Reading, writing and speaking are not the only ways people communicate. In an increasingly visual society, students need to be able to understand the ways ideas are communicated through visual media. The problem solving format of this course will require students to apply critical thinking skills in order to communicate ideas using the language of form and space. The critiques will require the students to develop their speaking skills and to articulate verbally their thoughts about their work, while thejournal will encourage the development of their writing skills in this same area. The skills are honed by the by the development of a visual vocabulary and careful reading of the works developed by the students.
Visual work can read much like any book.
Careful visual reading of work produced can show the differences between the artists intentions and what is actually presented. For example, the student intends to produce a work that expresses the sensitivity of a quiet love song and uses black and red forms with sharp and jagged edges, visually it reads as harsh and aggressive. The student can take that information gained to refine his or her second approach to the assignment. Visiting artists, Waterfield library, departmental slide collection, and the Clara Eagle and Curris Center Galleries. High academic standards for grading will emphasize skills development and problem solving, with attention paid to improvement.