ILLUS-3028

TRADITIONS, TRAPPINGS, CULTURE, KITSCH

Faculty: 

Course Level: Junior, Senior, 5th Year

3 CREDITS

CONCEPTS ELECTIVE REQUIREMENT: This course fulfills the additional concepts elective requirement for Illustration majors.

Throughout time, man has punctuated his existence with ritualized celebrations honoring life, death, time, nature, love, god and community. This course considers how objects and concepts that constitute culture evolve through shifts in attitude about what is unknown, profound, or taboo. We look at the ways that traditions become commercialized and how that translation changes our understanding of them. We examine the boundary between fine art and kitsch and how passage between the two articulates artistic choice. We will in addition discuss how the definition of a target audience inflects communication. Thus students will strive to invent imagery and objects inspired by traditions but informed by a contemporary sensibility. There are several readings required during the semester with consequent seminar-styled discussion. The goal is to make art that piques the curiosity and engages the imagination through symbolism, structure, revelation, humor, and surprise.

There are no limitations on materials, media or dimensionality.

Capacity: 15

Registration Restriction: Major elective; restricted to Illustration juniors and seniors; open to non-majors pending seat availability and permission of instructor. 

Semester Offered: