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Reviewing the Arts
Spring, 2006 ENG 2816 / Thursday: 5:30 – 9:20 p.m. / (Room 304, Congress building)
Instructor: Kristin Scott, MFA, A.M.
Department of English, Columbia College Chicago |
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Course Description |
This is a course in applied critical writing about arts and culture, with an emphasis on “re-viewing”: first, in the traditional sense of reviewing the arts through written accounts and second, in the contextual sense of re -viewing the arts in an attempt to illuminate the way in which art both informs and reflects society and culture. Students will combine both theory and practice of re-viewing and writing about arts and culture through weekly readings, in-class writing workshops, active discussion, and take-home writing assignments. By examining and discussing important issues, controversies, and theories around how we view and re-view arts and culture, students will apply what they learn to their written reviews of various art forms.
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Prerequisites |
English Composition II / * An unbridled passion and enthusiasm for the arts and the firm conviction that art matters and must be discussed.
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Course Rationale |
This course is for students who want to express themselves more cogently about the works of art they love – and those they don't. Regardless of a student's chosen major/concentration, criticism plays a significant role in both the production and reception of all art. In addition to introducing students to critical discourse in a variety of fields, this course helps students to creatively and effectively apply the forms, critical skills, and cultural contexts of criticism to their area of interest.
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Goals and Objectives |
The overall goal of this course is to give students the critical and creative tools with which to examine, discuss, and understand the art of others, and be prepared to apply what they learn to their own creative vision and expression. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Select and analyze evidence, utilize effective and imaginative descriptive language, further develop their personal style of writing, and construct interpretive and evaluative arguments of increasing quality.
• Write and think critically about the interdisciplinary nature of the production and reception of art.
• Demonstrate how formal and aesthetic qualities of art produce meaning.
• Understand the ways in which cultural artifacts shape, and are shaped, by their historical and cultural context. |
Format |
The class has a lecture/discussion/workshop format. Class readings include selected essays from the texts, handouts, and texts that will be available online to print and read. Each class will involve: 1) discussion of assigned reading and 2) critique and discussion of student response assignments made by the instructor. We will also be viewing videos excerpts and making a few field trips (TBD) to art exhibits, performing arts events, or readings.
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Weekly Response Assignments |
You will compose weekly 2-3 page typed responses based on guided assignments from the instructor. All assignments must be typed and double-spaced, with standard margins. As assigned, these responses will vary and may take the following forms: summary responses, elaboration and continuation of in-class writing exercises, journal entries, creative writing pieces, and focused essay. You must bring your weekly response assignments to class with you each week, as assigned; if late, they will not be accepted.
If, for some reason, you must miss class that day, you may e-mail your response assignment to me by the beginning of class time the day it is due. These weekly responses will give you many opportunities to reflect upon the reading, help you further develop your own insights about aesthetics and culture, and hone your critical thinking and (creative) writing skills. These weekly response assignments will cumulatively count as 25% of your final grade. Not turning them in will quickly lower your entire final grade (you may think that not turning in a few here and there won't hurt your overall grade, but believe me, it can have a HUGE impact on your final grade).
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Oral Presentation of Reviews or Art/Media |
At the beginning of the semester, you will each choose one week in which to do an oral presentation of a review or example of art or media that you have chosen, focusing on how it reflects, informs, or contradicts what we are discussing the week you are presenting (in other words, it must somehow relate to the “theme” that week and the assigned readings). You may choose any review or example of art/media of any length, and in 8-10 minutes, you will discuss its relevance to our topic for that week. You will be a sort of mini-teacher during that time period, and you will have full use of the computer, DVD player, screen – whatever you need to make your oral presentation. I will go over this process in more depth prior to the beginning of oral presentations. The oral presentation will count as 15% of your total grade.
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Written Reviews |
You will write two major reviews of approximately 6-8 pages. Reviews must be typed and double-spaced, with standard margins. Each review will count as 25% of your total grade. If you do not hand in EACH of these two reviews, you will not pass the course. I will accept late final papers, but a full letter grade (without plus and minus's) will be taken off for EVERY DAY (not every class day) it is late. Letter grades on your papers will be based on the following: originality; creativity; some utilization of concepts learned in class; a critical and interpretive approach to the subject; development of a personal style of writing; construction of argument; and overall clarity. I will go over all of this in more detail before your first review assignment. As you generate strategies for writing and revision this semester, keep in mind that I look for papers that demonstrate your own thoughts, not what you think I might want to read.
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Peer Reviews |
Part of what will enhance your writing experience the most, as well as that of your peers, is feedback from one another. To that end, in order to get more thorough and thoughtful feedback from your peers, you will also be required to take home two to three (2-3) peer review drafts (of each of the two major review papers) during each draft cycle, respond to draft questionnaires for each of the drafts you bring home, and give a thorough feedback to your peers ' drafts. In turn, your draft review (for each major review) will also be reviewed by 2-3 of your peers in the same fashion.
After returning the draft questionnaire responses, you will then break up into small groups and give oral feedback, summarizing what you wrote, but also further elaborating upon your thoughts (which will then give your peers an opportunity to get additional feedback, ask questions, and clarification on your feedback). My past students have found this form of feedback to be extremely helpful. Additionally, they found that they learned a lot about how their peers approached their reviews, which helped them learn more about what was and what wasn't working in their own drafts, gave them additional ideas about how to approach their subjects, and further assisted their interpretive and analytical skills.
These peer reviews will cumulatively count as 10% of your final grade (5% for each draft cycle). Beyond the fact that you are receiving a grade for each of these peer reviews, please be cognizant of the fact that your peers are also giving YOU feedback on your drafts; so not turning in these peer reviews is not only hurting your grade, it is doing a disservice to your fellow students who are giving you feedback and relying on yours. When the time comes, I will give more detailed information on what is required for peer reviews.
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Publishing and Soliciting Review Assignments |
As is stated in the course description provided when registering for this class, students will “try to produce writing of publishable quality.” To that end, and to give practical experience in submitting and soliciting reviews for publication, students will be strongly encouraged to submit one of their reviews written for class (in consultation with the instructor) to local publications in an effort to publish and/or solicit review assignments. If a student is offered a review assignment during the course of the class, it may count as one of your assigned reviews (however, regardless of publication due date, a copy of the review must be given to the instructor by the due date in the syllabus).
** If you submit at least one review (of any length) to a publication, it will count as extra credit. Students must see the instructor if they want to pursue this extra credit option.
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Writing Center |
The Writing Center is for ALL students at ALL levels of writing. The type of consultation the center offers is simply a standard part of the successful writing process. You can use the center by making an appointment over the phone or drop in on the hour. You may also elect to sign up for a weekly hour-long session, at a time of your choosing to meet with the same consultant. Each consultant has a background in most of the majors offered at Columbia. Using the Writing Center will undoubtedly raise the level of success you achieve in any class that requires writing (of any kind). Columbia is home to one of the largest and most successful writing centers in the country, and I strongly urge you to take advantage of it. As an incentive, for each time you make an appointment with a writing center consultant for this class, you will receive extra credit. You must, however, document your consultation/s by having the center consultant write their name (legibly), sign, and date the draft that you had the consultant review and show it to me.
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Attendance and Lateness |
The English Department's policy on attendance states: “More than two absences in a class that meets once a week . . . will affect your grade and can result in failure.” You are permitted two (2) absences. I will lower the final grade of any student who is absent from more than 2 classes or who is consistently late.
Please also note: You can be charged with a half-absence if you miss more than 15 minutes of any one class session. In accordance with English Department policy (above), any student who violates this policy risks failing the class.
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Policy Regarding Assignment Submissions |
To receive full credit, all assignments must be presented in hard copy at the beginning of class on the day they are due. Electronic assignments will only be accepted in the event of an unexpected absence. Late responses will not be accepted.
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