UPDATE #8
Dear Class,
I gather that you had a few short days of break this week – though all things considered, I can imagine it might not have been much of a “break.” Our city and the world is going through a trauma and as you might already know, art often offers hope amid crises. Here’s an article with a slew of resources for concerts and virtual museum visits, if you are interested.
This week I hope you’ll enjoy the opportunity for creativity in Part 1 of the assignment to critique how art historians think about 17th century art and in Part 2 you’ll find yourself moved by the work of Shinobare and Wiley, contemporary artists, who reflect on art of the past.
Below, also, are some upcoming movements in the class. Please read through, carefully, to the very bottom.
WEEK 11 Readings and Assignment HERE
WEEK 12 ZOOM CALL with P. Smilow // Next Week – check in
Topic: WEEKS 8-12 and anything else on your mind
Time: Apr 18, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Total Duration: 1 hour of Q + A – this is OPTIONAL
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/479078207
Meeting ID: 479 078 207
Thinking of you all. Don’t hesitate to reach out.
My best,
P. Smilow
PS. I’d like to remind you all that this is an unprecedented time and we’re all figuring out how to learn (and teach) Art History under major stresses. I found some PRINCIPLES that I have incorporated into the teaching and learning in this class, and hope you will read them (if you haven’t already).
PPS. An Instagram account that captures people in their homes recreating well-known works of art with whatever they have in quarantine: Between Art and Quarantine
UPDATE #7
REVIEW ASSIGNMENT DUE 4/07/20 – click link for the form
1) Choose 3 objects (from lectures 4 and 5) to explain the development of the Contrapposto Pose. Support your claims with formal evidence from each sculpture.
2) How have funerary monuments (memorials, tombstones, and etc.) changed in contemporary times from the examples we see in global ancient art? How are they similar or different? What do these monuments say about our culture and our identities? (Cite at least 3 examples/objects from lecture. Make sure to use proper titles and cultures)
3) Why are the Parthenon Marbles so controversial? Make a case for either keeping the them at the British Museum or returning them to Greece. Support argument claims with evidence discussed in class.
This assignment is in lieu of Quiz #2.
It is open book (meaning: you may use your lecture notes, the lectures in the Google Drive and the readings from the blog). You must answer all 3 questions. I am asking you, on your honor, not to search the internet. This is, of course, an honor code. Also, please do the work by yourself. Do not communicate with other students. Thank you.
This assignment is ***DUE TUESDAY APRIL 7 at 11:59 PM****
Type the answers to your questions on one document. Answers should be approximately 250 words each or 1-2 paragraphs.
Use paragraph form and elaborate on your answers creating informative and readable paragraphs. Title all artworks correctly and indicate the periods or cultures from where they originate, when necessary.
UPDATE #6 emailed (4/04/20)
Dear Class,
Each week, I will provide a breakdown of the grading rubric for each assignment and also provide recommendations to the whole class. You will be emailed your individual grade separately after the group email (this email!) is sent to the entire class.
Saturday 4/11 you will receive the grade for your WEEK 9 assignment along with your WEEK 11 readings and assignments.
WEEK 10 will be a three question review assignment (on weeks 4+5+6) which will count towards your quiz grade. If you did well on your first quiz, you need not take it, but just mark as a “drop” on the form. However, you might take it as extra credit. You will receive this quiz 4/5 in the morning and have 3 days to complete it before the very short Spring Break, which does not interfere with our class.
11:59 PM / WEEK 9 Readings + Assignment Due
09:00 AM / WEEKS 4+5+6 Review Assignment distributed to class
11:59 PM / WEEKS 4+5+6 Review Assignment Due
??:?? AM / WEEK 9 and Review Assignment Grades share
ORIGINAL MESSAGE INCLUDED MORE ABOUT GRADING AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Stay safe and well.
My best,
UPDATE #4 emailed (3/26/20)
Dear Class,
Thanks to all of you who have completed your assignment for Week 8. I hope you enjoyed giving your first virtual tour of a museum. Many of you had really innovative and thoughtful tour themes and I look forward to reading more.
As you know, Lessons will become available on a Thursday and you will submit work by 12 PM on the following Thursday. There is an extension for this week’s assignment to Saturday night 4/5 (12 AM, so technically speaking Sunday) due to BC’s recalibration period. I’ve made this asynchronous schedule so that many of you can do the work on Saturday, during our regularly scheduled lecture.
I know many of you are struggling to balance work, school, and home responsibilities. This time is, unfortunately, difficult for everyone. Please try to ask questions well in advance – do not leave it to Thursday to finally ask a question about the readings for assignments. I am happy to make myself available for a group video call to answer questions (I will call a meeting if a number of students have similar questions) or feel free to email me (though give me ample time to respond).
See reading and assignments for WEEK 9, which can also be found on the website: art1010smilow.blog.brooklyn.edu/readings/8-11/
Wishing you all well. Take care of yourselves. Wash your hands!
My best,
P. Smilow
UPDATE #3 emailed (3/19/20)
Wishing you all well during this unusual time. Please email me directly if you are experiencing hardship that might affect your work, do not have a computer, or need to speak with me. I’m here to teach you but also help you — I want you to succeed! The syllabus has been partially updated with changes (see how grading has changed – assignments will be half of your new grade) and will continue to change throughout the week.
QUIZZES: I will be writing a take home quiz to cover material from weeks 4+5+6 which will be given to you next week 3/28. Those of you who did well on Quiz #1 need not complete Quiz #2. One of the two quizzes will count towards your final grade.
READINGS: I am assigning reading and videos for this week’s class – WEEK 8 on the website and below – as well as an assignment to be completed by Thursday March 26 at 12 PM.
You can choose to do the work during our class time, Saturday 12:45 PM – 3:15 PM; however, I understand that everyone’s circumstances are different and I’ve chosen to teach this class asynchronously (at your own time) so that you might find your art history studies a welcome break from your other indoor activities.
See WEEK 8 for readings and assignments. I will send you reminders throughout the week to complete the work.
Please be in touch with any questions, though be mindful that I might not reply immediately.
professorsmilow@gmail.com
COVID-19 UPDATE #2 (3/16/20)
Hello Everyone,
As many of you already know from my previous email on 3/11, CUNY has decided to switch to remote classes for the remainder of the semester. Remote sessions will begin this week — our first remote session will be Saturday, 3/21.
I need to confirm your email addresses for the success of this remote course. Please make sure my email messages are not going to your spam (my email: professorsmilow@gmail.com) and if your friend didn’t get this email – have them email me! I plan to use the course website and perhaps some Blackboard for the remainder of the semester.
Weekly Classes: Please keep up with readings! I plan to change around some of the weeks and topics to accommodate this remote format. I will ask you to respond to questions for each of the week’s assignments (articles to read, videos to watch, podcasts to listen to). Note: Your weekly responses will not be graded formally but will count as your attendance and participation.
Quizzes: Quizzes will now be take home assignments and open book. Therefore, I am working on a format that will be useful for all of us. We should no longer call them quizzes but henceforth they will be: review assignments.
Audio Guide Assignment: I am considering ways to keep this assignment afloat – I may need another week to properly restructure.
Final Exam: The final is now a take home exam. It will be open book, whereby class readings and notes can be consulted. You may not use the internet to look anything up outside of the readings. There will no longer be a slide ID section. I will update you all about our final exam in the coming weeks.
Office Hours: Office hours are now by appointment. Please email me or we’ll set up a time to speak.
IMPORTANT: If you do not have reliable or consistent access to a computer or internet, please let me know as soon as possible.
I imagine that I will make changes to the course regularly and expect you to check the website on Fridays. I will not require you to attend class via lecture or at any scheduled time, but I do expect that you will complete assignments and keep up with the readings and videos.
If you feel anxious or worried, please don’t hesitate to call CUNY Counseling and Health Services and make sure CUNY/BC has your most up-to-date email address so that you get all the necessary communication to keep you at ease. Here are updates from CUNY about COVID.
It is very important to me that we make learning during this time an enjoyable experience for us all. There is much for us to worry about (our families, our health, and the world) and I hope when you carve out the time for ART1010 you will find yourself swept away by inspiring works of art. When you spend time with an artwork, it can lead to increased awareness of self and others, and help us cope with distressing situations. I recommend that once in a while you use this time to try to fully immerse yourself in the readings or the videos.
P. Smilow
COVID-19 UPDATE #1 (3/11/20)
To My Art1010 Saturday Class,
Since the twitter-verse and the NYTimes work much faster than CUNY, I am reaching out to try to give some clarity to today’s COVID-19 situation.
Firstly, I hope you are all well and while I know that today and the upcoming weeks will be somewhat uncomfortable for all of us, we’re in this together. Be kind to yourself and be kind to those around you. We’re all going to try our very best.
It does seem that the governor has announced that CUNY and SUNY are moving online. However, CUNY has made no official announcement yet but has a cryptic message on the BC homepage that says that we are on instructional break from 3/12-3/18 and that more information will follow shortly.
To that end, our trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, scheduled for this coming Saturday is CANCELLED. Please DO NOT meet with your group. With everyone’s health in mind, I will restructure the assignment so that it may be completed from the safety of your home computer. If you do not have access to a computer (or mobile phone) — please let me know.
Please do complete the readings for Week 7 so that you are prepared as we move ahead with the curriculum.