This document outlines the course description, objectives, evaluation criteria, schedule, and policies for a course on visual arts today. The course will provide an introduction to contemporary visual culture and examine avant-garde movements and the impact of new technologies through historical context. Students will analyze and compare works of art, develop their vocabulary, and take four examinations throughout the semester to assess their understanding. Weekly discussions, submissions and exams will comprise the evaluation.

1. The Visual Arts Today
PROFESSOR WILL ADAMS • WADAMS5@VALENCIACOLLEGE.EDU
Office hours by appointment
Course Description
An introduction to contemporary visual culture, its current controversies and its
historical roots. The avant-garde movements of the modern period and the impact of new
technologies and media will be examined within a rich historical context. Topics will include
international exhibitions, selling art, art and popular culture, censorship, and the relation
between words and images.
Course Objectives
 Identify works of art by style, artist, period, and medium.
 Place artworks within social and historical context.
 Expand art vocabulary, including architectural terms.
 Identify architectural elements in conjunction with specific cultural developments.
 Compare and contrast various works of art.
 Understand a historical timeline and its relationship to the art of the time.
Required Text
 None
StudentEvaluation Formula
1. Discussion Postings 30%
You will be required to post at least twice on each week’s discussion board.
Your first, original post will be due by 11:59 PM ET each Wednesday evening
Your second, response post will be due by 11:59 PM ET each Friday evening
Your second post must respond to a classmate’s first, original post
Late posts will incur a 5% penalty for each day late
Discussion boards will close at 11:59 PM ET each Sunday evening
2. Weekly Submissions 35%

2. You will be required to also submit a written or multimedia submission each week
Your submission will be due by 11:59 PM ET each Friday evening
Late submissions will incur a 5% penalty for each day late
Submissions will be close at 11:59 PM ET each Sunday evening
3. Examinations 35%
Four long-form examinations will be administered, once at week 4, once at week 8
(midterm), once at week 12, and at week 16.
Examinations will not be cumulative in their subject matter.
A study guide for each examination will be posted on Monday of each week in which there
is an exam.
Examinations will be due by 11:59 PM ET and will not be accepted late.
Grading Scale
100 – 90% = A
89 – 80% = B
79 – 70% = C
69 – 60% = D
59 – 0% = F
Weekly Schedule & DueDates
WEEK LESSONS & ACTIVITIES
WEEK 1
Monday August 25 –
Sunday August 31
READ
 Course Syllabus
 Art of the Stone Age PowerPoint
 Proust Questionnaire
DISCUSS
 Art in Context Discussion
o 1st Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday, August 27
o 2nd Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, August 29
SUBMIT
 Proust Questionnaire Responses: Due by 11:59 PM ET on
Friday, August 29
WEEK 2
Monday September 1 –
Sunday September 7
READ
 Art of the Archaic Greece PowerPoint
 Classical Greek Architecture PowerPoint
DISCUSS

3.  Symmetry: Is It Truly Beauty? Discussion
o 1st Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday,
September 3
o 2nd Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, September 5
SUBMIT
 Classical Greek Architecture Homework: Due by 11:59 PM ET
on Friday, September 5
WEEK 3
Monday September 8
–
Sunday September 14
READ
 Imperial Roman Art & Architecture PowerPoint
 Pompeii: Roman Time Capsule PowerPoint
DISCUSS
 The Art of Propaganda Discussion
o 1st Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday,
September 10
o 2nd Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, September 12
SUBMIT
 Roman Bust Homework: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday,
September 12
WEEK 4
Monday September 15
–
Sunday September 21
READ
 Romanesque Architecture PowerPoint
 Gothic Architecture PowerPoint
 Exam #1 Study Guide
DISCUSS
 Heaven on Earth Discussion
o 1st Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday,
September 17
o 2nd Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, September 19
SUBMIT
 Exam #1: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, September 21
WEEK 5
Monday September 22
–
Sunday September 28
READ
 Rebirth: The Italian Renaissance PowerPoint
 Fooling The Eye: Brunelleschi, Alberti & Linear Perspective
PowerPoint

4. DISCUSS
 3D Films Discussion
o 1st Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday,
September 24
o 2nd Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, September 26
SUBMIT
 Linear Perspective Homework: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday,
September 26
WEEK 6
Monday September 29
–
Sunday October 5
READ
 The Northern Renaissance
 The Noble Stillness: Baroque Still Life Painting
DISCUSS
 The Art of Death Discussion
o 1st Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday, October 1
o 2nd Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, October 3
SUBMIT
 Baroque Vanitas Still-Life Homework: Due by 11:59 PM ET on
Friday, October 3
WEEK 7
Monday October 6 –
Sunday October 12
READ
 The Art of Romanticism
 The Art of Impressionism
DISCUSS
 Impressionism Discussion
o 1st Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday, October 8
o 2nd Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, October 10
SUBMIT
 Romantic Hero Homework: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday,
October 10
WEEK 8
Monday October 13 –
Sunday October 19
READ
 The Wildness of the Fauves PowerPoint
 Picasso & Cubism PowerPoint
 Exam #2 Study Guide
DISCUSS
 Fauvism Discussion

5. o 1st Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday, October
15
o 2nd Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, October 17
SUBMIT
EXAM #2: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, October 19
WEEK 9
Monday October 20 –
Sunday October 26
READ
 The Art of Surrealism PowerPoint
 The Art of Recovery: The Art of the WPA PowerPoint
DISCUSS
 WPA Art & Artists Discussion
o 1st Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday, October
22
o 2nd Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, October 24
SUBMIT
 Dream Diary Homework: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday,
October 24
WEEK 10
Monday October 27 –
Sunday November 2
READ
 The Scene Inside: Abstract Expressionism PowerPoint
 Pop! Goes The World PowerPoint
DISCUSS
 Warhol & The Pop Movement Discussion
o 1st Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday, October
29
o 2nd Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, October 31
SUBMIT
 Endangered Species Homework: Due by 11:59 PM ET on
Friday, October 31
WEEK 11
Monday November 3 –
Sunday November 9
READ
 Frank Lloyd Wright PowerPoint
 A Whimsical Motion: The Oeuvre of Alexander Calder
PowerPoint
DISCUSS
 Alexander Calder Discussion

6. o 1st Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday,
November 5
o 2nd Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, November 7
SUBMIT
Frank Lloyd Wright Homework: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday,
November 7
WEEK 12
Monday November 10
–
Sunday November 16
READ
 The Oeuvre of Christo & Jeanne-Claude PowerPoint
 Exam #3 Study Guide
DISCUSS
 Rendering The Familiar Strange Discussion
o 1st Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday,
November 12
o 2nd Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, November 14
SUBMIT
Exam #3: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, November 16
WEEK 13
Monday November 17
–
Sunday November 23
READ
 Neo-Realist Art PowerPoint
 Film Noir PowerPoint
DISCUSS
 Film Noir Discussion
o 1st Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday,
November 19
o 2nd Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, November 21
WEEK 14
Monday November 24
–
Sunday November 30
THANKSGIVING BREAK – NO ASSIGNMENTS
WEEK 15
Monday December 1 –
Sunday December 7
READ
 We Don’t Need Another Hero: The Art of Feminism
PowerPoint
DISCUSS
 Feminism & The Patriarchy Discussion

7. o 1st Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Wednesday, December
3
o 2nd Post: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Friday, December 5th
WEEK 16
Monday December 8 –
Sunday December 14
SUBMIT
FINAL EXAM: Due by 11:59 PM ET on Sunday, December 14
Submission Guidelines
All written submissions should be set in Arial 12 point font, with double spacing and
standard 1” page margins, and submitted as either .docx or .pdf format. Additionally, each
submission should begin with the following header, placed at the top, left side of the first page:
Your First & Last Name
ARH1000
Prof. Will Adams
Assignment Due Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
Finally, minimum page totals for any written assignment require that the written page
be filled in its entirety to count as one page. In other words, if a written assignment requires 2
pages, but the student only writes 1.5, the student will not earn all possible points for the
assignment.
Late WorkPolicy
 No late work will be accepted.
 Examinations must be taken on, or before, the date assigned
 Exceptions will only be granted in the case of a documented emergency, and only with
the instructor’s written permission
Academic Honesty
Plagiarism is intellectual theft and will not be tolerated. Presentation of the ideas and
words of others as if they are your own work constitutes plagiarism. This includes use of
material from books, the internet or any other source. The student is expected to perform his
or her own research and present his or her own thoughts. Direct use of another author’s words

8. or ideas, as well as paraphrasing must be cited. Plagiarism in any work will result in a grade
of zero for that assignment.
Computer/Equipment Use Policy
Use of computers in the Business, IT, and Public Service classrooms is restricted to
those activities designated by the instructor to enhance the class materials. Any other use is
strictly forbidden. Inappropriate use includes, but is not limited to:
 Use of computer to send E-mail or access Internet sites not specifically assigned in
class.
 Use of computer for job, internship, homework or other activities not assigned in class.
 Modifying any hardware or software system configuration or setting.
 Activities not in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct
 Use of computers in the departmental open lab is limited to those activities involved
with preparing homework or coursework in this department and is subject to the same
restriction as listed above.
Computer use is remotely monitored; any student using computers inappropriately may be
subject to dismissal from class or banishment from the lab. Subsequent offense may be sent to
the campus administration for further disciplinary action.
Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a
notification from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with
the professor, preferably during the first two weeks of class. The Office for Students with
Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities.
Disclaimer
This outline may be altered, at the instructor’s discretion, during the course of the term.
It is the responsibility of the student to make any adjustments as announced.