World Arts II 

Division:  Upper School

Department: Fine and Performing Arts:  Visual Arts

Course Title/Code:  World Arts II                     Art 120  

COURSE DESCRIPTION:   World Arts II is the second in a two-year sequence and is part of the required Integrated Humanities program in the tenth grade. Classes are linked chronologically and thematically to the tenth grade History and Literature Curriculum.

Visual Arts Component: Baroque Through Contemporary

The visual arts component of World Arts combines art history slide presentations with studio art projects. The course covers periods in art history from the seventeenth century to the present. Specific time periods include the Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Impressionism, Expressionism, Surrealism, Postmodernism, as well as several units exploring the art of Africa. The goal of the course is for students to hone their visual literacy skills. In addition, the studio component of the course allows students to further develop their technical skills in the visual arts.

Goals:

Students will gain an understanding of various periods of art history from the Baroque to Contemporary. Students will hone their visual literacy skills in which they develop a sophisticated vocabulary to critique and analyze works of art. Students will also further develop their technical skills in the visual arts through the completion of various two-dimensional and three-dimensional studio art projects.

Skills:

·         Students will be familiar with the Principles and Elements of Design as a tool for discussing and creating works of art. 

·         Students will be able to identify, describe, and critique various works of art from history.

·         Students will gain tools that will allow them to analyze any work of art.

·         Students will gain a familiarity with a variety of two- and three- dimensional media.

·         Students will gain an understanding of various time periods from art history by exploring artmaking techniques similar to those used by artists throughout history.

Assessments:

·         Visual Art Projects

·         Subject /Vocabulary Quizzes

·         Writing Assignments and Critiques

·         Interdisciplinary Humanities Projects 

Specific Topics and Terminology

Principles of Design: Proportion, Rhythm, Unity, Variety, Balance, Repetition 

Elements of Design: Line, Shape, Value, Color, Texture, Space

Additional Vocabulary: Aesthetics, Critique, Craftsmanship

Italian Baroque.

Vocabulary: Value, chiaroscuro, composition, background, foreground, gradation 

Key Artifacts: The Palace of Versailles, Artemisia Gentileschi: Judith Beheading Holofernes, Caravaggio: Judith Beheading Holofernes, Peter Paul Rubens: Daniel in the Lion’s Den

Dutch Baroque

Vocabulary: Genre, composition, color, balance

Key Artifacts: Vermeer: Young Woman with a Water Pitcher

Rococo

Vocabulary: Line, curvilinear, satire, printmaking

Key Artifacts: Fragonard: The Bathers. Fragonard: The Swing, Watteau: Pierrot, Hogarth: The Rake’s Progress (satire)

Neoclassicism

Vocabulary: Symmetrical, asymmetrical, order, propaganda

Key Artifacts: David: Death of Marat, David: The Oath of the Horatii,

            Kauffman: Self Portrait Hesitating between Art and Music, Cary Academy

Romanticism

Vocabulary: Emotion, Drama,

Key Artifacts: Delacroix: Liberty Leading the People, Gericault: The Raft of the Medusa, Friedrich: Wanderer Above a Sea of Fog, Francisco Goya: The Third of May 

African Art

Vocabulary: Abstract, positive space, negative space 

Key Artifacts: Adrinka Symbols, Asafo Fante Flags, Ibeji Figures, other artifacts representing traditional African art 

Influence of African art on the West

Key Artifacts : Picasso : Les Desmoiselles D’Avignon 

Modernism

Vocabulary: Salon, academic 

Key Artifacts: Manet’s Olympia  

Impressionism/Postimpressionism

Vocabulary: Atmospheric perspective, cool and warm colors, complementary colors

Key Artifacts: Monet: Impression, Sunrise, Van Gogh: Starry Night, Cezanne: Still Life 

Expressionism

Vocabulary: Inventive color, abstract

Key Artifacts: Kircher: Self Portrait as a Soldier, Munch: The Scream, Picasso: Guernica

Dada/Surrealism

Vocabulary: Automatism, readymade, Symbolism

Key Artifacts: Duchamp: Fountain; Dali: The Persistence of Memory

Marc Chagall: I and the Village

Cubism

Abstract Expressionism

Vocabulary: Rhythm, focal point, unity, action painting 

Key Artifact: Pollock: Number 1 (1948) 

Minimalism / De Stijl

Vocabulary: Nonrepresentational, nonobjective, monochromatic 

Key Artifacts: Rothko: Untitled    (1949), Mondrian: Broadway Boogie Woogie,  

Pop Art

Vocabulary: Repetition, media

Key Artifact: Andy Warhol: Marilyn

Postmodernism

Vocabulary: Installation, Feminist Art,

Key Artifacts: Judy Chicago: The Dinner Party, Jeff Koons: Michael Jackson and Bubbles, Jenny Holzer: Truisms 

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