Syllabus

Mid-Century Design and Thought 

FA 309A3-01

Syllabus, Spring 2019

Instructors: Jen Pepper (Associate Professor, Studio Art)
             Michael Sanders (Professor, Philosophy) 

Office: 210 JCA (Pepper) ; 213 Watts Hall (Sanders)

Hours: Pepper: T TH 12:30- 2 jpepper@cazenovia.edu; 

                       Sanders: M, 12:15-1:15; T, 1-2; or by  appointment

Contact: mlsanders@cazenovia.edu; x7162

Required Texts: Readings and supporting materials will be available on Blackboard or online.

Course Description

From architecture to home furnishings, to art, modern design has left an indelible mark on our social, cultural, and aesthetic landscape. This course will trace the development of modernist design and thought, from its European origins in early 20th century groups such as the Bauhaus and designers/thinkers such as Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius, and Marcel Breuer, to its later day successes and failures. Along the way, we will question just what it is that has enabled modern design to achieve the lasting impact in art, planning, and cultural products (furniture, interior design, etc.) that it has, as well as examine the sometimes curious fate that awaits aesthetic dreams and ideals when we try to make them realities.   

Travel Component

This course includes a 10-day study abroad component at the conclusion of the semester. Students will travel to Amsterdam, Berlin, and Copenhagen to see many of the works/sites discussed in the course first hand, as well as visit world-renowned museums and other important cultural sites in each location.  A separate fee and registration required. Please contact instructors for more information.

General Education Requirement

FA 309A3 is an upper-level FA elective and can fulfill the Visual Literacy or Cultural Literacy competency of the General Education Curriculum. 

Course Structure and Policies

This course will be taught primarily in a seminar format. Students are expected not simply to attend lectures, but to educate themselves broadly on the subjects under discussion through reading, independent research, and engaged, active discussion in class. Informed speculation is encouraged. At least in the beginning, this will likely mean looking up terms, ideas, and artworks with which you are unfamiliar, as well as finding and reading external sources that help to discuss and debate the issues under examination.

Adequate preparation before class and a commitment to learning new material, as well as regular participation in class, is necessary to receive more than an average grade in the course. Assigned readings and other assignments must be completed prior to class. It is important that the student be prepared to initiate a discussion regarding current readings and come to class with thorough notes ready for discussion. 

Attendance is expected and late work is strongly discouraged. All assignments are to be completed in a thoughtful and timely manner.  No make-ups are given for missed presentations, and late work will be penalized (one letter grade per day). Each unexcused absence over 2 will lower your final grade by 2.5%. Six or more unexcused absences during the semester will result in failure of the course. 

Accommodations

In accordance with the ADA, disability-related accommodations will be provided as needed.  Please see the Office of Student Services for assistance.

Course Requirements

1) Written Assignments (2 pgs./500 words, due weekly, by 4pm Fridays to BB) 20%;
Synopsis/overview of the week’s work discussing the presented materials, readings and discussion notes;
Should include two visual examples: one image we have discussed, the second something we have not;
Include bibliographical sources for all outside materials, including URLs for images.

2) Mid-term Paper / Presentation 25%/10%;
Paper to be 1500 words, due 3/13; must include 4 images: one image we have previously seen/discussed, the other 3 we have not; include bibliographical sources for all materials, including URLs for all images; hardcopy and digital Word file uploaded to BB;
Presentation will be collaborative (2 students) and due 3/11-13; 5 minutes per student; 4 images total (2 per student); images should not be ones discussed in class.

3) Final Research Paper / Presentation 30%/15%;

Research Paper to be 2000 words, due 5/13 at 10:15am; must include 7-9 images, may include two images we have previously seen/discussed, the others must be must be new; include bibliographical sources for all materials, including URLs for all images.

Presentation will be collaborative (2 students) and due last 2 weeks of term;  c. 7 minutes per student; 4 images total (2 per student); images should not be ones discussed in class. 

GRADING SCALE

Course grades are assigned on the following basis:

A, 93+; A-, 92-90; B+, 89-87; B, 86-83; B-, 82-80; C+, 79-77; C, 76-73; C-, 72-70; etc.

Standards for Evaluation + Grading Overview 

Grades are based on a number of factors that include class participation, attendance, attitude, effort, project execution and research, project evolution, improvement, writing examples and multimedia presentations.  

Superior excellence in all of these areas, on a continual basis, will earn an “A” for the course; continuing to show improvement and quality of work is constantly well executed, will earn a “B” for the course; fulfilling the requirements of the course is considered average and will earn a “C”.  

Grading is an individual process, but general standards will be used to evaluate student performance in order to assign a letter grade and will be presented to you following major projects on a fair and thoughtful EVALUATION RUBRIC. 

Written Assignments and Presentations will be the primary source of your grade and you will be expected to work outside of class for approximately one hour for every hour of class.  This should also follow your work in any other class you participate in.

Methods of Evaluation

Hard work and improvement are recognized. In addition to staying on top with all assignments, students need to demonstrate themselves to be active learners through engaged work and class participation. Demonstration of this will positively impact a student’s grade. 

Lack of preparation, disengagement from his/her work, avoidance of assignments and due dates, lack of participation in discussion, incomplete or not prepared work will result in a lower grade.  

Research assignments will be considered in terms of concept, thorough research, and written expression of that research by way of the student's writing mechanics. 

Quality participation is characterized by the following:

 • On time attendance at each class meeting

 • Active, enthusiastic participation in class discussions

 • Student exhibits on-going effort and keeps up with all assignments

 • Preparation and understanding of assignments, research. The student continues to ask thoughtful questions

 • Responding to others’ comments in a responsible and constructive manner

 • Contributing regularly to the class and mind fullness of others comments

A student’s work performance in class is based on the instructor’s observation and record of the student’s personal performance in the following areas:

 •  Attitude, demeanor – courteous, respectful, teachable, considerate of other students’ needs for concentration.

 •  Attendance, punctuality, and handing in work on time.

 • Participation in class projects, in critiques and discussions, within collaborative projects.

 • Conduct – Helping to create an atmosphere conducive to learning.

Projects will be evaluated according to the following criteria: your note-taking skills, the communication of them, critical thinking in connecting historical and cultural information together, evidence of individual growth through discussion, writing, class presentations, and research papers, making use of the vocabulary presented throughout the course during class discussion and in student papers.

Standards of Grading

The typical "A" student will consistently follow all readings, take excellent notes, do a stellar job on all test scores, attend all classes and complete all assignments on time; follow all instructions, demonstrate above average skills and creativity in completing assignments, turn in consistently good work equally important. The A student will conduct research, integrate information from other classes and experiences, will not opt for an easy way out, will hand in work on time and in a well-presented manner, will participate fully in class, ask questions and do extra work when needed in the pursuit of knowledge and greater ability.  The work produced is exemplary and sets a benchmark for other students; actively participating in class discussions and critiques with a sustained high level of curiosity. In short, the A student will be a responsible and active learner throughout, while completing stellar work.

The “B” student will attend all classes and complete all assignments on time; follow all instructions, demonstrates above average skills and creativity in completing assignments, turn in consistently above average, good work though some further development of knowledge and skills is possible; frequently contribute to discussions and critiques and complete good work overall.

The typical “C” student will have less than perfect attendance; complete all assignments and tests scores with average skills, attitude, and creativity demonstrating a limited commitment to the learning process, average use of materials, and ideas that need further development. Occasionally contribute to class discussions and critiques. The “C” student performs average work. 

The “D” student has poor attendance; seldom meets deadlines, may have an unconcerned attitude; work below average; contribute very little to class discussions.

The “F” student continues to display poor attendance; seldom meet deadlines; turn in poor work; has a poor attitude, and/or impervious to the learning process. This type of student will fail the course.

Overall, the grade of “C” indicates an adequate level of overall work to gain credit for the course; a “B” means a student has achieved a more than adequate level of work. To excel, as indicated by an “A” requires a superior level of skill, concept, quantity, professionalism, risk, and a surpassing depth of seriousness. Moving beyond a “C” in this course will require your very best efforts in all areas of your output and growth in academic rigor.

Course Outline  

WK 1 Modernist Origins

TU JAN 29 Introduction to course

TH JAN 31 Influences towards Mid Century Modernism: Arts + Crafts, Aesthetic Movement

* FEB 01 Trip Installment #2/4

WK 2 Modernist Origins II

TU FEB 05 Art Nouveau / Art Moderne/ Adolf Loos’ “Ornament and Crime” 1910

TH FEB 07 The Avant-Garde and Art

* WED, FEB 06 End of Add / Drop

WK 3 BAUHAUS

TU FEB 12 Aims and Early Years; Key Designers

TH FEB 14 Dessau and Later Years 

WK 4 Modernist Architecture

TU FEB 19 Le Corbusier: CIAM / UNESCO / Berlin and Modern City Planning

TH FEB 21 International Style

WK 5 MID CENTURY MODERN

TU FEB 26 Overview: What is Mid Century Modernism? 

TH FEB 28 Overview, cont.
* MON, FEB 25 “Sex and the Suffrage Movement: What Does Sex Have to Do with the Suffrage Movement?” Washburn Lecture by Dr. Susan Goodier, MacDonald Lecture Hall, 2:45 PM

*MAR 01 Trip Installment #3/4

WK 6 Mid Century Modernism in America

TU MAR 05   Charles & Ray Eames, Knoll, others

TH MAR 07 SQHAP visit The House that Dorothy Built

WK 7 Presentations

TU MAR 12 Student-led presentations

TH MAR 14 Student-led presentations
Midterm Paper Due, 3/14 

WK 8 Spring Break (MAR 18-22) – No classes

WK 9 Mid Century Modernism in Europe

TU MAR 26 Scandinavian Design

TH MAR 28 Scandinavian Design

WK 10 After Modernism: Influences and Failures

TU APR 02 Urban planning (Bijlmermeer, Amsterdam)

TH APR 04 Visit: The Everson and IM Pei, Syracuse NY

* APR 01  Trip Installment #4/4

WK 11 Modern to Post-Modern

TU APR 09 Brutalism

TH APR 11 Brutalism & American architecture

* MON, APR 08 FA 2019 Pre-Registration Week

WK 12 Postmodern Architecture and Design

TU APR 16 Post Modernism vs Modern 

TH APR 18 Modernism for the Masses, IKEA, others - a great debate

WK 13       Modernism Today

TU APR 23 Modernism for the Masses, IKEA, others - a great debate

TH APR 25 Future planning: material innovations

WK 14 Presentations

TU APR 30 Student Presentations

TH MAY 02 Student Presentations

*TH, MAY 02 Last Day to Withdraw from a class

WK 15 Presentations

TU MAY 07 Student Presentations

TH MAY 09 Review/Recap/Reading Day
* TH, May 09 Last Day of Classes 

FINAL RESEARCH PAPERS/PROJECTS DUE: Monday, May 13^th, 10:15am  

Other Important Dates:

TH MAY 16 Academic Awards Banquet

FR MAY 17 Final Grades due 9:00 AM

SA MAY 18 Commencement

Statement of Academic Integrity

Each student must pursue his or her academic goals honestly and be personally accountable for all submitted work. Representing another person's work as your own is always wrong.  Any instance of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean and disciplined as per college policy.  For more information on academic integrity, please see the college website on plagiarism at http://www.cazenovia.edu/plagarism.