VPA 3960 - Methodologies of Scholarship in the Visual and Performing Arts

Credits: 4

This course examines how the disciplines of Studio Art, Art History, and Design are interrelated and connect with other disciplines. Theoretical and practical models of scholarship are utilized with focused intention on developing a capstone project. Issues explored include aesthetics, formalism, class, gender and race constructions, literary criticism, postmodern theory, as well as ritual and performance theory. Course material is presented in a variety of ways, all designed to promote thoughtful discussion. This is a research and writing intensive course, which prepares visual and performing arts majors to produce their senior thesis and better understand graduate level work. This course is required for all Art and Art History and Graphic Design majors, though it is open to non-majors who have already had at least one semester of art, music or theatre history. Students will be expected to work outside of class to finish projects and assignments.
Prerequisite(s): DES 3880 , or permission of the instructor.
Fulfills: W in LS Core