Textbook:
ARTFORMS (7th edition) by Duane Preble, Sarah Preble, Patrick Frank; published by Prentice Hall, 2002, ISBN 0-13-089979-8.

Note: ARTFORMS is currently in its 9th edition.  It is readily available but it costs about $135.00.  The 7th and 8th editions are still available on the web and are substantially less expensive than the 9th.  You are welcome to use the newer edition if you wish but the 7th or 8th editions will serve our purposes quite well and will save you some money.  With that in mind, wherever I make page references to the textbook in the course information materials the pages correspond to the 7th edition.  Also the book is quite heavy so you may wish to partner with someone else, split the book down the spine, and each carry half.

Course Content:
This course will meet simultaneously with ART 100: Art Appreciation, attending all of the same events, lectures and class discussions as we study the major works in the art and archaeology museums and the architectural sites (palaces, churches, etc.) in the cities that we visit. We will examine the works from the standpoint of their formal structure (design), the media and process used to create them, their narrative content and iconography, their stylistic characteristics, their historical context and their relationship to the artists and societies that produced them. There will be lectures of various lengths at most of the museums and sites. As time permits there will also be several class discussions in which issues in art will be examined in relationship to historical and social issues.

In addition to the content of ART 100, students in ART 379 may sometimes continue the visit to museums and sites after ART 100 students have been excused to examine particular works in greater depth through open discussions. We may also visit some sites not required of the ART 100 students. We will occasionally meet to discuss specific issues related to the creation, ownership, patronage and sociopolitical context of works of art. The specific subject of a discussion will be announced beforehand so that you will have an opportunity to think about it. You will be encouraged to examine and question ideas that come up in your textbook and class lectures and to express your own opinions.

Attendance:
Attendance will be taken regularly. You will be expected to attend all visits to scheduled sites and all class discussions. Excessive absences will affect your grade and may result in your failing the course.

Assignments:
You will be expected to read and be familiar with the contents of your textbook. This program is quite short and since the scheduled program activities will take up a considerable amount of our time, it will be difficult to find reading time on the program. You should read parts one through four (pages 1 through 252) of your textbook before we leave for Europe. This is not as much reading as it might appear since the text is interspersed with lots of pictures. Do pay attention to the pictures. These four sections deal with the structural elements of art and the various materials and techniques (media), which constitute its physical existence. I will be referring to these components often as we look at works in the museums and sites we visit and I will expect you to be familiar with the terms and concepts related to them when the program begins. You should also scan the remainder of the text to get a sense of the progression of the historical styles of Western art.

You will also be expected to complete a research project resulting in either a written paper approximately 8 to 10 double spaced typewritten pages in length OR a carefully prepared and well-organized, 15-20 minute verbal presentation to the group. If you chose to do a presentation you must prepare a thorough, in depth, annotated outline and give it to me at least two days before you make your presentation. I will return it to you for correction or revision (if necessary) before your presentation, but I will expect it back in final, typewritten form before the program is over.

The subject of the project will be determined by each of you in consultation with me. It might focus on some specific formal, material, stylistic or social issue of a particular work, artist or period. It must include reproductions (postcards are fine) of the significant work(s) cited. Historical and/or biographical material may well be part of your project as long as its primary focus is on some aspect of the visual arts. Resources may include your textbook, the museums we visit, books acquired on the tour (although it is likely to be difficult to obtain books in English), the World Wide Web (be aware that Web resources are often limited in scope and sometimes inaccurate), and the tour faculty members. Since it can be difficult to find good resources in English on the trip, I encourage you to do some or all of your research before the program starts. If you do this, make sure you have submitted a proposal to me and I have approved it before you begin.  Your project, whether a paper or presentation, must include proper citations of source materials (either in footnotes or endnotes) and a bibliography.

Quizzes and Exams:
There will be frequent short quizzes based on information from museum and site visits and textbook readings. There may also be some short written assignments. You will be expected to complete the same quizzes and written assignments as the ART 100 class. There may be some additional short written assignments specifically for this class. There will be a comprehensive final exam near the end of the program. Both classes will take the same final exam.

Evaluation:
20% of your grade will be based on participation. This includes attendance (mentally as well as physically) at lectures and attendance and participation in group discussions.
40% of your grade will be based on quizzes and written assignments.
20% of your grade will be based on the comprehensive exam.
20% of your grade will be based on the research project.

Academic Dishonesty:
The Eastern Michigan University's Conduct Code and Judicial Structure for Students and Student Organizations, Section V: Violations, states the following:

A. Academic dishonesty
Engaging in academic dishonesty in any form with respect to examinations, course assignments, research projects, grades, and/or academic records, including, but not limited to the following:
1.  Cheating - using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic assignment. Examples of cheating are: looking on someone else’s paper; using any kind of “cheat” sheet or other enhancement during a test; allowing someone else to take an exam in your place; submitting the same work more than once for credit; using someone else’s homework or lab assignments; collaborating with another student on any assignment or take-home test if told that collaboration was not allowed; assisting another student in committing an act of academic dishonesty by allowing another student to copy homework or an exam; taking an exam for someone else; or giving test information to students in other sections of the same class.
 2.  Falsification - intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic assignment. Examples of falsification are: making up data on an assignment; making up a source to cite in a paper; altering then resubmitting returned academic work; giving false information to a faculty or staff member to increase one’s grade; or attempting to change, actually changing, altering grades or any other unauthorized tampering with grades.
3.  Plagiarism - deliberate and knowing use of someone else’s work or ideas as one’s own. Examples of plagiarism are: quoting a source verbatim, or paraphrasing text from a given source, without properly citing the source; turning in a research paper that was written by someone else; or in any other way passing off someone else’s work as one’s own; or failing to give credit for ideas or materials taken from someone else.

Violation of this conduct code may result in your receiving a failing grade in this course as well as further disciplinary action by the University, including dismissal from the WECHT program and/or the University.