home | syllabi | projects | sites | contact - mark cooley - mcooley (@) gmu.edu
Course Outline: AVT 497:001 & 002, Senior Project
Professors: Mark Cooley & Lynne Constantine
Class hours: Mon/Weds, 4:30pm - 7:10pm
Location: East Building 201
NOTICE: This course outline indicates a rough guide to where we are headed. However, additions, subtractions and reorganization of course content is likely. You will be informed of any changes during class meetings. In addition, you should revisit this page routinely. It may be updated throughout the semester.
It should go without saying that this outline, along with the rest of this site, is not any kind of substitute for class attendance and participation. As stated numerous times on this site: this is not an online course. You cannot pass this course by relying simply on content provided on this site. Project descriptions on this site will, more often than not, lack specific technical and conceptual parameters. They should be treated as a resource to accompany in-class lecture, discussion and project descriptions.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Overview:
Senior Project is a capstone course for graduating AVT majors concentrating in any studio or new media discipline except graphic design (who take AVT 498, Senior Design Project). As a synthesis course, Senior Project brings together the themes, techniques and philosophy that have been developed throughout each student’s course of study at George Mason University, referencing both general education coursework and competencies as well as study in the major. The course allows students to draw together their learning into a defining experience, through the exhibition of their senior project and preparation of a professional portfolio documenting the exhibition.
Content:
Over the course of the semester, students will produce an exhibition of current work and a capstone portfolio representing their achievement as undergraduate AVT majors. The development towards this exhibition and portfolio will include:
a. a show proposal
b. peer and faculty evaluation of work in progress through regular critiques
c. a written artist’s statement that addresses the concerns of your work
d. preparation of publicity through invitation cards and internet communication
e. installation of the show to professional standards
f. a professional quality portfolio of work presented in the show
During the semester, the professor as well as other professionals in the field will give lectures and demonstrations about portfolio preparation, presentation of work to galleries and prospective employers, applying for grants, project proposals, and graduate school.
Requirements:
Each student is required to:
- Produce a body of work for the capstone exhibition, within the specifications of time and space agreed to with the instructor. The body of work must be within the domain of the student’s concentration, unless the instructors have expressly approved something outside that area of study.
- Write a proposal for their exhibition that will include information about the specific work to be exhibited, a description of the works’ formal and conceptual basis, and a format for exhibition. Show format should address the “what, where and how” of the show.
- Prepare a space design that will situate the individual’s work within that of the group with whom the individual is exhibiting
- Actively participate in regular critiques of their work and their peers’ work.
- Write an artist’s statement that situates their work in the context of its own development and in relation to historical and contemporary aesthetics.
- Produce and distribute announcement and publicity for their exhibition. This may be done through cards, posters, and/ or through the internet.
- Attend all lectures and presentations for professional development.
- Create a portfolio that documents the senior exhibition,
- Plan and install her/his work in a public exhibit that meets professional standards (including compliance with standard gallery practices). Prepare and provide for an opening reception.
Criteria for Evaluation:
The policy is on page 35 for the 2007-2008 catalog, states:
"Students are expected to attend the class periods of the courses for which they register. In-class participation is important not only to the individual student, but also to the class as a whole. Because class participation may be a factor in grading, instructors may use absence, tardiness, or early departure as de facto evidence of nonparticipation. Students who miss an exam with an acceptable excuse may be penalized according to the individual instructor's grading policy, as stated in the course syllabus."
Final grades will be assigned on the level of success in completing the above course requirements. Evidence of personal initiative, original creative work, thoughtful preparation and skillful execution, timeliness, attendance and participation will be measures of successful work; the greater the body of evidence, the higher the grade.
To be very clear: your grade is based on your following the instructions given for the process of producing the show—to receive a good grade, it is NOT SUFFICIENT to get a decent show together at the last minute. You must work consistently and collaboratively throughout the term with your fellow students, your instructors, the faculty in your concentration, and gallery staff. Following appropriate schedules and procedures is an essential part of the process.
The final letter grade for the course is based on the following major components, each of which has equal importance in averaging the final grade. You will receive intermediate grades throughout the term for assignments; these grades will give you a sense of where you are all term in terms of following instructor instructions and complying with schedules and requirements.
(a) The understanding and comprehension of the topic undertaken for exhibition, the creativity and scope of the solution and the craftsmanship and technical skill.
(b) Meeting deadlines and participating in class discussions and critiques.
Project must reflect the student’s best effort, show progress and turned in on due dates. You must complete all projects for this course in order for you to get a passing grade.
(c) Attendance (both physical and mental), attitude and work habits. Attendance in this course is mandatory. Please note that if absent, the student must find out from a classmate what he/she has missed and what to prepare for the following meeting. The professors cannot take time away from regular class instruction to repeat lectures and assignment requirements for each absent student.
You are allowed a total of up to three absences. Any additional absences will result in a very low or failing grade for this course. Except for a serious emergency and /or a letter from a doctor, no excuses for late work or absence will be accepted. If you wish to be excused from class to observe a religious holiday, or for any other serious matter of a personal nature, you must bring it to the attention of the professor so that arrangements can be made for you to keep up with the progress of the class. Class starts and ends on its designated time. Habitual tardiness or leaving early on a habitual basis will affect your grade.
(d) The professor’s observation and evaluation of individual progress (in terms of improvement, skill building, creativity, productivity, etc).
You are required to come to class prepared with the necessary materials as assigned for the day, and to participate in all class discussions and critiques. Habitually coming to class unprepared will result in a lower grade for this course.
(e) Exhibition and portfolio presentation at the end of the semester (Final portfolios will not be accepted after the due date and time). All exhibitions must be installed professionally and demonstrate YOUR BEST EFFORT. This includes paying close attention to all the details: labels, advertisement (announcements, postcard, web page) signs and written presentations, as well as the thoughtful consideration of the exhibition space. For video installation: Cables (extension, speakers cables, RCA, etc…) properly fixed to the floor and wall with gaffer’s tape. Projector and equipment must be secured. If projected on the wall, the surface has to be clean and even. You are responsible for following all fire codes, which will be explained to you at the start of the semester. You are also responsible for timely installation and striking of your exhibition, including cleanup and correction of wall surfaces, so that you do not interfere with the students exhibiting before or after your show.
Other important factors that will be considered for your evaluation for this course with regards to your exhibition are:
1. The achievement of the proposed goals within the timeline and/or plan of established deadlines (as on the syllabus)
2. The development and elaboration of concept from the formulation of the initial idea, through research and investigation, to the final display. This includes the demonstration of appropriate problem-solving skills.
3. The development of a current body of work. Work may be based on previous concept but actual work must be current.
4. The timely completion of, and serious engagement with, all steps involved in the project:
a) Preliminary project description - including form and format
b) Project proposal- describes the scope of work, timeline and treatment of exhibition space
c) Group space design
d) Artist Statement - reflecting philosophy and creative ideas and including content
5. The development of a final portfolio documenting the show that demonstrates clarity, a professional layout and craftsmanship; portfolio should include final versions of items b, c, and d in #4 above, plus approximately 8 images of the show (documenting the works themselves and the way they were exhibited).
Some Resources for Artists
http://www.roch.edu/dept/digiart/Careers/cad/cad2.html
http://rhizome.org/announce/opportunity
http://www.collegeart.org/opportunities
http://art.nmu.edu/department/AD_Career-Jobs.html
http://www.khake.com/page27.html
http://www.artistresource.org/jobhunt.htm
http://www.artisthelpnetwork.com
University and AVT Department Policies
As a courtesy to others in the class, and in accordance with George Mason University policy, please turn off all beepers, cellular telephones and other wireless communication devices at the start of class. The instructor of the class will keep his/her cell phone active to assure receipt of any Mason Alerts in a timely fashion; or in the event that the instructor does not have a cell phone, he/she will designate one student to keep a cell phone active to receive such alerts.
Commitment to Diversity
This class will be conducted as an intentionally inclusive community that celebrates diversity and welcomes the participation in the life of the university of faculty, staff and students who reflect the diversity of our plural society. All may feel free to speak and to be heard without fear that the content of the opinions they express will bias the evaluation of their academic performance or hinder their opportunities for participation in class activities. In turn, all are expected to be respectful of each other without regard to race, class, linguistic background, religion, political beliefs, gender identity or expression, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, veteran’s status, or physical ability.
Statement on Ethics in Teaching and Practicing Art and Design
As professionals responsible for the education of undergraduate and graduate art and design students, the faculty of the Department of Art and Visual Technology adheres to the ethical standards and practices incorporated in the professional Code of Ethics of our national accreditation organization, The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Open Studio Hours
AVT teaching studios are open to students for extended periods of time mornings, evenings and weekends whenever classes are not in progress. Policies, procedures and schedules for studio use are established by the AVT studio faculty and are posted in the studios.
ArtsBus
The dates for this fall’s ArtsBus trips are Sept. 27, October 18 and Nov. 15
If you need ArtsBus credit for this semester, you MUST enroll in a section of AVT 300 (CRN # 14195, 14196 or 14197) before September 9. This also applies to anyone who intends to travel to New York independently, or do the DC Alternate Assignment. There will be NO exceptions. If you plan to go on multiple ArtsBus trips this term and wish to count them towards your total requirement, you must enroll in multiple sections of AVT 300. Please go to the ArtsBus website: http://artsbus.gmu.edu "Student Information" for additional, very important information regarding ArtsBus policy.
Visual Voices Lecture Series
Visual Voices is a year-long series of lectures by artists, art historians and others about contemporary art and art practice. Visual Voices lectures are held on Thursday evenings from 7:30- 9:00 p.m. in Harris Theater. The fall schedule includes four lectures:
September 18, Barry Nemett, Vision and Fiction: Pigments of Imagination
October 2, RG Brown, Invisible Forces
October 23, Karen Kunc, A Printmaker’s Voice, the Art of Karen Kunc
November 20, Lynell Burmark, Visual Literacy
Important Deadlines
Last Day to Add (Full-Semester Course) September 9
Last Day to Drop (Full-Semester Course) September 26
Selective Withdrawal Period (Full-Semester Course) September 22- October 17
Incomplete work from Fall 2007 due to instructor October 24
Once the add and drop deadlines have passed, instructors do not have the authority to approve requests from students to add or drop/withdraw late. Requests for late adds (up until the last day of classes) must be made by the student in the AVT office (or the office of the department offering the course), and generally are only approved in the case of a documented university error (such as a problem with financial aid being processed). Requests for non-selective withdrawals and retroactive adds (adds after the last day of classes) must be approved by the academic dean of the college in which the student’s major is located. For AVT majors, that is the CVPA Office of Academic Affairs, Performing Arts Building A407.
Students with Disabilities and Learning Differences
If you have a diagnosed disability or learning difference and you need academic accommodations, please inform me at the beginning of the semester and contact the Disabilities Resource Center (SUB I room 234, 703-993-2474). You must provide me with a faculty contact sheet from that office outlining the accommodations needed for your disability or learning difference. All academic accommodations must be arranged in advance through the DRC.
Official Communications via GMU E-Mail
Mason uses electronic mail to provide official information to students. Examples include communications from course instructors, notices from the library, notices about academic standing, financial aid information, class materials, assignments, questions, and instructor feedback. Students are responsible for the content of university communication sent to their Mason e-mail account, and are required to activate that account and check it regularly.
Attendance Policies
Students are expected to attend the class periods of the courses for which they register. In-class participation is important not only to the individual student, but also to the class as a whole. Because class participation may be a factor in grading, instructors may use absence, tardiness, or early departure as de facto evidence of nonparticipation. Students who miss an exam with an acceptable excuse may be penalized according to the individual instructor's grading policy, as stated in the course syllabus.
Honor Code
Students in this class are bound by the Honor Code, as stated in the George Mason University Catalog. The honor code requires that the work you do as an individual be the product of your own individual synthesis or integration of ideas. (This does not prohibit collaborative work when it is approved by your instructor.) As a faculty member, I have an obligation to refer the names of students who may have violated the Honor Code to the Student Honor Council, which treats such cases very seriously.
No grade is important enough to justify cheating, for which there are serious consequences that will follow you for the rest of your life. If you feel unusual pressure about your grade in this or any other course, please talk to me or to a member of the GMU Counseling Center staff.
Using someone else’s words or ideas without giving them credit is plagiarism, a very serious Honor Code offense. It is very important to understand how to prevent committing plagiarism when using material from a source. If you wish to quote verbatim, you must use the exact words and punctuation just as the passage appears in the original and must use quotation marks and page numbers in your citation. If you want to paraphrase or summarize ideas from a source, you must put the ideas into your own words, and you must cite the source, using the APA or MLA format. (For assistance with documentation, I recommend Diana Hacker, A Writer’s Reference.) The exception to this rule is information termed general knowledge—information that is widely known and stated in a number of sources. Determining what is general knowledge can be complicated, so the wise course is, “When in doubt, cite.”
Be especially careful when using the Internet for research. Not all Internet sources are equally reliable; some are just plain wrong. Also, since you can download text, it becomes very easy to inadvertently plagiarize. If you use an Internet source, you must cite the exact URL in your paper and include with it the last date that you successfully accessed the site.
Writing Center
Students who are in need of intensive help with grammar, structure or mechanics in their writing should make use of the services of the Writing Center, located in Robinson A116 (703-993-1200). The services of the Writing Center are available by appointment, online and, occasionally, on a walk-in basis.
|
avt 280
Introduction to Digital Art
syllabus | outline
avt 399
Special Topics: Tactical Media
syllabus | outline
avt 483
Internet Art
syllabus | outline
avt 616
Grad Studio: Networked Art Practice
syllabus
avt 620
Grad Seminar: Theory and Criticism
syllabus | outline
avt 399 / 599
Informed by the Land: Experimental Media
syllabus | outline | Greece '08 Site
avt 497
Senior Project
syllabus | outline
avt 180
Computers in the Creative Arts
syllabus | outline
AVT 000
Issues and Ethics in Digital Culture
syllabus | outline
|