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SYLLABUS: Advanced Issues in Art Criticism
"Advanced Issues in Art Criticism" will incorporate and expand upon those concerns of earlier TRaC seminars. Students will be expected to work and write at an advanced level, incorporating aesthetic appraisal, comparative study, and ethical/political concerns into their criticism, when applicable. Specifically, the class will engage with issues including (but not limited to): collaboration, irony, curatorial nuance, identity politics, and the artist-as-critic. We will look at art across several disciplines and then respond in various critical traditions. Students will be encouraged to contribute to the field of art criticism by honing their own voice/style and pushing the genre's limits. After a rigorous investigation of the rules of art criticism, we will artfully break them.
JAN 14: Week One: Finding Voice and Purpose
- Introductions
- Discussion of criticism and its potential/pitfalls
- What does it mean to be a good critic?
- Goals
- Personality in writing. Discuss.
- In-class writing exercises with music/words
- Edward Said interview
- Listening/Writing exercise
- Discuss Heidi Julavits's argument
- Explanation of "name notebooks"/art literacy
- Discussion of homework and course
In Class Readings
- Heidi Julavits's essay in The Believer, plus discussion of "snarkwatch" project/excerpts [read from in class]
- Dale Peck's book review [read from in class]
- Interview with Edward Said [read from in class]
Homework for Week One
- Read "Air Guitar", Dave Hickey
- Read/Critique Brooklyn Rail
- Begin notebooks of names [explain in-class]
JAN 21, Week Two: Mona Hatoum/Artist as Curator/Artist-as-Critic
Meeting at 1 East 53rd, 3rd floor
- Discuss readings
- Discuss plans for Mona Hatoum
- How to approach a multi-artist show.
- Guest: Phong Bui on artist-as-curator-and-critic/Brooklyn Rail
- Discuss secondary resources for reviews
Jan 23, Mona Hatoum Show at MOMA Qns
Homework for Week Two
- articles on Mona Hatoum (interview)
- Continue notebook of names as you read
- **Write review of Mona Hatoum Show
JAN 28, Week Three: Identity Politics and Bill T Jones
- Discuss process of writing review/response to show
- Looking at dance
- Introduction to readings and "Victim Art"
- Dance Guest TBA
Homework for Week Three
- read Arlene Croce's review "Discussing the Undiscussable"
- critical response to Arlene Croce's review
- articles on Bill T Jones
FEB 4, Week Four: Writing Workshop
- Return/Workshop Mona Hatoum reviews
- Discuss Arlene Croce/Bill T Jones controversy
- Bring in photographs/text of BTJ
February 5, Bill T Jones , Brooklyn Academy of Music
Homework for Week Four
- **Write review of Bill T Jones performance
- Read review handouts
FEB 11, Week Five: Revision
- Discuss Revision, plus new challenge
- Discuss revision options (BTJ) e-mail feedback
Homework for Week Five
- ** Revise Mona Hatoum/BTJ reviews (prepare for other options/research)
FEB 18: NO CLASS
FEB 25, Week Six: Writing Workshop
- Hand in revisions of Mona Hatoum show
- Workshop/Discuss Bill T Jones reviews reviews
- Discuss homework
Homework for Week Six
- Reviews by Geoffrey O'Brien
- Reviews by Margo Jefferson
- Compile list of 10 web-sites for reviews/art crit. Summarize content/grade web-site. Will compile class list for purpose of student submissions.
- Theatre critic TBA
- Interviews with Ballad of Round Eyes director Krista Smith and playwright Stacey Engels
February 25, The Ballad of Round Eyes, Visible Theatre, Inc.
NB: class will be extended by 30-45 minutes for these interviews. High 5 will provide a pizza dinner prior to the start of the play at 8 pm. The TRaC team will travel together to the theatre. A post-performance discussion can also be arranged with the cast. Please discuss your availability with Suzanne.
MAR 3, Week Seven: "Appreciations"
- Workshop/Discuss Mona Hatoum revisions
- Turn in web-site/publication list
- Discussion of writing "appreciations"/biographical criticism
- Author/Critic Geoffrey O'Brien
Homework for Week Seven:
- Ellen Willis on "Janis Joplin"
- Otis Ferguson, "The Spirit of Jazz," [on writing appreciations (timely)]
- Additional (optional readings)
EVENT 4 Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ
MAR 10, Week Eight [LAST CLASS]
- Discuss impressions of The Passion
- Evaluations
- Discussion of publishing
- Hand out web-site/print list [resource guide]
- Party
Homework for Week Eight:
- Keep Writing!
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