Response Assignment # 3

Hi folks – I decided to recap what I told you in class here, just to be on the safe side. It was a bummer that the electricity on campus kept us from having a real class. As you know, I sent along two power points to your email addresses – one on surrealism and one on the Atrocity Exhibit, both of which I was going to discuss in class. Try to look through both as best you can and get the gist of what I was trying to get across.

I’m posting the links to the power points here, as well:

• Surrealism lecture / Surrealism (Wikipedia)

• Atrocity Exhibit

Also – check out these videos on Hans Bellmer:

• Abstract the Human
• The Anatomy of the Image (Drawings of Hans Bellmer)
• The Bizarre and Erotic Doll Art of Hans Bellmer

Your assignment for these (above that I was going to show/discuss in class) is to write either a blog response or written response sent to me by email about your thoughts on surrealism, the atrocity exhibit, and Hans Bellmer. Please cover each of these to some extent. What you write is open – you can write a response to the art itself, the connections you are making between surrealism and contemporary transgressive art, and/or a discussion of each of these as framed through the lens of the readings and discussions we’ve had thus far. I’m basically looking for a thoughtful, informed response and an indication that you are getting the influences/connections to transgressive art today. This assignment will count as an “in-class” assignment and is due either on this blog or to me via email by the time class begins on Wednesday.

For Wednesday, July 28th please read/view the following:

• YouTube clip on Polynesian Tattoos.
• Shulevitz, Judith “Shock Art: Round up the Usual Defenses,” New York Times, March 23, 2003.

Also – read (or re-read) previous student blog posts and comment on something discussed previously (expand/extend the conversation), as well as the tattoo video and article above from Shulevitz. This blog response is for Wednesday’s class and is in addition to the assignment above and will count towards your blog response grades.

At 1:30 next Wednesday, we’ll be going to the tattoo gallery in town (Marlow Ink). But we will meet at 11 a.m. in the classroom first and go over some of this week’s materials. We’ll leave together from campus to the tattoo gallery around 1 p.m.

Friday will be spent on final presentations, and your final integrative essay (the guidelines for which can be found here) is due on Sunday, August 1st by NOON (no exceptions!).

Response Assignment # 2

Readings (for Monday, July 26th):

• Chapter 3: “Atrocity Exhibition”  in Aftershock: The Ethics of Contemporary Transgressive Art (available on Blackboard).

Recommended Readings (short):

• Hans Bellmer in The Art Institute of Chicago: The Wandering Libido and the Hysterical Body
• Junk for Code

Please post a response to the readings by Monday, July 26th before class begins.

Response Assignment #1

For Friday, July 23rd, please read and post a response to the following:

• Introduction & Chapter 1: “Everybody Hates a Tourist,” in Aftershock: The Ethics of Contemporary Transgressive Art (available on Blackboard).

Your blog response must be posted by class start time on Friday, July 23rd! You can write about anything that takes your attention or raises questions. I’m more interested in quality than quantity – so be sure to thoughtfully engage with the text.

Welcome!

Welcome to your Art Transgressions class blog!

You will be expected to write three substantive, thoughtful blog posts in the course of the next two weeks. Respond to each posted assignment by clicking on the “comments” link (until someone posts the first comment, it’ll read “no comments”). The assignments will vary – between responses to your readings, gallery exhibitions, and thoughts about class discussions.

I also expect you to also engage your fellow classmates in discussions – so be sure to read a handful of comments that precede yours so that you are not merely reiterating a point that has already been made, but are rather adding to, enriching, and expanding the discussion that is taking place.

I am more concerned about quality of writing than quantity. In other words, I will not ask that you write a certain length or amount, but am rather more interested that your responses are critical and engage the material or topic at hand.

In order to receive credit, you must put your first name on all posts and email address. I respond to all posts via email to whatever email address you enter, with grades, so be sure to enter the email address you check most often.

* If, after your first or second posting, you do not see your blog post right away, it’s because it has probably gone into moderation (for me to approve), so don’t panic. If, for any reason, you can’t get your post up, you can email me with it or bring it into class the morning it is due.