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REVIEWING THE ARTS FOR PROFESSIONAL WRITERS

COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO

SYLLABUS:

Course description: This class is designed to give students a strong sense of what it means to be, and what it takes to be, a professional arts reviewer. The class will touch on an array of genres, including criticism related to music, fine arts, film, architecture, literature and television. While some essential aspects of critical theory will be addressed, there will be a sharp focus on many of the practical aspects of being a working, published critic.

Objectives: In a perfect world, all students would either have a professionally published review by the end of the class or be working on one. While that may not be possible, all students should end up with a firm grasp of the intricacies of reviewing the arts as a profession.

Assignments: Students will be assigned reviews that will correspond to the various creative disciplines we will be focusing on that week. All reviews will be filed on blogger.com (we will take class time during the first session to set these accounts up) by noon the day before the class meets. Length of assignments will vary as we delve into the differences inherent in short- and long-form criticism. Students will also be asked to bring in published reviews they have read and explain something specific they learned from them about arts reviewing.

Format: Following the first introductory class, and then one class on the basics of being a professional arts reviewer, we will focus on a topic each session. Some topics, like film and music, will carry over to more than one session, while others will be addressed in just one class. Students will be asked to come to class ready to present their reviews and discuss their work. Each class we will spend about 1 hour in the lab, during which time students will review their fellow students' blogs and comment on their work.

Grading: 25% class participation; 50% weekly writing assignments; 25% final review. Weight will be given to how writing improves over the course of the class as students understand and implement lessons learned.

Attendance policy: It is unlikely that any student who misses more than 2 classes will do well in this course. After two absences, the student's grade will be marked down by 1/2 letter grade for each missed class.

Academic Integrity: According to Columbia College Chicago's catalogue: "The College prohibits the following conduct: all forms of academic dishonesty, including cheating; plagiarism; knowingly furnishing false information to the College; forgery; alteration or fraudulent use of College documents, instruments, or identification." Failure to meet these standards will result in a failing grade.

NOTE TO STUDENTS: THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. THE MOST CURRENT AND UPDATED VERSION CAN ALWAYS BE FOUND HERE:

https://sites.google.com/site/rtaspring2010/

Schedule of class topics:

WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION

In-class reading for discussion:

What is criticism?

"The Changing Role of the Critic, CNN.com, 1-29-09, http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/01/29/film.factbook.critics/index.html

What is the role of the critic and what constitutes "good" criticism?

Jon Landau, Growing Young with Rock and Roll, The Real Paper, 5-22-74, http://www.last.fm/user/guerosinfe/journal/2006/05/07/599m_growing_young_with_rock_and_roll

Chuck Klosterman, "Crazy" Versus "Crazy Bitch," Esquire, 3-13-07, http://www.esquire.com/features/crazyvscrazy0407

The rise of amateur criticism

Critics 'R' Us, by John D. Thomas, The New York Times, 7-16-2000, http://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/16/weekinreview/critics-r-us-shakespeare-was-a-hack.html?scp=1&sq=john+d.+thomas+critics&st=nyt

Class discussion: Why do you read criticism and where are some of your favorite places to read reviews?

Assignments for next class:

Bring in two reviews on the same topic, each one from a different publication. Be ready to discuss differences between the two and explain something specific you learned from them about arts reviewing in general.

WEEK 2: THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF ARTS REVIEWING

Topics will include: The differences between writing long and short reviews. The importance of re-writing. Tone. Audience. How to start and end a review. Studying publications for which you would like to write. How to approach a publication and what it might be looking for. Basic professional habits (filing on time and at the assigned length). The practical differences between reviewing different creative categories and how that impacts your work (e.g., reviewing a book vs. a film screening). Positive vs. negative reviews. How much plot is appropriate? Working in print vs. online vs. multimedia. How much research is appropriate?

Discussion of reviews brought in by students.

Assignments for next class:

Read Introduction to Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung, by Lester Bangs, edited by Greil Marcus. Copies to be handed out in class.

Bring in one current music review from which you learned something about music criticism, good or bad.

Write one 300-word review of an album you have been listening to lately.

WEEK 3: MUSIC CRITICISM PART 1

Discussion: What differentiates music criticism?

Discussion of published reviews brought in by students.

Discussion of reading assignment.

Present and discuss student-written reviews.

Listen to and discuss critical aspects of several different in-class music selections.

Assignments for next class:

Write one 250-word review of an album you have been listening to lately. If you like the album, give it a negative review, or vice versa.

Bring in one music review from which you learned something about music criticism, good or bad.

WEEK 4: MUSIC CRITICISM PART 2

Present and discuss student-written reviews.

Discussion of published reviews brought in by students.

Listen to and discuss critical aspects of several different in-class music selections.

Assignments for next class:

Read "The Popular Press," in the introduction to Aesthetics of Film (p. 2-3). Copies to be handed out in class.

Read "The Fiction Film," in Aesthetics of Film (p. 77-79). Copies to be handed out in class.

Read, Introduction to For Keeps, by Pauline Kael. Copies to be handed out in class.

Bring in one film review from which you learned something about film criticism, good or bad.

Be prepared to critically discuss one theatrically released film you have seen lately.

WEEK 5: FILM CRITICISM PART 1

Discussion: What differentiates film criticism?

Discussion of assigned reading.

Discussion of published reviews brought in by students.

Discussion of films seen recently by students.

Screening of a film in class followed by brief reviews written by students and then discussion of those reviews.

Assignments for next class:

Write a 500-word review of a film you recently saw in the theater.

Bring in one film review from which you gleaned something about film criticism, good or bad.

WEEK 6: FILM CRITICISM PART 2

Present and discuss student-written reviews.

Discussion of published reviews brought in by students.

Screening of a film in class followed by brief reviews written by students and then discussion of those reviews.

Assignment for next class:

Read Black Dogs, by Jason Buhrmester (2009)

Write a 500-word review of Black Dogs

WEEK 7: LITERARY CRITICISM PART 1

Discussion: What differentiates book criticism?

Present and discuss student-written reviews.

In class reading and then discussion of some recent book reviews

Assignment for next class:

Read one feature-length review in the New York Times Sunday Book Review and review that review (you do not have to write a formal review, but you need to be able to discuss your critical assessment of it from the standpoints of both a reader and a reviewer).

WEEK 8: LITERARY CRITICISM PART 2

Discussion of reviews from the New York Times.

In class reading and then discussion of some recent book reviews

In class reading of an excerpt of My Cousin, My Gastroenterologist by Mark Leyner and then discussion.

Assignment for next class:

Read What Happened to Art Criticism?, by James Elkins

Write 2, 250-word reviews, one positive and one negative, of a classic painting (e.g., The Mona Lisa).

WEEK 9: ART CRITICISM

Discussion: What differentiates fine arts criticism?

Discussion of reading assignment.

Review and discuss student reviews

Presentation of a number of paintings/artworks in class and then discussion.

Assignment for next class:

Write a 500-word review of the exterior of the new residential tower Aqua, at 225 N. Columbus Drive

WEEK 10: ARCHITECTURE CRITICISM

Discussion: What differentiates architecture criticism?

Discussion of student reviews.

Presentation of a number of buildings in class and then discussion.

Assignment for next class:

Write a 500-word review of a new episode of a current TV series.

Bring in one TV program review from which you learned something about television criticism, good or bad.

WEEK 11: TELEVISION CRITICISM

Discussion: What differentiates TV criticism?

Discuss student reviews.

In-class screening and then critique of a TV program.

Assignment for next class:

Find and review a local photography exhibit. It can be from a gallery or a museum. The show will need some sort of online component or brochure for the class to see.

WEEK 12: PHOTOGRAPHY CRITICISM

Discussion: What differentiates photography criticism?

Discuss student reviews.

In-class presentation and then critique of some iconic photographs.

Assignment for next class:

Write a 300-word review of a web site that features art, music, photography, film or any other art. Pay attention to how the site displays material and what is unique and original about the site.

WEEK 13: ARTS WEB SITES/ARTS CRITICISM WEB SITES

Discussion: Is online a good way to feature and distribute film, art, literature and other arts? What are the positives and negatives? What is different and original about these sites?

Also discussion of sites that aggregate arts criticism, including Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes.

Discuss student reviews.

In-class presentation of some different arts web sites and arts criticism sites and a critique of what they are trying to accomplish.

Assignment for next class:

Write a 100-word review of your favorite book, album and movie (three separate reviews).

WEEK 14: DIFFERING TASTES IN ARTS REVIEWING -- WHO'S RIGHT?

Discuss and review students' reviews, focusing on how and why opinions can vary widely on different works.

In class-presentation of some work (music, art, film) that critics have differed widely on.

Assignment for next class:

As a final exam/paper, write a 750-word review of something newly released (a film, a book, an album) paying particular attention to what we have discussed during the semester concerning the role and duties of the professional arts reviewer.

WEEK 16: SUMMARY DISCUSSION AND REVIEW

Hand in final reviews.

Review of any final questions or topics from students.