MCCCD Program Description

Introduction to Art

Course: ARH100

First Term: 2003 Fall

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S

Description: Understanding and enjoyment of art through study of painting, sculpture, architecture design, photography, and decorative arts. Emphasis on contemporary topics and cultural diversity in the arts

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Define and use art historical terminology. (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) 2. Identify key works by various painters, sculptors, architects, photographers, designers, and ceramists. (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) 3. Critically compare and contrast various works of art from the United States and other parts of the world, identifying contemporary topics created by culturally diverse artists representing women and other minorities. (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX) 4. Identify various visual elements, and explain how one uses these to analyze and evaluate works of art from many cultures. (III) 5. Describe various techniques and materials used in creating sculpture, paintings, and architecture in the United States and around the world. (III, IV, V) 6. Identify stylistic characteristics of various historical periods from the United States and other parts of the world. (VI) 7. Identify and analyze culturally diverse works of art to develop familiarity with the variety and interdependence of art created by minorities. (VI, VII) 8. Analyze a variety of works of art that are challenging and controversial, reflecting themes of interest in contemporary U.S. society. (VI, VII) 9. Identify and analyze works of art by women photographers, women sculptors, women painters, and women designers to address issues of discrimination, commissions, education, commercial exposure, and thematic choices. (VI, VII) 10. Identify and analyze works of art by African-American artists, Latino-American artists, Asian-American artists, and Native American artists to describe issues of discrimination, commissions, education, commercial exposure, and thematic choices. (VII)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. The Nature of Art A. What is art? B. Is art a necessity? C. Purposes and functions of art 1. Communicating information 2. Art for day-to-day living 3. Art for spiritual sustenance 4. Art for personal and cultural expression 5. Art for social and political purposes II. Awareness, Creativity and Communication A. Visual thinking B. Perception and awareness C. Aesthetics, art, and beauty D. Creativity E. Untrained and folk artists F. Art and appearances G. Visual communication III. Language of Visual Experience A. Visual elements 1. Line 2. Shape 3. Light 4. Texture 5. Mass 6. Space 7. Time and motion 8. Color B. Principles of design 1. Unity and variety 2. Balance 3. Emphasis and subordination 4. Directional forces 5. Contrast 6. Repetition and rhythm 7. Scale and proportion 8. Design summary C. Style 1. Cultural style 2. Period style 3. Regional style 4. Group style 5. Personal style D. Evaluation E. Criticism IV. Two-Dimensional Arts A. Drawing B. Painting C. Printmaking D. Photography E. Graphic design and illustration V. Three-Dimensional Arts A. Sculpture 1. Freestanding and relief sculpture 2. Methods and materials 3. Kinetic sculpture 4. Mixed media 5. Installations and site-specific sculpture B. Glass, metal, wood, fiber C. Architecture and environment design VI. Arts as Cultural Heritage A. Various categories of artists discussed in lectures 1. Painters 2. Sculptors 3. Architects 4. Photographers 5. Printmakers 6. Folk art / Outsider art 7. Artists working with glass, fiber, clay B. Examples of Native American art 1. Historical examples 2. Emphasis on 20th & 21st century Native American art C. Examples of women artists 1. Historical examples 2. Emphasis on American women of the 20th & 21st centuries D. Examples of Latino artists 1. Historical examples 2. Emphasis on Latino-American 20th & 21st century art E. Examples of Asian artists 1. Historical examples 2. Emphasis on Asian-American 20th & 21st century art F. Examples of African and African-American art 1. Historical examples 2. Emphasis on 20th and 21st century African-American art G. Artists of other cultures/heritages living or working in the United States H. Examples of Western art with an emphasis on the 20th and 21st centuries VII. Art Historical Topics A. Chronological survey of art B. American art themes C. Public art and site-specific art D. Feminism E. Censorship

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 3/25/2003

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.