Syllabus
A-H 525
Genres & Media:
Collage, Collaboration, & the International Mail Art Movement
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Fall 2016 Time: W 2:00-4:30pm
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Prof. Miriam Kienle Office: 301 Fine Arts Building Email: miriam.kienle@uky.edu Office Hours: T-TH 2:00-4:30
Canvas
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Course Description:
This intensive seminar will examine the practices, histories, and theories of the international “mail art” movement. Looking at the movement’s beginnings in mid-century America with collaborative collaging of the New York Correspondence School, we will analyze how mail art addressed key changes to communication systems in later half of the Twentieth Century, and by extension conceptions of identity and community. Extending beyond the US, we will also study the transnational character of the mail art movement from the 1970s onward. Examining how mail art worked across divergent cultural circumstances—from Soviet-era Budapest to Buenos Aires under the dictatorship—this course will engage issues of circulation, connectivity, and community in and between specific national contexts during the Cold War and beyond. This course will center around the production of an exhibition, focusing on: the selection of objects, catalogue entries, and short form essays.
Warning:
There is material in this course that some students might find objectionable due to its violent, sexual, or political content, or the sum of all three. Any student who thinks they might be offended by this material should not remain enrolled in this course.
Course goals:
- Expose students to the important yet under studied post WWII art movement.
- Cultivate the ability to periodize and culturally contextualize the artists and groups associated with mail art.
- Expand student’s capacity for reading challenging texts and the ability to synthesize them for presentation in class.
- Familiarize students with primary sources and how to utilize them.
- Become familiar with how to conceptualize and organize an art exhibition.
- Develop skills in research and writing on specialized topics contemporary art.
- Learn exhibition the collection software OMEKA and standards for collection content management.
Readings: Will be posted to Canvas as PDFs or links.
Primary Source Material for Exhibition: http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections
Omeka: https://omeka.org/
Course Grading
Attendance & Participation
10%
Reading Presentations
15%
3 Mail Art Object Studies
30% (10% each)
Collaborative Project (OMEKA)
15%
Research Project (3 or 6 object studies)
15% each
Collaborative Curatorial Project
15% each
NOTE: Late work is not acceptable. For each day late, your grade on the assignment will drop by 3% points. Failure to complete all work will result in failure in the course.
A (100-90) is for excellent work. This means mastery of the course material, excellence in execution and expression of various assignments (all completed conscientiously, skillfully, and on time), perfect attendance (no unexcused absences), and consistency in participation and preparedness.
B (89-80) is for very good work. This means demonstrating good knowledge of the course material, completing all assignments proficiently, on time, and well above average, and consistent attendance, active class participation and good preparedness.
C (79-70) is for average work. This means demonstrating basic knowledge of the course material; assignments are decently done; most work is finished, classes have been attended.
D (69-60) is for poor work. This means poor attendance, being routinely unprepared, below par work on the assignments, non-participation in class.
E (less than 60) is for failing work. This means poor attendance, very poor work, or failure to submit work and take required quizzes, being routinely unprepared, non- participation in class and on Facebook, or blatant plagiarism.
Attendance policy: Attendance is required. An excess of two absences will adversely affect student’s grades. The following are acceptable reasons for class absence and considered Excused Absences:
1. Illness of student or grave illness of student's immediate family member
2. Death of a member of the student's immediate family
3. Trips for members of student organizations sponsored by an academic unit, trips for University classes, and trips for participation in intercollegiate athletic events
4. Major religious holidays (prior notification required)
5. Any other circumstance which the instructor finds reasonable cause for nonattendance
Verification of Absences: In absences related to illness, death or travel, an instructor will require verification such as a written doctor's excuse, a death notice from a newspaper, or formal notification from University personnel documenting participation in a trip. When feasible, students should notify their instructors prior to the occurrence of an absence. If prior notification is impossible, students have one week from the time of the excused absence to notify instructors. If you wish me to excuse an absence not covered on the list above, you must submit a written statement explaining the reason for the absence and give it to me in printed form on the first class meeting after the absence. I will consider all serious requests.
Academic integrity and dishonesty:Part II of Student Rights and Responsibilities states that all academic work, written or otherwise, submitted by students to their instructors or other academic supervisors, is expected to be the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression. In cases where students feel unsure about a question of plagiarism involving their work, they are obliged to consult their instructors on the matter before submission. This principle also covers cheating on the exams. Anyone who is caught cheating will automatically fail the course. Available online at www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Code/part1.html and http://www.uky.edu/Ombud/Plagiarism.pdf
Student Disability Services: University of Kentucky is committed to providing equal access to academic programs and university administered activities with reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities, in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act and Amendments (ADAAA). Any student who feels she or he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability or learning challenge is strongly encouraged to contact The Disability Resource Center at 859-257-2754, room 2 Alumni Gym, jkarnes@uky.edu. It is the responsibility of the student to share the letter of accommodation with faculty and staff members. Accommodations will not be implemented until the faculty or staff member has received the official letter. Accommodations are not retroactive. It is the responsibility of the student to discuss implementation of accommodations with each faculty and staff member receiving the letter.
Electronic Devices: I encourage you to use your laptops during class to take notes, but texting and using social media during class is not permitted.It is a distraction to you, and often those around you. The use of social media during class will result in a lower participation grade.
About Me:I am an enthusiastic teacher who is very passionate about art and visual studies. I want you to challenge yourself and work hard, but also have fun! I am flexible and understanding. I however don’t take well to people who: are always late; make excuses; complain about assignments; don’t do their work; turn work in late; leave everything to the last minute; and are disrespectful in any way to me or other students. In other words, if you are engaged, hardworking, thoughtful, reasonable, and nice, we will get along swimmingly!
SCHEDULE of CLASSES
SECTION 1:
INTRODUCTION
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W Aug 24 - Introductory Mail Art Project: OBJECT STUDY #1 NO CLASS: Miriam Presenting Paper at TATE in London Read in Conjunction with Activity: John Held, “A Living Thing in Flight: Contributions and Liabilities of Collecting and Preparing Contemporary Avant-Garde Materials for an Archive,” Archives of American Art Journal, Vol. 40, No. 3/4 (2000), pp. 10-16. |
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Defining Mail Art W Aug 31 Readings:
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New York Correspondence School W Sept 7 Readings:
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Fluxus W Sept 14 Readings:
Assembling Correspondences: A Mail Art Exhibition W Sept 21 Readings:
Canada I W Sept 28 Readings:
Canada II W Oct 5 Readings:
Latin America I W Oct 12 Readings:
Latin America II W Oct 19 Readings:
Eastern and Central Europe I W Oct 26 Readings:
Eastern and Central Europe II W Nov 2 Readings:
Deterretorialzed Art W Nov 9 Readings:
Networked Art W Nov 16 Readings:
THANKSGIVING NO CLASS Queer Correspondences W Nov 30 Readings:
Beyond Mail Art W Dec 7 Readings:
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FINAL PRESENTATIONS: W Dec 14 at 1pm in Bolivar 106