FSEM 100 KK BANNED AND DANGEROUS ART FALL 2007
Instructor: Prof. Nina Mikhalevsky
Office: GW 303
Phone: (540) 654-1241
Email: nmik (at) umw.edu
Office Hrs: Monday, 3-4:30; Friday 2-3:30 and by appointment.
Course Description:
Can a work of art be dangerous? Why do we ban some art? How can works of art be politically subversive? Socially destabilizing? Ethically undermining? Scandalizing?
This course will consider these and other philosophical questions about art, particularly art that has been judged dangerous, or has been censored or banned. We will engage in a study of aesthetic theory and its relationship to social, ethical, religious, and other values that prevail when works of art come to be considered threatening. The works of art we will examine and discuss range across periods, genres, and cultures, and include works from Classical Greece, 10th century Islamic Art, Renaissance Italy, 20th century Russia, Africa, and contemporary American art, and include works by writers, painters, musicians, dancers, playwrights, and film makers. We will read some fundamental works on aesthetic theory, including texts by Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Foucault, and others. We will consider what artists themselves say about their art. We will also look at current government and other public policy documents that seek to define and regulate works of art. The goal of this course is that each of you learn to develop and argue for your own views in the context of our study, discussion, and evaluation of major theories and specific works of art.
Required Text:
Aesthetics, edited by Susan Feagin and Patrick Maynard (Oxford University Press)
Additional readings posted on the course website and available on line.
Course website and blog:
The course website is http://bannedart.umwblogs.org/ Please check the website frequently as this will be one of our primary environments for out of class communications, sharing documents and other materials, posting assignments, etc. In addition to using our website, each of you will create your own blog (we will show you how). You will use and maintain your blog in any way that you choose and as much or as little as you like–it is yours to do whatever you want. But as you engage in this course, I do ask that you occasionally post some thoughts about banned or dangerous art or share works of art that you find compelling or interesting and use your blog to connect to the discussions we are having in the course. You will also use the course website to comment on works of art, respond to questions, and post your own materials and ideas.
There will be one class period (September 4) devoted to using both the course website and developing your blogs and throughout the semester the staff in the Division of Teaching and Learning Technologies (DTLT) are available to assist you at anytime. For help using either the course website or with your own blog, call or email Jim Groom in DTLT, 654-1997, email jgroom (at) umw.edu.
Course Requirements:
Short Papers: Three short papers (3 pages) on banned or censored works of art—one on a piece of visual art, one on a piece of music, and one on a work of literature, performing art, or film. For each paper you will provide a brief description of the work, where, when, and by whom the work was banned/censored, and a concise reconstruction, analysis, and evaluation of the argument that was used to justify the action. At least one of your short papers must be peer reviewed. Short papers due as follows: Visual Art, September 27; Music, October 23; Literature, performing art, or film, November 20.
Final Paper: A final research paper (10-12 pages) on a work of art that was banned or censored in Fredericksburg, Virginia—or the Commonwealth as a whole—or Washington, DC., or in your home state or country. Your paper will analyze the arguments used to ban or censor and provide an evaluation for those arguments, drawing from your own theory about the nature and value of art. See Paper Guidelines on the course website for details. The required first draft of this paper is due November 8; final paper due 12 noon, Friday December 7.
Peer review and additional readers: You are encouraged to seek peer review and additional readers for all your writing assignments but you must have a peer review for at least one short paper. In addition, every student is required to do at least one peer review as part of your course participation grade. You are also encouraged to use the course blog to post ideas, sketch out arguments, and seek comments that might guide you as you draft your papers.
See the course website for peer review and all paper guidelines.
If you need additional help with properly citing sources, please do not hesitate to ask me. Information is also available on the Simpson Library website here.
Exams:
Midterm Exam, October 11
Final Exam, Thursday, December 13, 12 noon-2:30
All exams will be essay exams
Grade for the Course:
Three short papers: 10% each
Final Paper: 20%
Midterm Exam: 20%
Final Exam: 20%
Course participation (includes peer review, course discussions, etc.): 10%
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