FELICIAN UNIVERSITY MISSION
Felician University is an independent co-educational Catholic/Franciscan University founded and sponsored by the Felician Sisters to educate a diverse population of students within the framework of a liberal arts tradition. Its mission is to provide a full complement of learning experiences, reinforced with strong academic and student development programs designed to bring students to their highest potential and prepare them to meet the challenges of the new century with informed minds and understanding hearts. The enduring purpose of Felician University is to promote a love for learning, a desire for God, self knowledge, service to others, and respect for all creation.

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES MISSION
The School of Arts and Sciences is committed to promoting the University’s Franciscan-Felician mission by providing an environment that fosters the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development of our students. The Liberal Arts curriculum challenges students to explore creative ways of thinking within a broad scope of study that integrates intellectual traditions with essential values. Our diverse programs encourage students to become lifelong learners and compassionate contributors to the well-being of others throughout their lives.

DEPARTMENT OF ART MISSION
The Art Program at Felician College produces artists with the skills, knowledge, and critical sensibility to effectively communicate ideas through individual forms of expression. Offering a variety of courses in Fine Art, Graphic Design, and Photography and New Media, the Department's objective is to emphasize the teaching of technique in concert with the critical study of different historical forms of art production, providing a life-long reference of cultural understanding.

Through a rigorous and dynamic curriculum, graduates of the Art Program will be able to implement a variety of creative skills and techniques, as well as produce a range of forms and styles; critique works of art based on their survey knowledge of major historical examples and schools of thought; recognize trends in contemporary cultural thinking; understand the importance of the arts in society; assess their personal strengths and interests; and create and present work suitable for exhibition and publication. Ultimately, graduates will be able to integrate and synthesize their skills, knowledge, and experience into a powerful career strategy.

ART-301-R JUNIOR SEMINAR
3 credits, undergraduate, traditional
Spring 2018
TH 5:45-8:15, Martin 302


INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Michael J. Nyklewicz, M.A.
Associate Professor
Email: nyklewiczm@felician.edu
201-335-1437

Office Hours





Resources

 

Updated 01/18/18

 

 

 

"I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. The poet's, the writer's, duty is to write about these things. It is his privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of his past. The poet's voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail."

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Through weekly discussions, readings, and presentations, this class provides students with the critical framework necessary for creating and presenting a meaningful, original, and professional body of work. This essential course, together with ART- 449 Senior Seminar, will lead the students to pull together skills developed in previous courses in order to define a focused direction. An exhibition will be organized to present the work created during the semester.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
In this course, students will:

Additionally, by viewing and reading the work of established artists and theoreticians, you will be able to interpret any art form on both a personal level and from within established criticism.

RECOMMENDED TEXT
 101 Things to Learn in Art School, John Wiley & Sons, 2002 (approx. $50.00, available in the Bookstore).

REQUIRED MATERIALS

COURSE CONTENT

Week One (01/18)
Introduction

 

Week Two (01/25)
#1 - Art can be anything.

Week Three (02/01)
#5 - A drawing (or a painting, photograph, and so on) is first and foremost an expression of its medium.

Week Four (02/08)
#6 - Composition is the foundation of image making.

 

Week Five (02/15)
#8 - Art is a continuing dialogue that stretches back through thousands of years.

 

Week Six (02/22)
#10 - Art is not self-expression.

Week Seven (03/01)
#4 - Art is the product of process.

 

Week Eight (03/08)
Spring Break - no class

Week Nine (03/15)
#30 - For every hour of making, spend an hour of looking and thinking.

 

Week Ten (03/22)
Midterm Critique
#14 - All images are abstractions.

 

Week Eleven (03/29)
Easter Break - no class

Week Twelve (04/05)
#20 - Clear sight makes clear art.

Week Thirteen (04/12)
#21 - Experience of most things is mediated.

 

Week Fourteen (04/19)
#24 - All art is political.

 

Week Fifteen (04/26)
#38 - Complexity derives from the presence of contradiction.

Week Sixteen (05/03)
#28 - An idea is only as good as its execution.

Week Seventeen (05/10)
#11 - All art is quite useless.


GRADING RUBRICS

Project - Semester / Final 15 pts. 10 pts. 5 pts.
Skills & Techniques
 Artwork exhibits a mastery of skills and techniques appropriate to the medium. Artwork exhibits average skills and techniques appropriate to medium. Artwork exhibits basic skills and techniques appropriate to the medium.
Composition & Presentation
 Artwork is thoughtfully and creatively composed; presentation adds to its effectiveness. Artwork is thoughtfully composed, but lacks creativity; presentation somewhat adds to its effectiveness. Artwork is carelessly composed; presentation is indiscriminate.
Originality
 Interpretation of the project shows independent thought and creative ideas. Intepretation of the project shows some creativity, but lacks in realization of ideas. Interpretation of the project is obvious.
Communication Artwork effectively communicates ideas in relation to the artist's intent. Artwork communicates ideas in relation to the artist's intent. Artwork somewhat communicates ideas in relation to the artist's intent.

Statement - Semester / Final 2.5 pts. 2 pts. 1.5 pts.
Content
 Ideas are clearly defined with cogent arguments and well-chosen supporting material. Ideas are satisfactorily defined with adequate arguments and supporting materials.
 Ideas are not clearly defined, lacking convincing arguments and appropriate supporting materials.
Structure
 Paper is well organized, progressing from thesis to conclusion in a logical and understandable manner. Paper progresses from thesis to conclusion, but is poorly organized. Paper is unorganzied, lacking a clearly defined thesis and conclusion.
Originality
 Interpretation of the research topic shows independent thought and creative ideas. Intepretation of the research project shows some creativity, but lacks in realization of ideas. Interpretation of the research topic does not go beyond the obvious.
Citations Accurate use of footnotes and bibliography, as verified by Turnitin. Somewhat accurate use of footnotes and bibliography, as verified by Turnitin. Improper use of footnotes and bibliography, as verified by Turnitin.

GRADING POLICIES
Grades will be based on the criteria found in GRADING RUBRICS (see above).

Total percentage is 100, which is translated into a letter grade using the standards published in the College Catalog (see below); there will be no grading curve.

Felician College operates on the 4.00 grading system and determines the academic standing of students according to the following scale:

Grade Description Numerical Equivalent Quality Points
A Outstanding 100-95 4.000
A- Excellent 94-90 3.670
B+ Very Good 89-87 3.333
B Good 86-83 3.000
B- Above Average 82-80 2.670
C+ Average 79-77 2.333
C Acceptable 76-70 2.000
D Poor 69-65 1.000
F Failure 64 or below 0.000
FA Failure due to non-attendance 64 or below

0.000

COURSE POLICIES

NOTE