| Fall 2011 Visual Studies Courses |
|
|
VIS STD 185X Songs and Places What are the connections between song and place—visual, musical, and otherwise? How can we describe these connections--give them form? Music and place have long been intertwined, and the particulars of place have given rise to some of our most memorable songs: “On the Banks of the Ohio,” “Shenandoah” “Night Train to Memphis,” “Red River Valley,” “ Sweet Home Chicago.” Whether the folk lyrics from a Russian village on the banks of the Pripyet, or a single line from a shepherd’s flute in the Carpathian mountains, the songster licks of John Hurt down in Avalon, Mississippi, or a precisely bent blues note on a red electric guitar from Muddy Waters in Southside Chicago—the connection is endlessly evocative. However, we live in a world where traditional places--and the traditional songs that come from them--are rapidly disappearing, inundated by the juggernaut of an international commercial culture which supplants (dis-places/re-places) them entirely. The Americanhamburger franchise on a street in Venice--or Moscow or Jakarta—is but emblematic, a bit of spindrift on the face of a wave in which much has already been swept away. And regardless of how one views this phenomenon, it will no doubt be remembered as a primary characteristic of our times. In this seminar-with-projects course we will investigate these changes by looking closely at the original connection between songs and places—and by making images in response. The medium will be open—drawing, painting, collage, writing, hybrid forms all acceptable. We’ll begin each week by listening to some songs—and learning to sing them. Together with a selection of visual images. Studio projects follow, outside of class. We then reconvene, the following week, to look at and discuss the work. Followed by a new set of songs. During the fall term the course emphasizes American folk songs. Prerequisites? Upper division standing. At least some studio art and music background. Class size limited to 15 students. Application procedures: Send me an email with the following: Your name. Where were you born? Where did you grow up? Your year (junior, senior, grad)? Your Major? Musical background? Art background? Tell me something about your interest in this class… Include 2-4 jpegs of your artwork (these must be identified with YOUR NAME on each jpeg) and send to Anthony Dubovsky at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it VIS STD 186B (1-4) Formerly 186C. Staged Photography If we see our passage on earth as a theatrical play, what snapshots of our experiences would we wish to share with our contemporaries? At the core of this class is the desire to go deep within ourselves and explore how we can artistically and critically materialize the intimate relationship between our body/mind and the arts. Some of the situated questions we will raise are, for example: What aesthetic principles underlie and inform our practices? How do we see the boundaries between Design, Art, and Photography? What is our relation to light, darkness, and color? How do we acknowledge our construction of reality through our senses and lenses? VIS STD 198 (3) No more than 4 units allowed each semester. Course may be repeated for credit. Must be taken on a passed/not passed basis. Studies developed to meet needs. Heart-Mind, Meditation and Spiritual Paths Open to all majors, graduates and undergraduate class levels. Graduate students should enroll in Vis Std 298, sec 001. 1st and 2nd year students should enroll in Env Des 98, sec 001. 3rd and 4th year students should enroll in this section. The purpose of this course is to discover how the anxieties and confusing questions that arise in our mind can be grounded-- and even dissolved-- into the equanimous space of our Body-Heart, lending greater clarity. To directly experience this realization, we will meditate and meet each week with fourteen enlightened leaders from many different spiritual traditions. The speakers will include ( in order of appearance starting August 25 ): Rick Hanson, Sundari Jensen, Anam Thubten, Pamela Wilson, Deng Ming-Dao, Siri Vedya Singh Khalsa and Sat Santokh Khalsa, John Tarrant, Adyashanti, Marc Gafni, Jennifer Berezan, Hameed Ali, Nina Wise, Andrew Harvey, and Jai Uttal. Our guests will represent the traditions of psychology/neurology and spirituality, Kriya Yoga, Nyingma Thibetan Buddhism, Advaita, Taoism , Sikh Dharma and Kundalini Yoga, Rinzai Zen, Non-duality, Kabbalah, Singing and Spiritual Practice , Diamond Approach to Self Realization, Vipassana, Christianity, and Singing and the Path of Devotion.
VIS STD 280 (1-3) Course may be repeated for credit as topic varies. Fifteen hours of lecture/seminar per unit per semester. Prerequisites: 181,186. Advanced work in visual studies and photography. Graduate Seminar in Visual Studies This is a class about imagination and ideas. A road trip, perhaps—or a voyage. We begin each week with a theme—often a single word---as point of departure. Each person in the group does a project in response—a drawing, a painting, a collage—the medium is open. In the following class we look at the work, and a conversation ensues. And then, a new word. Note that the hand is important throughout--how the sense of touch becomes a guide. Following this format, the class develops a certain rhythm--a kind of opening. Not just in terms of skill (although skill can play a part), but more in finding the right visual language to give form to one’s feelings about and understanding of the surrounding world. A challenge that carries over into any of the design fields—and beyond…. Required: One project each week, made with energy and commitment... Attendance at all class meetings, and a well-crafted book with reproductions of your work, including a short essay about your journey, due at the end of the term. Open to grad students and some seniors from all departments, but limited in enrollment to 12 students. This can be a good place to explore your initial thesis ideas. If you're interested, send Anthony Dubovsky an e-mail with a paragraph or two about yourself and your backgound in the arts, along with 2-3 jpegs of your work. Make sure your name is on each jpeg. Send to this address: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . VIS STD 298 (1–5) No more than 5 units allowed each semester. Course may be repeated for credit. Special group studies on topics to be introduced by instructor or students. Heart-Mind, Meditation and Spiritual Paths Open to all majors, graduates and undergraduate class levels. Graduate students should enroll in Vis Std 298, sec 001. 1st and 2nd year students should enroll in Env Des 98, sec 001. 3rd and 4th year students should enroll in this section. The purpose of this course is to discover how the anxieties and confusing questions that arise in our mind can be grounded-- and even dissolved-- into the equanimous space of our Body-Heart, lending greater clarity. To directly experience this realization, we will meditate and meet each week with fourteen enlightened leaders from many different spiritual traditions. The speakers will include ( in order of appearance starting August 25 ): Rick Hanson, Sundari Jensen, Anam Thubten, Pamela Wilson, Deng Ming-Dao, Siri Vedya Singh Khalsa and Sat Santokh Khalsa, John Tarrant, Adyashanti, Marc Gafni, Jennifer Berezan, Hameed Ali, Nina Wise, Andrew Harvey, and Jai Uttal. Our guests will represent the traditions of psychology/neurology and spirituality, Kriya Yoga, Nyingma Thibetan Buddhism, Advaita, Taoism , Sikh Dharma and Kundalini Yoga, Rinzai Zen, Non-duality, Kabbalah, Singing and Spiritual Practice , Diamond Approach to Self Realization, Vipassana, Christianity, and Singing and the Path of Devotion.All speakers who are for the most part well-know published authors or performers will address ANY of your questions and present their understanding of who we are, what is the nature of our mind and how meditation and other techniques may help us become intimate with ourselves, while possibly changing our outlook on living, our creativity and understanding of knowledge versus experience. Since there are no GSI”S for this class , I will include here all necessary details: Work to be handed out mid semester and for the final will include 1) a copy of short daily journal entries on your daily meditation practice ( practice 10 minutes at first each day— first thing in the morning is strongly recommended -- and slowly increase to 20 minute over a period of 2 to 3 weeks; you are to write down your starting and ending time as well as anything you notice or realize); 2) a copy of your notes taken during the class – include date and speaker’s name--; and 3) your attendance at sections meetings outside of class , each week for 90 to 120 minutes ( these would include meditation and discussion at the discretion of the group). In case we cannot organize sections, we will replace # 3 above by the notes taken while you will be listening—outside of class-- to five other spiritual leaders in the Bay Area ( such as those presented by eastbayopencircle in Berkeley or the California Institute of Integral Studies in SF or any other organization ). Copies of these notes (81/2 x 11”) are to be presented for the mid term and the final in 2 (or 3) distinct stapled packages – daily journal notes, class notes, and eventually notes from attendance to 5 additional public presentations—including labeling and your name on each package. The 2 or 3 packages are to be assembled in a folder ( a three-ring binder would be best ) with your name ( please follow these requirements attentively for I will discount any work that is missing even one of these elements). Your grade will be based on the following: 60% for attendance, 20% for journal entries and class notes, and 20% for attendance of weekly sections ( to be eventually replaced by notes during meeting with 5 additional speakers). You will need a 90% grade in all categories to pass the class. No absence will be accepted without a doctor’s note (and if you are absent more than one time during the class time –or section time--, you will not pass the class). No changes in the requirements can be accepted. Self attendance : We do not have time for calling a roll so we will do the following: you will write your name and sign on a very long paper unrolled on the side of the class until 6:10. This paper will then be turned over at 6:10; you will record your name again and sign at 9 pm on the other side of the paper. If your name is missing from one side or the other, your presence will be recorded as being for half of the class. General class schedule: Please be ready by 6pm if you can. 6 to 6:10 : self attendance 6:10 to 6:30 : meditation 6:30 to 7:30 : speaker’s intervention, short practices, meditations, questions and answers. 7:30 to 7:40 : break 7:40 to 8:30 : speaker’s intervention, Q&A 8:30 to 8:40 : meditation 8:40 to 9:00 : administration , announcements, etc.. 9:00 : self attendance A number of volunteers will be needed to assist with leading the meditation sections (anyone with meditation experience would be fine), setting up b-space, recording presence, audio-visual set-up, welcoming guests, etc… Please send me a note in advance if you are interested in being a volunteer and we will meet at the end of the first day of class to organize the tasks and sections. Professor’s site: jeanpaulbourdier.com
VIS STD 299 (1–5) One unit will be assigned for each 4 hours of student effort per week. Course may be repeated for credit. Individual studies in cluding reading and individual research under the supervision of a faculty adviser and designed to reinforce the student's background in areas related to the proposed topic. |