“We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth, at least the truth that is given us to understand.”
-Pablo Picasso
General Information
Oral Communication (Student Reference)
Download the complete Oral Communication (Student Handout) Guide
General Writing Criteria
Download the complete General Writing Criteria Guide
Review Criteria Download the complete Capsule Reviews Guide
Cultural Passport Scrapbook Download the complete Scrapbook Guide Guide
Final Digital Media Group Projects Download Overview and Topic DigitalProjects.2011
Specific Assignments
Video Blog (updated): Let’s look to acheive these three elements to practice oral communication skills in a public media platform:
___My video blog is rated PG and suitable to be selected by a curator to appear on the subject website (which they very well may be). I identify the who, what, where for the audience.
___My perspective stems from personal (not a rant) reflection that illuminates the most memorable aspect of the experience, something that came to life for me or did not.. I focus on deepening one big idea for the viewer.
___ I keep the length between 1-2 minutes. I animate my “story” in creative ways and with vocal coloring and pacing. I may use a surrogate on camera. The words are my own.
In general, all writing may be revised until you are satisfied. You will receive feedback and notes throughout the semester. Grading percentages are located on syllabus.
Writing and Arts Critism
Most of our course content will be composed on the Blog. You are encouraged to experiment, share ideas, and reinvent these assignments as we go along. We like unexpected transformations! As we learn to use multimedia components, let’s play with those as well. There is no downside to taking risks and testing out an idea.
Fresh Paint/Blog Guidelines
In general, all writing and blog content may be revised until you are satisfied. You will receive feedback and notes throughout the semester. Grading percentages are located on syllabus.
There are two ways we will practice writing and revising. They fuel each other.
Observing from the Outside: informational and descriptive analysis—who, what, why
Observing from the Inside: reflective and inquisitive—inner logic and point of view
Post Etiquette:
Camaraderie and civil discourse is vital; consider this a public site so anything you say is visible to the world,
Please don’t attack anyone personally for any reason; argue on topic.
Use PG language. Be aware that slang terms, off hand characterizations and foul language can offend others. In other words, be sensitive and present your views with maturity.
Fresh Paint posts
New York Times Art Section. Read the art sections daily. The first two writing assignments are on reading arts reviews and looking more deeply at the arts coverage in the news to raise a question or issue in the NY city art scene that intrigues or troubles you.
- Believing and Doubting. Begin reading NYTs reviews on the current art scene: theatre, dance, music, independent films, museum/ gallery exhibits, and books in NYC. (before 9/12)
Compare the style of two reviewers in the same art form (i.e. theatre, film, visual art, dance, classical/jazz music). Choose one that is strong and one that is weak. What pulls you into a review and gives the author credibility; what makes you doubt a reviewer. You can look at the type of information reviewers highlight, the way they use specific vocabulary or terms, the personality or vibe of the review. What appeals to you as contributing to a strong review; what distracts you from a weak one.
Post by Friday evening (always) so that others may read and respond over the weekend. Respond to 2 posts. Comment on what insights into style the writer of the post gives you.
- Cultural passport choices (before 9/14)
What’s happening in New York this fall season? You’re on the culture beat this week. Pretend you are a reporter working for a major news media. Supply the coverage on one NYC current events, trends, festivals across the boroughs. Tell us (the public) what’s a “go see” this season; what’s creating buzz; what trends do you notice. Don’t forget the where, when and why.
- Critic’s Choice (begins 9/19)
Everyone will be responsible for a bi weekly critical commentary on current news on arts happening in New York City. This is conversational writing. Try to compose your thought and provide others some analysis, perspective, and questions on your choices. We want to look at what’s being written about, how is it written, who’s writing it. What’s on the radar, what’s off? Why? Groups Post these by Friday Evening so that the other group may read and respond to at least 5 commentaries before class on Monday.
Group 1 (week of 9/19; 10/3; 10/17; 10/31)
Group 2 (week of 9/26; 10/10; 10/24; 11/7)
Art Talks
These are opinion pieces and comments on course readings (min.300 words). Try to extend your thinking into how “art talks” to us and what we take away from it. Be sure to use examples from readings to support your views.
Visual Diary
Your Visual Diary is akin to photo story. It combines narration and images. Although it is a personal document, keep in mind that you are creating it for public viewing. It is makes a statement. You will be composing with images that you compile, select from and assemble into a statement that reflects on and responds to the topic. In class you will explain the thinking behind your choices and point of view.
Below are three orienting principles to work with that will be used to evaluate the diaries.
Point of View. You need to decide on a bold theme that expresses your point of view and shapes your choices. For instance, I want to reflect a poetic state of mind or I want to show my community.
Composition. Limit images to 3. The way you structure and arrange the images and plot out your story-line. The choices you make depend on the statement you want to convey. Weave the images and narrative together. Pay attention to how you want the images to flow with or against the words.
Introduction and Conclusion. Provide some kind of establishing view (set up) that guides the public into your thinking: for instance explaining the choices that you made. Include an evocative “end note” or statement that leaves the public with a memorable impression of your “view.”
FORMAL WRITING (such as reviews; you will go over these in more detail in class) must be double-spaced. Reviews are 2-3 pages (600-750 words). Turn in Hard Copy. No attachments please. Sorry, I’m a tactile reader!
Make the structure of paragraphs clear by either indenting first line or separating paragraphs by a double-space. Evaluation for all written work is based on clarity of form: grammar, syntax, structure, and depth of content: vigor and vitality of thought. See general guidelines of college level writing posted. Please include left hand corner/header:
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