Phil 315: Art and Culture

Texts: Raymond Williams. Marxism and Literature. Oxford University Press, 1977.
          Jim Cullen. The Art of Democracy. Monthly Review Press, 2002.

Purpose of the Course: The arts are examined in relation to dominant, residual, and emergent cultural formations. The processes by which certain arts are identified as "fine" and others as "popular," some as "cultured" and others as "vulgar," will be identified and discussed. Particular attention will be given to art about or produced in our region.

Course Requirements and Grading: Students are expected to attend class and do the assigned readings before each class session. The course grade will be based on a mid-term exam, a term paper or project, and a comprehensive final. The mid-term, paper or project, and final will each constitute 30% of the final grade. The remaining ten percent will be based on class participation.

The term paper should be 7-15 pages in length. The project may be a production, performance, photographic essay, collection, composition, or other artistic work. Whether the student chooses to write a paper or do a project, she should have prior approval of the instructor.

Grades are assigned as follows.

92-100 A
90-91.9 A-
88-89.9 B+
82-87.9 B
80-81.9 B-
78-79.9 C+
72-78.9 C
70-71.9 C-
68-69.9 D+
62-68.9 D
60-61.9 D-
0-59.9 F

Students are expected to know and abide by the rules of The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, including the Honor Code.

Schedule

Class	Topic/Assignment
12 Jan	Introduction: Concepts of Culture and Art; The Thesis of the Course
14	Reading; Marxism and Literature, Introduction-I.4
17	Discussion
19	Reading; Marxism and Literature, I.4
21	Discussion
24	Reading; Marxism and Literature, II.1-II.2
26	Reading; Marxism and Literature, II.3-II.5
28	Discussion
31	Reading; Marxism and Literature, II.6-II.7
2 Feb	Discussion
4	Reading; Marxism and Literature, II.8
7	Discussion
9	Discussion
11	Discussion
14	Reading; Marxism and Literature, II.9-II.10
16	Discussion
18	Reading; The Art of Democracy, pp. ix-86
21	Discussion
23	Reading; The Art of Democracy, pp. 87-134
25	Review
28	Midterm Exam
2 Mar	Reading; The Art of Democracy, pp. 135-200
4	Discussion
14	Reading; The Art of Democracy, pp. 201-287
16	Discussion
18	Discussion
21	Reading: David Harvey, "Postmodernism in the city: architecture and urban design," handout
23	Discussion
25	Reading: David Harvey, " Monument and Myth: The Building of the Basilica of the sacred Heart," handout
28	Discussion
30	Discussion
1 Apr	Discussion
4	Reading; Marxism and Literature, III.1-III.4
6	Discussion
8	Reading; Marxism and Literature, III.5-III.10
11	Discussion
13	Student presentations
15	Student presentations
18	Student presentations
20	Student presentations
22	Student presentations
25	Student presentations
27	Student presentations
29	Student presentations
2 May	Review

Web Resources

Dan Emmet; Blue-tail Fly

Bert Williams : Nobody; My Landlady; He's A Cousin of Mine

Little Egypt; Little Egypt, 1950's

Progress of a People Exhibit

Daguerreotypes at the Library of Congress

World's Columbian Exposition: Idea, Experience, Aftermath

The American Variety Stage.

Marcel Duchamp

Belinda Di Leo I ;Belinda Di Leo II

Malcolm J. Wilson, Up From the Mines

African Music Homepage

texas.net Museum of Art (http://lonestar.texas.net/~mharden/)