Objectives:
This course is designed to introduce you to the type of intensive investigation and experimentation necessary to define and execute a serious body of work. You will be expected to commit, refine and evolve your work during the semester through intensive studio practice and bi-weekly critiques. At the completion of the course you will be expected to have a cohesive, exhibition ready, body of work.
At the successful completion of this course students should demonstrate growth in the following DOVA Learning Outcomes:
Possess a basic knowledge of visual culture.
Demonstrate advanced abilities in generating innovative solutions to traditional and non-traditional problems in visual media.
Be able to demonstrate basic competencies in photography, and digital visual media and possess the knowledge and skills to be successful in their area of emphasis.
Possess skills in oral and written communication as they pertain to the visual arts.
Be able to think critically. Students should be able not only to analyze a work of art using traditional methods, but should also be able to develop thoughtful new interpretations.
Be able to effectively do research using contemporary and traditional methods.
Be able to express their personal thoughts, ideas, or emotions through visual media.
Assignments:
The course and it's assignments are designed to allow you the opportunity to gain a greater knowledge of photography and the type of intensive investigation and experimentation necessary to execute a serious body of work. You are expected to fulfill the course requirements in the most creative and exciting way you possible can. You are responsible for all assignments missed due to absences. Late assignments will not be accepted for full credit.
Critiques:
Throughout the semester you will have bi-weekly critiques of your work. These critiques should evidence your commitment to your art making process- they should demonstrate that you are shooting enough, spending enough time printing, doing appropriate research, spending time thinking about your work, and earnestly trying to better yourself as an artist. You are expected to have prints for every one of your assigned critiques. In addition to prints, you are expected to bring contact sheets to each critique.
Submitting to Exhibitions:
During the duration of the class you are to submit to a minimum of three exhibitions (you do not have to be accepted into the exhibition). Keep all the appropriate documentation to prove you have fulfilled this requirement.
Medium Format Assignment:
At some point during the semester you are expected to shoot (for your project) with a medium format film camera. Whether you shoot in color or black/white will depend on your project. In addition to shooting you are expected to process (or have processed), and make at least one print.
Readings:
You will be assigned a number of readings during the semester. You are expected to complete the readings as well as a response sheet for each of them (I will provide you with this sheet). We will also have class discussions on the readings that you are expected to participate in.
Journal:
You are required to keep an art journal for this course in which you will record information, thoughts, ideas, contacts, notes, etc. that are relevant to your project.
Final Projects:
The final project is the culmination of your semesters works. It will be a final edit of exhibition quality prints that best portrays your artistic investigation done throughout the semester.
Attendance:
Attendance is very important to you success in this class; therefore, you are allowed 2 absence and 2 latenesses. Your final grade will be dropped a ½ grade per absence above the allotted 1. A lateness is treated like half an absence. Four absences will result in the grade of E/F.
It is the responsibility of anyone who misses a class to find out what was covered, whether or not he or she has a legitimate reason/excuse to be absent.
Absences due to religious observances are justified; please notify me of this occurrence. Anyone with special requirements for successful course completion should notify me as soon as possible so accommodations may be made.
Criteria For Evaluation:
The Production of Artistic Works Will be Evaluated on the Following:
– Prompt completion of project assignments.
– Depth, clarity, creativity and thoroughness of exploration for project possibilities.
– Technical competency.
– Participation in class discussions, lectures, demonstrations, lab sessions and critiques.
– Evidence of rigorous studio practice
Written and Reading Assignments Will be Evaluated on the Following:
– Evidence materials have been read (highlighted, notes in margins, response sheet filled out)
– Thoughts, Opinions, Views on the material (evidenced in the response sheet, journal, and class discussions)
– Comprehension of materials (evidenced in the response sheet)
Grading:
5% - Medium Format Shooting Assignment
5% - Exhibition Assignment
10% - Reading Responses
10% - Journal Notes
10% - Participation
30% - Semester Critiques
30% - Final Project
Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students of Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.
Other:
Disability Accommodation: Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students of Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.
PPM 3-34 notes: “When students seek accommodation in a regularly scheduled course, they have the responsibility to make such requests at the Center for Students with Disabilities before the beginning of the quarter [semester] in which the accommodation is being requested. When a student fails to make such arrangements, interim accommodations can be made by the instructor, pending the determination of the request for a permanent accommodation.”
Academic Dishonesty: As specified in PPM 6-22 IV D, cheating and plagiarism violate the Student Code. Plagiarism is “the unacknowledged (uncited) use of any other person’s or group’s ideas or work.” Students found guilty of cheating or plagiarism are subject to failure of a specific assignment, or, in more serious cases, failure of the entire course.
Emergency Closure: In the event of an extended campus closure I will continue to provide instruction and interaction via email. My email address is joshuawinegar [at] weber.edu; you can expect an email message from me on Monday and Wednesday of each week during the closure. The message may contain a file attachment that will provide a lecture substitute, directions for any assignments and readings, and any other relevant information. You are to complete the assignment by the given due date and submit it as an attachment to an email message back to me. Class critiques will most likely be postponed until students are able to return to campus.
It is imperative that you provide an email address linked to an email account that you plan to access on a regular basis and which has adequate storage capacity for transmitting documents. I will collect your email address and verify its availability during the first week of class. Please let me know by the end of the first week of the semester if you do not have access to a computer and/or the Internet from your home.
Core Beliefs: According to PPM 6-22 IV, students are to “[d]etermine, before the last day to drop courses without penalty, when course requirements conflict with a student's core beliefs. If there is such a conflict, the student should consider dropping the class. A student who finds this solution impracticable may request a resolution from the instructor. This policy does not oblige the instructor to grant the request, except in those cases when a denial would be arbitrary and capricious or illegal. This request must be made to the instructor in writing and the student must deliver a copy of the request to the office of the department head. The student's request must articulate the burden the requirement would place on the student's beliefs.”