The Arts in New York City

CHC 10101: The Arts in NYC: Fall 2009 – Prof. Harriet F. Senie

The purpose of this class is to introduce you to the arts in NYC.  During the semester we will be developing general and personal critical standards that increase our ability to enjoy and analyze a variety of art forms as well as gain some experience in creating them.

ASSIGNMENTS

There are two term projects and several short writing assignments and class presentations.  Since this class combines experiential learning, research, and class discussion, attendance is a critical factor.  Any absence from class or an assigned performance or common event will affect your final grade.  No late assignments will be accepted.  There are no incompletes.

Your grade will consist of the following:

– Class participation – 15%

– Short writing assignments due throughout the semester – 35%.

All writing assignments should be double spaced and will be graded on clarity of expression and organization as well as content.  WRITING COUNTS!

Unit 1: West Side Story (due Sept. 4)

Watch West Side Story (the movie).

Read Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

In a 2 page paper, address the following:

1) What are the key differences between the West Side Story play and movie?  Which did you prefer and why?

2) Is West Side Story a successful update of Romeo and Juliet? Explain.  How might you update the story to make it more relevant today?

Unit 2: Memorials: Thinking about 9/11 (due Oct 2)

Assignment 2A: Attend one event commemorating 9/11 and be prepared to report on it in class. How did you find out about it?  Why did you choose this event?  Was it effective?  Would you have liked it to be different in some way? Images are desirable but not required. (2-3 minutes)

Additionally, watch for the Tribute in Light and be prepared to discuss your experience in class.

Assignment 2B:  Propose a memorial for 9/11 in any form: visual (collage, sculpture, installation, architecture), musical, narrative, poetry, or ritual.  Your proposal must be accompanied by a brief explanation of what you expect your memorial to accomplish and why you chose the specific form(s) and where you would like to see it sited.

(Oral report 5 minutes)

Unit 3: Dance: Fall for Dance (due Oct. 9)

Based on dance group to  be assigned in class,  present some general history and evaluation of the dances we saw.  Be sure to discuss where this work fits into the choreographer’s career and indicate your sources.  (5-10 minute report)

Watch Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet starring Fonteyn and Nuryev (CD at Macaulay).

Unit 4: Opera: Turandot

Assignment 4A: due Oct. 23: Listen/watch Madama Butterfly before class.  (CD at Macaulay.)

Assignment 4B: due Oct. 30

Read: Gene Luen Yang, American Born Chinese (New York: Square Fish, 2006)

For discussion: Which opera did you prefer?  Why.

To write (1-2 pages): Identify key identity issues pertaining to gender and nationality as defined in the two operas and graphic novel.  Which did you relate to in a personal way?

Unit 5: Photography

Oct. 16: Read Jack Kerouac’s On the Road in preparation for our visit to Robert Frank exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Nov. 6: Visit MoMA New Photography exhibition.

Nov. 13: Using the same or similar subject as the image you took for the Macaulay exhibition, re-photograph it in the style of Robert Frank and one of the artists in New Photography.

Be prepared to show and discuss it in class.  Start with your Macaulay image and explain what you tried to do in each of the other works in a 1 page artist’s statement.

Unit 6: Theater: Our Town (due Nov. 20)

Read Thornton Wilder’s Our Town

In a 1-2 page paper:  Consider 1) your home town or city and then 2) City College (as a town). For each identify your principle cast of characters and story line.

For fun and extra credit try writing a scene for either or both.

Term Projects:

– Public Art notebook – 20% – due Dec. 4

– Attend one common event from the Macaulay list and critique it in one page.

What was useful; what wasn’t?  What more would you have liked to see, hear, know?

–  Consider 3 works of pubic art during the semester, at least one of which must be in a subway station.  Photograph each from different perspectives, being sure to include people in at least one of your images.  Write 1-2 pages describing the work and considering how well it works in its setting.   Identify the artist, title, date of the work and the sponsoring agency or organization.  Include some information about the artist and commission, indicating your source(s).  Books are best.  Public art agency or individual artist web sites are fine; wikipedia is not.  Try relating your work of art to the ones we have seen in our visits to Creative Time and Percent for Art.  Your notebook, including images, should be double spaced and fastened together in a folder.  On Dec. 4^th be prepared to discuss your favorite work with a brief (5 minutes) power point presentation.

For extra credit, include extra works of public art.

– My Own Personal Road Trip – 30% – in class report and project – due Dec. 11

Consider an actual or imaginary road trip (defined literally or loosely) that you have taken or would like to take.  Using as many media as relevant (visual art, music, dance, narrative, etc.) present it in the art form(s) of your choice.   In preparation read at least two road novels, including Kerouac’s On the Road; watch at least two road movies; listen to at least two albums of road music.  Lists of possibilities will be e-mailed shortly.

– General topic to be discussed in class due Oct 30

– Bibliography (novels, movies, music, etc.) due Nov. 13

– Final project (in class presentation and actual project) due Dec. 11

Course learning objectives:

1. Learn to appreciate various art forms (theater, opera, art, music) from various perspectives.

2. Develop the ability to analyze various art forms in terms of form and content.

3. Have some experience conceptualizing and/or creating works for specific purposes.

Office hours: – My office is CG 230.  I will usually be available to meet with you before and after class on Fridays and Thursday from 1-2 and 5-6.  It is always best to make an appointment ahead of time.  E-mail to make an appointment or if you have any questions between classes:  hfsenie@gmail.com.