Course Syllabus
Course: ART 2510
Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New MediaDepartment: Visual Art
Title: Portraits and Selfies
Semester Approved: Spring 2022
Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2026
End Semester: Fall 2027
Catalog Description: This photography course teaches students traditional and explorative methods in portraiture and self-portraiture. Students will explore the nature and meaning of photographic representation and the role portraiture plays in personal and cultural identity. Topics include traditional and explorative methods in photography, camera operation, camera format, image editing, natural and artificial lighting, exhibition presentation, historical and contemporary perspectives, and conceptual approaches used in making compelling portraits. A program fee is required.
Semesters Offered: Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 3
Prerequisites: none
Corequisites: none
Justification: Portraiture is one of the fundamental genres of photography and serves as a key indicator of personal and cultural identity. This course will prepare students to transfer after completing their degree and will also aid them to work in the commercial portrait industry. A large majority of working photographers support themselves financially with portrait photography, it is considered the "bread and butter" of the photographic industry. This course is offered in visual arts programs around the country in similar formats.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Material Proficiency: Demonstrate a proficiency in materials and techniques Students will be exposed to an array of material techniques and processes applicable to the course, including digital media. This proficiency in material and media, in addition to the application of the creative process, will be used as the catalyst to solve visual problems. Each student is required to maintain a portfolio and produce a final work serving as a culmination of techniques and concepts learned. Portfolios will be reviewed periodically during the semester to provide feedback for improvement.
Principles of Concept: Demonstrate an integration of conceptual principles Students will be taught to discern between material, formal and conceptual principles. Material and formal understanding of creative practice will be emphasized to solve conceptual issues. Each student is required to maintain a portfolio and produce a final work serving as a culmination of techniques and concepts learned. This will include class projects, instructor feedback and peer critique. Portfolios will be reviewed periodically throughout the semester to provide feedback for improvement and assess progress. The final signature assignment will include a synthesized understanding of form and content both in the final visual presentation and in a critical written response to these outcomes.
Historical Context: Demonstrate a fluency in historical content and context Students will study significant historical works with particular attention to the context of when it was created. This knowledge will assist in informing their formal creative sensibilities. Artistic influence and imitation is a standard part of the creative development of art students and will be evidenced in their final portfolio of creative work.
Critical Theory: Demonstrate the ability to critically analyze a work of art Students will learn the process of critical analysis as it applies to creative process and risk taking. Utilizing the visual vocabulary, knowledge of material processes, concepts and historical context, students will learn to articulate aesthetic qualities, examine effective visual communication, and determine conceptual merit. Students will analyze both historical and contemporary work through short oral and written critiques which will be reviewed by the instructor.
Creative Process: Demonstrate the application of the creative process This course teaches strategies for cultivating creativity, visual problem-solving, and developing critical thinking skills. Through applied studio projects students will engage the design process into their own practice. This will include the process of thinking about the design parameters, looking at what others have created prior, and doing, applying what they have learned. This course will culminate with the final project where, in addition to the photographic prints and book, students will critically write and speak about their unique creative process and receive feedback in the critique process.
Content:
This course will include:
• Photographing on location, illustrated lectures and discussions on various facets of photography including the dynamics of formal aesthetics, camera operation, light, image editing, exhibition presentation, historical and contemporary movements, contemporary photographers, theory, and criticism.
• Applied application of photography methods and techniques in the studio and in the field.
• Individual and group critiques, designed to promote constructive analysis of each student's own work, the work of their peers, and historical and contemporary works of art.
• Written critical evaluations analyzing contemporary works of art and a formal project statement designed to assist in each student’s ability to articulate their own creative process.
• The compilation of a series of images presented in a final portfolio.
• The artistic genres and movements covered in this course will be representative of a ranging variety in gender, nationality, language, perspective, etc. Where disparities exist in these genres, major figures, and movements, questions or issues of representation will be addressed in class discussions and/or assignments. Discussion of representation and diversity are highlighted as significant aspects of photography as they relate to access, voice, and audience.
Key Performance Indicators:
Each student will be evaluated upon the completion, artistic merit, conceptual application, innovation, and level of craftsmanship of each creative project. Written exams and quizzes will assess each student’s understanding of formal elements and principles including material proficiency, principles of concept, historical context, critical theory, and the creative process. The final portfolio will be assessed through critique and instructor feedback. A final assessment module will prompt a written response to each of these areas as they pertain to their final studio project. Through attendance at and participation in various opportunities for lecture, demonstration, research and critical analysis, students will gain an informed ability to critique, ultimately enhancing their own work and the work of their peers.
Portfolio and Final Project 70 to 85%
Quizzes 5 to 10%
Written and oral critiques 5 to 10%
Attendance and participation 5 to 10%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
No text required. Supplemental readings and research to be determined by the instructor. Supplies to be determined by the instructor. Camera with manual functions is required.
Pedagogy Statement:
This course will be taught using several pedagogical methods: lecture, discussion, on-site field work, interactive collaborative projects, field trips, peer critique, research, and writing. Specific attention will be paid to inclusion, diversity, equality, and access as it applies to the creative cultural field.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture/Lab
Maximum Class Size: 16
Optimum Class Size: 12