Introduction to the Fine Arts: The Classics

Thursday 9/27

Welcome. Overview of syllabus and course expectations. Introductions, free-write

Tuesday 10/2

What are the Fine Arts?  Why do they matter?  What is artistic genius?   WWU Sculpture Gallery walk.  (Required reading:  Western Gallery - Outdoor Sculpture Collection. View North Campus Tour, South Campus Tour and Walking Tour)    

Thursday 10/4

Who qualifies as an artistic genius, the truly great artists?  Mozart, Handel, Beethoven.  (Required reading: online biographies of Handel, Bach (late Baroque),  Mozart, and Beethoven (Classic)

Tuesday 10/9

Explorations of Romeo and Juliet, via Shakespeare, Prokofiev, Tchaikowsky, the ballet (Required reading: "What to expect of Shakespeare" [PDF] Course Reserves, WWU Libraries)

Thursday 10/11

Legendary names in Dance:  Pavlova, Nijinksy.  Swan Lake, lecture and video. (Required reading: "Education of Feeling" [PDF] Course Reserves, WWU Libraries)

Tuesday 10/16

Further explorations in Dance, the formerly famous, the up and coming. 
Paper due (see syllabus for specifics). (Required reading: "Art and Expression" [PDF] Course Reserves, WWU Libraries)

Thursday 10/18

Guest lecturer, Deb Currier from Theatre - Dr. Currier will begin with an overview of Greek and Roman drama and performance conventions as the bedrock and basis for all Western theatre forms.

Tuesday 10/23

Guest lecturer, Deb Currier - We will be moving on to the European Renaissance and exploring the influence of playwrights such as Shakespeare, Calderon and the Italian Commedia Dell'Arte.

Thursday 10/25

Guest lecturer, Deb Currier, Review session for Midterm - We will finish the theatre section with a brief look at the influence of the Romantics on American melodrama and a discussion of current practices. How can we still see the influence of the Ancients, the Renaissance and the 19th century in our modern performances and productions? What traditions of Western theatre are we rebelling against in this post-post-modern world?

Tuesday 10/30

Midterm exam, Paper due (see syllabus for specifics)

Thursday 11/1

Guest lecturer, Timothy Fitzpatrick from Music.  Tim will be focusing his lecture series on the relatively unknown music of Veljo Tormis, who is considered a living legend in his native country of Estonia, where Tim has studied this past summer.  Lectures will focus on some of Tormis’ greatest compositions).

Tuesday 11/6

Guest lecturer, Timothy Fitzpatrick

Thursday 11/8

Guest lecturer, Timothy Fitzpatrick

Tuesday 11/13

Guest lecturers, Antonella Antonini and Alan Stein.  (Focus will be on Classical Greek Art and Architecture and its historical and social context, different historical and political contexts discussed will include the Roman era, the Renaissance and the Neoclassic period).
Paper due (see syllabus for specifics)

Thursday 11/15

Guest lecturers, Antonella Antonini and Alan Stein.  This lecture will extend the definition of Classical Art to non-Western cultures, looking specifically at ancient Egypt, China, and India

Tuesday 11/20

Guest lecturers, Antonella Antonini and Alan Stein.  How has Modernism challenged the concepts of Classicism?  How have science, technology, commerce and globalization created new Classic forms?

Thursday 11/22

No Class, Thanksgiving Break

Tuesday 11/27

Connective Threads, exploration.  Harmony in Art video and discussion. 
Paper due (see syllabus for specifics)

Thursday 11/29

Connective threads exploration

Tuesday 12/4

The future greats, theories, possibilities in the Fine Arts, 200 years from now.  Come prepared with a name to nominate and reasons why you believe this individual will endure.

Thursday 12/6

Review

Monday 12/10

Final Exam: Take-home reflective essay, due by 1pm