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Race, Sex, Gender in Art

​In this course we examine the role played by visual art in the constructions of race, gender and sexuality in Western Culture. This cross-disciplinary course challenges students to consider how human subjects have come to be defined and marked by race, gender and sexual orientation as we examine art history, visual studies, cultural studies, post-colonial studies and psychoanalysis, to name a few. Students explore how visual images support the social and political construction of identity with particular attention to the role of artists, patrons, and power relations.

course syllabus and outline
THIS COLUMN HAS IMAGES, LINKS AND SUPPORT INFORMATION
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How to use this site.
The site is designed to organize by week your class with helpful information and links. In most cases, you will find the lecture, videos  & links to artists and/or articles. 
Website follows the course outline, which also contains assignments and deadlines. 
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All type in blue is a link to something. 
Click on it. 

Points to Percentages-- check yours


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​THIS COLUMN HAS IMAGES, LINKS AND SUPPORT INFORMATION FOR WEEK TO THE RIGHT.
THIS COLUMN HAS LECTURES, INSTRUCTIONS, LINKS AND ASSIGNMENTS
Object Analysis
Links to class readings. Do not read now. You will find these assigned in the week they are due:

Race, Class, and Gender in the United States: An Integrated Study, Paula S. Rothenberg
Conceptual Framework for Understanding Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality, Lynn Weber
Feminist Interventions in Art's Histories, Griselda Pollock
Race and Identity, AHRT
Racist Images and Messages in Jim Crow Era, PBS
Making a Way Out of No Way, PBS

THIS COLUMN HAS LECTURES, INSTRUCTIONS, LINKS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Read this and the part above and below the image. There is a question about this in your lecture. 

Margaret Bourke-White, Kentucky Flood, 1937 
This is a photograph taken by Bourke-White who was hired by the government to document the effects of the depression, the dust bowl and other phenomena on American people. She took this famous photo of a group of African-American people standing in a bread line. Why is it so famous? What does the picture say about race and class in America? 
Picture
We live in a world of images. 

In Visual Studies we argue that all images have meaning and it is our job to read the image as if it were a text -- or words.

Most of us have learned to read words. Realizing words have meaning, we analyze them to understand the meaning.
Images (including artwork) are no different. 
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In this class we analyze artwork in a particular way. We are looking for what these artworks (images) have to tell us about race, sexuality, gender norms and more. 

Because words and images are made by humans, we understand that they are not part of the 'natural' world. We made them up. We call this a construct, because we constructed it. 

And if we can agree (as most scholars) that cultural norms are determined by the group in power, then we can see how words and images are both influenced by ideas of the dominant group and how they influence other ideas. 

Week 1--Jan 22

Course Syllabus and outline-- please read to understand expectations and grading criteria


Welcome Video--Yontz
click on this link to view the welcome video on youtube.

If you are unable to view the welcome video posted below, use the link above. They are the same. Thanks.

Assignment for this week:
Students have the choice to read one of the two introductory readings posted. Both readings have similar information but stated in different ways. To my mind, the first is easier to read. However, it is a link to Google Books and it's possible you will not be able to read the entire article. If not, read the other. Follow instructions for each. Click on the blue text for a link to the articles. 

First Reading-- Race, Class, and Gender in the United States, Paula S. Rothenberg
Read pages 1-12. Take notes and annotate each section. Be specific. This book was first published in 1998 but has been republished with updates four times. I have assigned the introduction, which gives an overview of what's to come in the rest of the book. The other assigned chapter is the introduction to Part 1, The Social Construction of Difference: Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality. 

OR do this reading (you do not have to do both). 

Second Reading-- Understanding Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality, Lynn Weber
This is a general reading providing the history of Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality studies in college courses. Read-pages 13 to mid-25 take notes and then write a general history and each of the different ways to fame the discussion as noted above and in the text.
Note the first part is a history 
Then the author discusses different ways these issues have been framed: Contextual, Social Construction, Systems of Power, Social Structure on the larger social and more intimate psychological, Integrated simultaneously, and Interdependence (knowledge and activism.  

Lecture 1-Intro
Assignment 1-- (2 parts)
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Part 1: 1-page summary of reading of choice above.  NO Cutting and Pasting. Use your own words to annotate or outline readings. 
Part 2: 1 page summary of lecture. See blue button above. No Cutting and Pasting. Use your own words to annotate or outline lecture. Give an overview of main ideas and answer questions as asked within the lecture. 

annotation_instruction_-Instructions for Annotation and grading Rubric
Please keep all annotations on one page. 
Label file with your last name.

​Due Saturday 26, noon. email compiled annotations to byontz@stac.edu
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The Venus of Willendorf, 28,000-25,000 BCE 
Female Figure from German cave, 35,000 BCE
Some other female figures in paleolithic and neolithic art.
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week 2--where we all come from

January 28
lecture 2-all the way back
Lecture 2-- Where do beliefs come from?
DNA from earliest humans and early female fertility figures. 

Let's go back as far as we can. Paleolithic and Neolithic periods. 
Click on all text in blue. It links to more information. 

Kahn Academy on the Venus of Willendorf

Modern Humans descend from same group from Africa-- around 50,000 years ago.
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What happens to the idea of 'racial difference' when we know this?

From 24,000 BCE to the 1970s--- 
No ideas come from nowhere. See how Judy Chicago used research from prehistory and Feminist studies to conceptualize her famous sculpture in the 1970s. 
Picture
Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party, mixed media (ceramic, fabric, needlework, etc) 48 ft x 48 ft. 1974-79

Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party-- Fertile Goddess


Assignment 2  (3 parts)
​Part 1: Annotate all links posted for this week.  (there are 4) Each annotation should be at least 1 paragraph in length. NO Cutting and Pasting. Use your own words to annotate or outline links. I'm looking for evidence of general understanding of the topic not just reiteration.
Part 2: 1-page summary of lecture. See blue button above. No Cutting and Pasting. Use your own words to annotate or outline lecture. 
Part 3: Looking at the images to the left, notice similarities in how they look. What things can be said about all these images? Why do you think they are included in the lecture? Why did I start the class so far back in history? Be specific with your answer. Keep this short. 1 or 2 paragraphs. 
Please put all annotations in one document labeled with your name. 
Generally, I like 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing. 
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​Grading rubric for Assignment 2

​Due Saturday  Feb 2, noon. email byontz@stac.edu
​Goddess Giving Birth, Neolithic stone sculpture, Catal Huyuk, Turkey, 6500 BCE
Seated female figure from Samarra,
​ ca. 6,000 BCE
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Picture
​The Burney Relief, probably Ishtar, Old Babylonian ca. 1800 BCE (below)

Minoan Snake Goddess,​ 1600 BCE, Crete
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Egyptian Goddess Nut, goddess of the stars and sky. 
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Picture
First analysis paper instruction
Due Friday Feb 22, midnight.
I suggest you not wait until the last minute.  This is NOT an annotation. It is not an opinion. It's an analysis. We are using the objects to say more about the image, culture and meaning. Do college level research. No dictionaries. No encyclopedias. No Wiki sites. 

Read instructions well. 

week 3--strength and power

February 4

​Cradles of Civilization-- Egypt, Messopotamia, Indus Valley
gods and goddesses-- human and animal. 

Look at the lecture posted below and these videos on each civilization. 
lecture 3-Early Civilizations
Assignment 3  (2 parts)
​Part 1: Annotate all video links posted for this week.  (there are 3) Each annotation should be at least 1 paragraph in length. Use your own words to annotate or outline links. I'm looking for evidence of general understanding of the topic not just reiteration.
Part 2: 1-page summary of lecture. See blue button above. No Cutting and Pasting. Use your own words to annotate or outline lecture. 

Please put all annotations in one document labeled with your name. 
Generally, I like 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing. 
​

​Grading rubric for Assignment 3

​Due Saturday Feb 9, noon. email byontz@stac.edu
Picture
Venus (or Aphrodite) 2nd century Roman copy of Greek original from 4th century BCE
Picture
Artemis​, Athenian red-figure image on a jar, ca. 5th century BCE
First analysis paper instruction
Due Friday Feb 22, midnight.
I suggest you not wait until the last minute.  This is NOT an annotation. It is not an opinion. It's an analysis. We are using the objects to say more about the image, culture and meaning. Do college level research. No dictionaries. No encyclopedias. No Wiki sites. 

Read instructions well.
​Grading rubric for Analysis Paper 1 ​

week 4--the classical world

February 11
​Rationalizing Beliefs-- Greece and Rome-- gods in the image of man.

Lecture 4_Classical Art
Two links for this week:
Women in Classical Greece-- Met Museum

Assignment 4  (3 parts)
​Part 1: Annotate the 2 links posted for this week. Each annotation should be at least 1 paragraph in length. Use your own words to annotate or outline links. I'm looking for evidence of general understanding of the topic not just reiteration.
Part 2: 1-page summary of lecture. See blue button above. No Cutting and Pasting. Use your own words to annotate or outline lecture. 
Part 3: 1 paragraph to answer questions in the lecture. 

Please put all annotations in one document labeled with your name. Due Saturday Feb 16, noon as usual. 
Generally, I like 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing. 
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​
See information about the first Analysis Paper to the right. 
Virgin Mary and Christ, Mosaic in Hagia Sophia, Istanbul 12th Century-- Christian
Picture
Picture
The temptation of Eve, originally  part of the sculptural program Autun Cathedral, France (now in the Rolin Museum, 12th century-- Christian
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Parvati, Hindu goddess of Love, 12th century, stone. 
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Tara, Buddhist Savior, 14th century, gilt copper.

week 5--religious beliefs

February 18

​Influence of Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hindu-- gods and goddesses.

This week's lecture is very important for moving forward. I am not asking you to annotate it this week so you can focus on the longer Analysis Paper. Please read through, especially slides 2-4. 
lecture 5_Art and Religion
The Cult of the Virgin Mary
No Weekly Annotations due this week. However, next week you will incorporate this lecture with the next. 
​
​Analysis paper due on Friday, Feb 22 at midnight. 
First analysis paper instruction
Due Friday Feb 22, midnight.
I suggest you not wait until the last minute.  This is NOT an annotation. It is not an opinion. It's an analysis. We are using the objects to say more about the image, culture and meaning. Do college level research. No dictionaries. No encyclopedias. No Wiki sites. 

Read instructions well. 
​Grading rubric for Analysis Paper 1
Picture
Vitruvian Man, Leonardo daVinci, 1490
Picture
Judith Slaying Holofernes, Artemisia Gentileschi, 1620
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Three Musicians of the Medici Court, Anton Domenico Gabbiani, 1687

week 6--classical revival

February 25

​The Renaissance-- science and 'man as the measure of all things.'

I'm going to apologize for the length of this lecture. The Renaissance was an important time for Western culture and in particular with regards to gender, sexuality and race. 
Lecture 6_The Renaissance
 Click on the link below to watch a short video on the Renaissance.
The video is at the top of the page. There's a short ad first.
Sorry, just wait. 
 The Renaissance put to song.


Assignment 6 (3 parts)
​Part 1: Listen to but don't annotate the song video. It's for fun.
Part 2: 1-2 page summary of lecture. See blue button above. No Cutting and Pasting. Use your own words to annotate (summarize) lecture. 
Part 3: 1 paragraph summary of the most important points in last week's lecture. 

Please put all annotations in one document labeled with your name. 
​Due Saturday,  noon as usual. 

Generally, I like 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing. 
​


Picture
Odalisque with a Slave, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 1842

week 7-- age of empire 

March 4
​Colonialism-- construction of 'difference.'
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lecture 7 Age of Empire
Read one of these articles on the history of Racism and annotate. But don't forget they are both here. You may want to use them for your next analysis paper.

RACE AND RACISM (Western Colonialism)

RACE: The Power of an Illusion
Watch this video clip from a longer video on the Dutch Slave Trade. I am not asking you to annotate. 
Assignment 7 (3 parts)
​Part 1: Annotate one of the readings posted above. 
Part 2: 1-2 page summary of lecture. See blue button above. No Cutting and Pasting. Use your own words to annotate (summarize) lecture. 
Part 3: Answer questions in the lecture. There are 6.

Please put all annotations in one document labeled with your name. 
​Due Saturday,   noon as usual. 

Generally, I like 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing. 
​
Points to Percentages-- check yours
March 11 Spring Break__Enjoy

Picture
Les Demoiselles d Avignon, Pablo Picasso, 1907

Watch this video for better understanding of this piece.
KHAN ACADEMY, LES DEMOISELLES

week 8--european modernism

March 18
​The Industrial Revolution-- chachacha-changes
Lecture 8_Modernism
Analysis Paper 2-- Due Friday, April 5-midnight.
​
Assignment 8 (2 parts)
​Part 1: 1-2 page summary of lecture. See blue button above. No Cutting and Pasting. Use your own words to annotate (summarize) lecture. Please make sure this is an annotation--not notes. 
Part 2: Answer questions in the lecture. 


Watch this video to help with answers in the lecture.
OLYMPIA, MANET
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​
Please put all annotations in one document labeled with your name. 
​Due Saturday,  March 23, noon as usual. 

Generally, I like 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing. 
​
Picture
Bright Side, Winslow Homer, 1865



​Analysis Paper 2-- Due Friday, April 5-midnight.

Grading Rubric for Analysis 2

week 9--civil wars

March 25 
​The United States in the late 1800's and early 1900's
lecture 9_Civil War
Learn about slavery by watching the video below.
Watch/read the other two links and annotate for a grade. 
Watch this video on slavery in America.
​


Racist Images and Messages in Jim Crow Era, PBS

Failure of Reconstruction_History
In this second link, the one from History.com, you need to click on the arrow to start the video and you will get an ad (sorry). Just wait through it to get to the video. 
​
Assignment 9 (2 parts)
​Part 1: 1-2 page summary of lecture. Answer questions in the lecture notes. See blue button above. No Cutting and Pasting. Use your own words to annotate (summarize) lecture. Please make sure this is an annotation--not notes. 
Part 2: Annotate the second two links. 


​
Please put all annotations in one document labeled with your name. 
​Due Saturday,  march 30 noon as usual. 

Generally, I like 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing. 
​
Picture
The Migration Series, Jacob Lawrence, 1940



Points to Percentages-- check yours

week 10--freud. eugenics. immigration.

The 20th Century. Scientific construction of race and gender.
April 1
Lecture 10_freud. immigration
Watch the first 5 minutes of this video. 
​Watch the entire video if you want but write about the migration. It is hard to watch but really good. 
Hint:
Look at slide 2 in this lecture to help with analysis paper.
Also, review reading and lecture from week 1. 
​

​
No Weekly Annotations due this week. However, next week you will incorporate this lecture and link with the next. 
​
​Analysis paper due on FRIDAY, April 5, midnight. 

Use the links in the paper, links on website and lecture before going to other sources please. 


​Analysis Paper 2-- Due Friday, April 5-midnight.

Due Friday midnight.
I suggest you not wait until the last minute.  This is NOT an annotation. It is not an opinion. It's an analysis. We are using the objects to say more about the image, culture and meaning. Do college level research. Compare both pairs. 
No dictionaries. No encyclopedias. No Wiki sites. 

Read instructions well. ​
Grading Rubric for Analysis 2
​
Picture
Picture
Andy Warhol, Querelle, United States, 1982

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Roy Lictenstein, Hopeless, 1963
Points to Percentages-- check yours
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Robert Mapplethorpe, Self-Portrait, 1980
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Barbara Kruger, Untitled, We have Received Orders not to move, 1982
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Kerry James Marshall, Past Times, 1997
Third Analysis Paper-- Due Thursday May 2

​I suggest you look at it now. Images chosen for this analysis have connections to things we've studied earlier in the class. Make the connections in your paper. ​

week 11-13-- contemporary art and difference

Week 11 Post WWII in America
April  8
Lecture 11_Post WWII
This week I've given you a shorter lecture on the Post WWII era in art and culture.

The reason is so you can write your annotation on both the lecture from last week and the one from this week. And watch this link. 

History.com on The Civil Rights Movement


Assignment 11 (3 parts)
​Part 1: Watch links from last week and this week and follow instructions. Write a one paragraph annotation for each. 
Part 2: 1-2  page summary of lecture from last week. No Cutting and Pasting. Use your own words to annotate (summarize) lecture. 
Part 3: 1-2 page summary of lecture from this week. No Cutting and Pasting. Use your own words to annotate (summarize) lecture. 

Please put all annotations in one document labeled with your name. 
​Due Saturday,  

Generally, I like 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing. 
​

​
Week 12 Contemporary Art and Idea
April 15
Feminist Art Movement and Postmodernist Ideas
​


Lecture 12 Feminism_Postmodern
Video of Betye Saar speaking about her piece, "The Liberation of Aunt Jemima."

Assignment 12 (2 parts)
​Part 1: Watch link on Betye Saar and the other video; write a one paragraph annotation on each.  Answer questions at the end of the lecture. Keep it short. I just want to see if you are thinking about it. 
Part 2: Write a 1-2 page summary of lecture from this week. No Cutting and Pasting. Use your own words to annotate (summarize) lecture.​


Please put all annotations in one document labeled with your name. 
​Due Saturday, April 20 . 

Generally, I like 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing. 
​
​

Third Analysis Paper-- Due Thursday May 2

​I suggest you look at it now. Images chosen for this analysis have connections to things we've studied earlier in the class. Make the connections in your paper. ​​
Picture
Jenny Seville, The Mothers, 2011
Picture
Blackish Blues, Wangechi Mutu, 2005
Week 13 Contemporary Art and Idea
April 22
Lecture 13_Art Now
tAssignment 13 (2 parts)
​Part 1: Write a 1-2 page summary of lecture from this week. No Cutting and Pasting. Use your own words to annotate (summarize) lecture.​
Part 2: annotate the video on history and Marlon Riggs. 


Please put all annotations in one document labeled with your name. 
​Due Saturday, April 27, noon 

Generally, I like 12 point type, 1.5 line spacing. 
​
​

Third Analysis Paper-- Due Thursday May 2
I suggest you look at it now. Images chosen for this analysis have connections to things we've studied earlier in the class. Make the connections in your paper. ​ 

Grading rubric for Analysis 3
Picture
Kehinde Wiley, Triple Portrait of Charles I, 2007

week 14--Final papers and reactions

April 29-- Final Paper due Thursday May 2, noon. 

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CHOOSE JUST ONE PAIR TO ANALYZE. DO NOT DO ALL FOUR. I'D LIKE TO SEE IN DEPTH DISCUSSION OF TWO. 

Images chosen for this analysis have connections to things we've studied earlier in the class. Make the connections in your paper. 

Grading rubric for Analysis 3
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