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[Feb. 1st, 2010 • 08:30 pm] |
Courses Spring 2010
I've now had all of my classes once each, so here's a run down of each, and my week at large:
Monday:
9-4: Digital & Traditional Routes: Painting into Printmaking
6-9: Multi-Level Drawing Studio: How to Steal
Tuesday:
Nothing
Wednesday:
6-9: Multi-Level Drawing Studio: How to Steal
Thursday:
6-9: History of Comics: Silver Age through the Graphic Novel
Friday:
9-4: Multi-Level Drawing Studio: Comic Studio
Saturday:
1-4: Anatomy & Physiology
The classes, in the order which I first had them-
History of Comics: Silver Age through the Graphic Novel
Basic Idea: A history course chronicling the course of comic book development from the beginning of the Silver Age until the earliest examples of the graphic novel. The Silver Age began in 1956, after the Kefauver trials over the link between juvenile delinquency and comics, but really came into it's own in the early 60's with the birth of Marvel comics; the course then moves into the Bronze Age, defined from the early 70's to the mid 80's, characterized by a break from the CCA (Comic Code Authority) and an emphasis on more mature storytelling. From there, the class chronicles early graphic novels, up to and including the monumentous year of 1985 (Moore's Watchmen, Miller's Dark Knight Returns, Spiegelman's Maus). The class will also examine the goings-on of underground comics during these eras, including the "comix" scene of 1960's San Francisco, zines of the 70's and 80's, and influential works from independent artists globally.
How is the course itself... Seems like it will be a good course. The reading load actually seems kind of light, which is disappointing, but the professor seems really knowledgable, and he actually assembled his own coursebook of selected readings for us to work from. He seems like a smart guy, and reasonably entertaining. The class is a little too large, regrettably, though- because of financial struggles, SAIC is increasing class sizes to help with the budget. What would've been a 20-student class is now 30, which makes the classroom pretty packed. At least the subject-matter is interesting enough that I'll want to stay in the classroom. Alas, a girl met and liked last year (and considered asking out), Mercedes, walked into the class to see if there was an open spot, but was denied entry because it was too full already... too bad, I've never had a class with her.
Multi-Level Drawing Studio: Comic Studio
Basic Idea: I don't think it's actually called "Comic Studio," but I think it might be "Narrative Ink," but either way, it's a studio about comics. More specifically, about the formal techniques of how comics are a unique medium for storytelling. As a studio class, we will be focusing on the production of work- however, we'll also be having a lot of discussions, lectures, and critiques to explore the exclusive attributes to comics, as well as the attributes it shares with other mediums, and how these can be utilized to most effectively tell a story.
How is the course itself... Friday morning, still sad that Mercedes wasn't able to stay in my comic history class... but lo! Who walks into class a few minutes late? Mercedes, who had also walked into this class hoping there might be an open spot, and this time, there was. Not only an open spot on the roster, but one open seat left, next to me.
:D
But on the class itself, I'm really excited for this one. The instructor, Christa Donner, has been recommended to me by several people, and she seems to be pretty knowledgeable on the whole. Unlike most studio courses, we actually have required reading (just one book, Scott McCloud's famous Understanding Comics), as well as a pretty long list of recommended reading both on comics formally as well as famous comics themselves. We'll be working with professional materials and getting demos on pro-techniques that I've never had a chance to learn before, but more than anything, the class will emphasis formal qualities (pacing, composition, etc.) over raw technical skill, which I think is a quality that will lead to greater improvement for the class at large.
Anatomy & Physiology
Basic Idea: Anatomy & Physiology... of humans.
How is the course itself... Ehh. I'm getting a lot of flashbacks to Bio 2 from high school, both in the class's content and in the room itself. SAIC has only one science lab, and I've never been to it until now, but it's very reminiscent of those from Farmington HIgh School. I was hoping the class would be a little more pointed towards anatomy for the artist, but apparently not. It won't be a bad class, but I just wish it was more... art school. I've been spoiled by SAIC (mostly) not forcing us to take non-artsy classes.
Digital & Traditional Routes: Painting into Printmaking
Basic Idea: Print is a medium of high precision because of the ability to recreate the same images over and over again with multiple runs of the same plate/screen/block. Painting as a medium is known for it's flexibility, and the extreme variety possible due to combinations of paint, surface variation, and brush technique. This class is meant to be a combination of the two, using print & painting in conjunction to create unique compositions and surface effects. A major emphasis in the class will be painting on top of prints, however, there will also be other techniques discussed.
How is the course itself... I think I'll like this one a lot, I just need to be sure to focus in on my own studio practice and use the material studies to accomplish my own goals. This sounds obvious, but what I mean to say is I need to avoid making pieces that are good but exist only for the sake of the material processes; I need to make pieces which are good, and utilize the materials, but moreover, they accomplish my goals as an artist and exist within my realms of interest- illustration, comic art, conceptual art for film, etc. It's a 2-instructor course, one of whom I've had before (George Liebert), whom I liked a lot, the other I haven't had, but have been recommended. Just bought my screen for screenprinting today, so here's to hoping it's money well spent.
Multi-Level Drawing Studio: How to Steal
Basic Idea: Appropriation, according to the dictionary, means "4. to take to or for oneself; take possession of.
5. to take without permission or consent; seize; expropriate," which is what this class is all about- not really stealing in a legal sense, but taking imagery from outside sources and incorporating it into your own work. Maybe it's design aspects, maybe it's composition, maybe it's just little visual cues that act as references to other works. Whatever the case may be, the class is a studio about producing work featuring appropriation as well as a discussion about how appropriation can be used most effectively and intelligently.
How is the course itself... Hard to say so far. The only class I've had so far was only, like, 30 minutes long, so I don't have a strong gauge on the course so far. The instructor seems really cool and very entertaining, which is cool, and several people in the class seem to be returning students of his- implying that he's a good enough teacher that people want him more than once. The subject is cool, and he seems to be into some interesting stuff. Very material oriented, too. My only fear comes from that he might emphasize fine-art practice over popular-art practice regarding appropriation; which is to say, appropriating from anywhere, but using it in fine art rather than popular art. |
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