Instructor: Sarah Iepson
Office: M2-32D
Phone: 215.751.8802
Email: siepson@ccp.edu
Office Hours: MW: 12:30-1:25
Additional office hours by appointment

Course Description:
Survey of the basic art forms—architecture, sculpture and painting—from ancient civilizations (including some non-Western cultures) through the Renaissance. The course explores concepts and media, as well as the political, social and religious developments which induced important artistic changes.

In this course, we will analyze the stylistic development of art from its earliest beginnings in the prehistoric age, to the late Gothic and Early European Renaissance. This will include discussion of the significant works of these periods as they are viewed by the society in which they were created, as well as their interest to viewers of today.

Your responsibilities as students in this class are to learn how to speak and write about a work of art, utilize specific vocabulary, and come away with a respect for and understanding of art. Class participation is expected.

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

• Compare and contrast works of art from the prehistoric through the Gothic periods

• Demonstrate knowledge of a formal art vocabulary

• Identify works of art by civilization as well as specific artists

• Describe stylistic traits and /or function pertinent to each art movement/civilization, artist, or work of art

• Understand the historical and cultural relevance of art works, including patronage, status of the artist, as well as the social/political climate of the time

• Analyze the significance of formal elements as well as subject matter and iconography

Required Text:
Marilyn Stokstad, Art History: A View of the World, Volume 1, 4th edition, 2010
All page numbers and figure numbers will come from this text.

Responsibilities:

Attendance:
Attendance is mandatory. Attending the lectures will be paramount to your understanding and grasp of the information. Missing two weeks or more of classes – 4 classes - WILL result in a lowered grade, and may result in being dropped from the class. Attendance will be taken at the start of every class. Arriving late on two occasions will equate to one absence.

Mid-Term Grades: AKA - Community College of Philadelphia's Early Alert Initiative
The system positively intervenes in Community College of Philadelphia's students' academic paths early and appropriately by effectively communicating current performance and supplying information beneficial to academic success. Faculty members have the opportunity to complete Early Alert reports at 20% and 50% reporting periods during the semester. Students will be assessed on the following items: attendance, punctuality, meeting assignment deadlines, classroom behavior, classroom participation and other factors pivotal to student success. Should you receive an Early Alert letter, you should follow up on the suggested intervention strategy as soon as possible.

Homework and In-Class Work:
You will have 2 major in-class or homework assignments during the semester. These will be based on in-class activities, discussions, videos, or handouts.

Museum Trip:
There will be a MANDATORY visit to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology. This trip must be undertaken in order to complete the assignments for this class. One work of art from the museum will become the subject of your paper, which will be discussed in depth in class. This trip will be taken on a weekend, and the specific date will be announced no later than the 2nd week of classes.

Paper:
The paper is a required component of the course. This paper MUST be turned in for the course to be satisfactorily completed.

The paper will be a three part assignment. All three portions will be more fully explained in the Paper Handout on the website.

Part 1: Proposal and Visual Analysis (5 points):
You will choose a work of art that is currently on display at the museum and give a visual analysis of the work of art. This paper will be no less than one and no more than two pages in length.

Part 2: Outline for Final Paper (5 points):
In this portion, you will create an outline that compares the work of art that you chose at the museum with one of the works I indicate. You will follow the standard outline format provided in the handout and focus on the stylistic similarities and differences between the works and their function within their culture.

Part 3: Final Paper (50 points):
Here, you will compile the first two parts of the paper into a final, 4-5 page paper. You will include a revised version of Part 1 and the comparison from your outline to create one major paper.

YOU MUST TURN IN THE ALL PORTIONS OF THE PAPER ASSIGNMENT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A GRADE FOR THE PAPER.

Quizzes and Exams:
You will have 2 quizzes during the semester. These quizzes will be based on lectures and reading assignments and will help you to develop your knowledge and use of vocabulary and your understanding of specific historical events as they impact the world of artistic production. These quizzes will primarily consist of multiple choice questions.

You will have 3 exams during the semester. Each exam will be non-cumulative and follow the same three-part format that will consist of vocabulary, 5 short essay questions and 1 long comparison essay.

Missed exams and late papers:
If an exam is missed, I must be contacted within 24 hours of the exam and shown a medical excuse. If BOTH of these conditions are not met, a failing grade will be assigned for the exam. Additionally, NO EXAMS may be made up once the class has gotten back the graded exam.

Grading:

Exam #1:	100 – 20%
Exam #2:	100 – 20%
Final Exam:	100 – 20%
Quizzes:	50 (2 quizzes at 25 points each) – 10%
Homework:	50 (2 assignments at 25 points each) – 10%
Paper:	60 (5 points for parts 1 and 2, 50 points for part 3)
Attendance:	40 (combines with Paper for 20% of the final grade)
Total:	500 points

Grading System:
Your course grade will be based on a standard percentile rating:

Total points:	Percent:	Letter Grade:
450-500	90-100%	A
400-449	80-89%	B
350-399	70-79%	C
300-349	60-69%	D
299 and below	59% and below	F

Tentative Schedule of Classes

Week:	Reading/Lecture Assignment:	Quizzes and Exams
1	Introduction and Chapter 1: Prehistoric Art
2	Chapter 2: Art of the Ancient Neareast
3	Chapter 3: Art of Ancient Egypt	Quiz #1
4	Continue Chapter 3
5	Chapter 4: Art of the Ancient Aegean	Exam #1 – Prehistory through Aegean
6	Chapter 5: Art of Ancient Greece
7	Continue Chapter 5	Paper Part 1 Due Wednesday
8	Chapter 6: Etruscan and Roman Art
9	Continue Chapter 6	Paper Part 2 Due Wednesday
10	Chapter 7: Jewish, Early Christian and Byzantine Art	Exam #2 – Greece, Rome and Early Christian
11	Chapter 8: Islamic Art
12	Chapter 14: Early Medieval Art in Europe	Quiz #2
13	Chapter 15: Romanesque Art	Final Paper Due - Wednesday
14	Continue Chapter 15 Chapter 16: Gothic Art of the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries
15	Continue Chapter 16

IMPORTANT DATES AND REMINDERS:

EXAM #1 – Wednesday, October 5 th
EXAM #2 – Wednesday, November 9 th
FINAL EXAM – TBA

PAPER PART 1 DUE – Wednesday, October 19 th
PAPER PART 2 DUE – Wednesday, November 2 nd
FINAL PAPER DUE – Wednesday, November 30 th

Disability Policy:

If you require assistance with any condition or disability you should consult the College catalog for direction. The Center on Disability is located at M1-22B and may be reached by telephone at 215-751-8307. I urge you to consult with that office immediately. Unless you are working with the Center, we may not be able to provide the assistance you need.

 

Counseling Department:

The Counseling Department is located in office W2-2. It is a great resource for students that may be struggling with problems of a personal nature. The staff is highly trained and very helpful and is available on a walk-in basis.

 

Learning Lab:

Free tutoring and workshops are available to all students in B1-28.