspahr@siu.edu
Office: Comm 1056B
Office Hours:
M  11:00am-12:00pm & 01:00pm-02:00pm
W  11:00am-12:00pm
R   09:00am-12:00pm
& by appointment

Teaching Assistant: Leah Sutton
Contact: leah.sutton@siu.edu
Office: TBD
Office Hours: TBD

Course Syllabus Location: https://www.robertspahr.com/map2/

Course Information:
CIN 302 Media Arts Practice II
Session: Live Art


Required Text:

* All required readings will be available online. *


Suggested Text:

Goldberg, Roselee. Performance Art: From Futurism to the Present (World of Art)
Thames & Hudson World of Art (November 1, 2011)


Description:

This course exposes students to the history and theory of performance art as an open-ended medium, executed by artists impatient with the limitations of more traditional art, and determined to take their interdisciplinary message directly to the public.

For this course we will define performance simply as live art by artists. We will draw on any number of disciplines and media for material, such as visual art, literature, theater, poetry, music, dance, and installation art as well as video, film, and the Internet. Each student will keep a journal to record his or her thoughts and responses to the semester's work, and use the journal to identify their strengths as artists and areas they may want to explore for future development.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will have used historical texts, theoretical writings, analysis and ensemble work to better understand the history of performance art and the various forms it takes. Students will have further developed their own media art practice by creating individual and group performance pieces.


Objectives:

  • Increase knowledge relevant to the analysis and history of media arts, performance, live art and installation.
  • Develop technical skills for creating and analyzing media arts and interactivity by developing individual and collaborative live art performance.
  • Develop an awareness of the creative process as it applies to media arts practice.

Syllabus:

### Syllabus is subject to change with notice. ###


SESSION ONE - LIVE ART

Jan 10
BODIES IN THE PRESENT MOMENT

Jan 12
FUTURISM and ELON MUSK

Lecture:
Futurism, Dada, & the Bauhaus

Read:
F. T. Marinetti: The Founding and Manifesto of Futurism, 1909

Presentation and Critique:
Exercise One is due.

Workshop:
Stillness, Repetition & Inconsistency

Exercise Two:
Juxtaposition & Simultaniety

Jan 17
MLK Day - University Closure

Jan 19
DADA, DISRUPTION and SHITPOSTING

Jan 24
TRAVESTY / CAMOUFLAGE / INTIMIDATION

Presentation and Critique:
Exercise Three is due.

Workshop:
Travesty / Camouflage / Intimidation
Note: Please bring extra clothes to class, such as shirts, pants, gloves, hats, jackets

Exercise Four:
Time, Clothing & Prosthesis

Jan 26
Directing Actors / Exercise Four in Progress

Resources:
Glengarry Glen Ross (Alec Baldwin)
Script - Alec Baldwin Scene

Jan 31
CRITIQUE

Presentation and Critique:
Exercise Four is due.

Documentation of all Work and Journals are due.



SESSION TWO - LIVE ART

Feb 02
BODIES IN THE PRESENT MOMENT

Feb 07
FUTURISM and ELON MUSK

Read:
F. T. Marinetti: The Founding and Manifesto of Futurism, 1909

Presentation and Critique:
Exercise One is due.

Workshop:
Stillness, Repetition & Inconsistency

Exercise Two:
Juxtaposition & Simultaniety

Feb 09
DADA, DISRUPTION and SHITPOSTING

Feb 14
TRAVESTY / CAMOUFLAGE / INTIMIDATION

Presentation and Critique:
Exercise Three is due.

Workshop:
Travesty / Camouflage / Intimidation
Note: Please bring extra clothes to class, such as shirts, pants, gloves, hats, jackets

Exercise Four:
Time, Clothing & Prosthesis

Feb 16
Directing Actors / Exercise Four in Progress

Resources:
Glengarry Glen Ross (Alec Baldwin)
Script - Alec Baldwin Scene

Feb 21
CRITIQUE

Presentation and Critique:
Exercise Four is due.

Documentation of all Work and Journals are due.



SESSION THREE - LIVE ART


Feb 23
BODIES IN THE PRESENT MOMENT

Feb 28
FUTURISM and ELON MUSK

Read:
F. T. Marinetti: The Founding and Manifesto of Futurism, 1909

Presentation and Critique:
Exercise One is due.

Workshop:
Stillness, Repetition & Inconsistency

Exercise Two:
Juxtaposition & Simultaniety

Mar 02
DADA, DISRUPTION and SHITPOSTING

Mar 05 - Mar 13
Spring Break

Mar 14
TRAVESTY / CAMOUFLAGE / INTIMIDATION

Presentation and Critique:
Exercise Three is due.

Workshop:
Travesty / Camouflage / Intimidation
Note: Please bring extra clothes to class, such as shirts, pants, gloves, hats, jackets

Exercise Four:
Time, Clothing & Prosthesis

Mar 16
Directing Actors / Exercise Four in Progress

Resources:
Glengarry Glen Ross (Alec Baldwin)
Script - Alec Baldwin Scene

Mar 21
CRITIQUE

Presentation and Critique:
Exercise Four is due.

Documentation of all Work and Journals are due.



SESSION FOUR - INDEPENDENT PROJECTS


Mar 23
Independent Project
Exercise: Ways of Working
Worksheet: Initiate Your Project
Worksheet: Step 1 & Step 2 - details

Mar 28
Independent Project

Mar 30
Independent Project

Apr 04
Independent Project

Apr 06
Independent Project

Apr 11
Independent Project

Apr 13
Independent Project

Apr 18
Independent Project

Apr 20
Independent Project

Apr 25
Presentations and Critique of Independent Projects
Independent Project is due.

Apr 27
Presentations and Critique of Independent Projects -- Continued

May 02
University Final - 10:15am-12:15pm


Projects

Live Art Exercises
Students will increase their skills of observation and eye-hand coordination through exercises in contour drawing, value drawing, perspective, rendering, composition and colage. We will use the principles of visual organization and the elements of art: line, value, shape/volume, texture and color, to develop drawing and design skills as well as a mindful awareness of the creative process as it applies to the visual arts and everyday life. Documentation is required for all work.

Journals
Each student will respond to the lectures/readings/discussions, their own performance projects, and any recorded performances we watch in the class. Students should also document their creative process, and artistic development within the journal. Think of the journal as a resource, to contain your present ideas and hints of future directions to explore.

Independent Projects / Exhibit / Portfolio
The entire class will be working together for a longer session during the last 6 weeks of the semester to develop independent projects, portfolios and an exhibit. Our semester will culminate with an exhibition of selected works created in Media Arts Practice I & II.

Evaluation:

The work in this course requires motivation, exploration, risk-taking, and most importantly, an openness to new ideas. The grading policy of this class is meant to encourage you to explore new ideas and take chances. Do not think in terms of "What must I do to receive an A grade", but think in terms of what you would like to learn.

Attendance: Attendance to all classes is expected. You are allowed up to ONE unexcused absences. Unexcused absence beyond this threshold may result in failing this course.

Assignments: All assignments and projects are due at the beginning of class. Late projects will not be accepted.

Critique: Students will work closely with each other to develop their projects. This includes learning to speak clearly expressing oneself when respectfully discussing their own and others artwork.

Grading:

A 95-100,   A- 92-95
Outstanding work.
Solution shows excellent depth of understanding and innovation. The solution has been fully developed in form and concept.

B+ 88-91,   B 85-87,   B- 82-84
Good work.
Solution exceeds all requirements and shows above average depth of understanding. Demonstrates more than adequate clarity of idea and execution.

C+ 78-81,   C 75-77,   C- 72-74
Average work.
Problem has been solved adequately, but the solution lacks depth of understanding, development and innovation.

D+ 68-71,   D 65-67,   D- 62-64
Poor work.
Solution is extremely weak and lacks understanding and innovation. Technical skills are weak.

F 61 or less
Unacceptable work.
Solution to the problem is unresolved and incomplete resulting in a failing grade.


Each Project will be graded on artistic, creative and intellectual merit.

Grades will be based on the following:

  • 20% Originality of concept
  • 20% Delivery (execution of the concept)
  • 20% Documentation / Process
  • 20% Craft
  • 20% Critique & participation

Your final grade for the Live Art Session will be determined by the following:

  • 10% Discussions / Participation
  • 10% Journal
  • 80% Exercises

Your final grade for the MAP II course will be determined by the following:

  • 15% Session 1 (Rob)
  • 15% Session 2 (HD)
  • 15% Session 3 (Jay)
  • 55% Independent Project / Exhibit / Portfolio


COVID-19

Masks are required on the SIUC campus and in our classrooms. We will follow the mandated guidelines established by the university. Should the conditions change and we need to work remotely, I will work on transitioning our class to a hybrid online format. Further information on the SIU policy on COVID-19: https://siu.edu/coronavirus/



SIU Syllabus Attachment

SIU Syllabus Attachment - Spring '22 - PDF