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/)