Academy of Art University

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LA126 Seminar in the Arts

Fall Semester 2016

Student Guide to Seminar in the Arts

Welcome to Academy of Art University LA 126, Seminar in the Arts. Since
we began this class in Spring 2002 with two instructors and 25 students, LA 126
has become one of the most popular, top-rated classes in the Liberal Arts department. Students know it as a uniquely memorable, interesting, and fun class, but
Seminar in the Arts is moreits also a challenging opportunity for students to personally confront some of the most exciting and vexing issues facing the arts today.

The original concept behind the class was to take advantage of our San Francisco
location by introducing students to some of the cultural wealth of the Bay Area. This
class will include seven arts-oriented field trips with guided seminar-style discussions of
the key critical and aesthetic issues raised by each event attended. We will explore
these issues both in relation to the particular arts genres represented by the event, and to their place among
the arts as a whole. The class is taught by instructors and guest
speakers who are well-experienced insiders in the practices,
conventions, and issues associated with each type of arts event.

Course Description
This course offers firsthand exposure to genres of the performing and visual arts through an itinerary of field trips combined with in-depth discussion and analysis within the classroom setting. Topics studied include performance art, classical
and modern music, film and theater and literary, fine, and cultural arts.
Course Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
Get firsthand exposure to current works of
performing and visual arts,
Develop and apply understandings of key
aesthetic and critical issues in contemporary and traditional art, music, theater,
and dance,
Learn the fundamentals of appreciating classical music and opera, classical and modern dance, jazz, and staged drama and
musical theater productions,
Compare responses to current arts events
through moderated group discussion and
analysis within the classroom setting,
Demonstrate their understandings and
responses to visual and performing art
works in written assignments, in-class
discussions, and written examinations.
LA126 Seminar in the Arts

Students will be familiar with:

Issues and terms used in analysis and criticism of the visual and
performing arts,
Distinct qualities unique to each of the arts, as well as connections among them,
The evolving relations between fine art and commercial art production,
The differing aesthetics of scripted vs. improvised performance,
Fundamentals of theatrical, musical, and technical design for the
performing arts.
Students will exhibit the following
professional behaviors:
Prepare for, attend, and contribute to all classes.
Arrive on time to class and stay for the full duration.
Meet all assignment and exam deadlines.
Uphold the AAU Academic Honesty Policy
Interact professionally with peers and instructors.
Fall 2016

Academy of Art University

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LA126 Seminar in the Arts

Fall 2016 Event Schedule
Sep 1
Sep 8

Note: Please plan to arrive 30 minutes before the listed showtime.

Introduction to the Class

The Museum and the Mall -Whos Got the Art?

SF Museum of Modern Art 3rd St. near Mission

Sep 15
Sep 22

7:30 PM
Seminar Night
SFJAZZ presents

A Christian McBride Situation

SFJAZZ Center Franklin and Fell

Sep 29
Oct 6

7:30 PM
Seminar Night
ACT and Seattle Repertory Theatre present

King Charles III by Mike Bartlett

ACT Geary near Mason

Oct 13
Oct 20

8:00 PM
Seminar Night / Midterm Exam
Magic Theatre presents

Nogales by Richard Montoya

Magic Theatre Fort Mason Center

Oct 27
Nov 3

8:00 PM
Seminar Night

Yerba Buena Ctr for the Arts presents

Alonzo King Lines Ballet

YBCA Novellus Theater Howard and 3rd St.

Nov 10
Nov 17

7:30 PM
Seminar Night

San Francisco Opera presents

Aida by Giuseppe Verdi

War Memorial Opera House Van Ness at Grove

Dec 1
Dec 8

7:30 PM
Seminar Night

SHN presents Rodgers and Hammersteins

The King and I

Golden Gate Theater Taylor at Market

Dec 15

8:00 PM
Seminar Night / Final Exam

LA126 Seminar in the Arts

Fall 2016

Academy of Art University

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Class Structure

The fifteen class sessions are divided into event nights and seminar nights (see the attached Fall 2016 calendar). September 8 and 22, October 6 and 20, November 3 and 17th, and December 8 are the event nights.
The other nights are seminar nights. Exams will be given October 13 and December 15. There is no class on
November 24.

What happens on
Event Nights
On event nights, class will
meet at the performance location one half hour before the
beginning of the performance.
Performances usually start at
7:30 or 8:00. Students are responsible for knowing the
starting time of the performance.
For more distant
events, bus transportation will
be arranged. Any bus or other
group transportation will be
scheduled to leave 491 Post
promptly at 7:10 PM.
Once at the venue, you will
first need to sign in on the attendance roster, We will begin
taking attendance thirty minutes before showtime. After
you have signed in, you will be
given your ticket and the
weeks homework assignment,
which is due at the beginning
of class the following week.
These are the three things
students must take responsibility for at each event we attend--(1) sign attendance, (2)
get ticket, (3) get assignment.

LA126 Seminar in the Arts

Please try to arrive promptly.

One instructor will continue to
take attendance and give out
tickets and assignments until
ten minutes before showtime.
Students who arrive for class
any later than this will not be
admitted to the event. Students are also responsible for
staying for the entire event.
Most events will end between
10:00 and 11:00.

What happens on
Seminar Nights
The other nights of the semester will be seminar nights,
devoted to critical analysis and
discussion of the events we
have attended. The first thing
that happens is the collecting of
the homework assignments related to the previous weeks
event. You are expected to arrive for class on time, and to
have your completed assignment ready to turn in at the
very beginning of class. A
late penalty is assessed for
work not handed in on time.
After the homework is collected, we will review and discuss the previous weeks event.
This is the seminar part of
the class. Discussion participation is expected of all students, and is an important part
of your grade in the class.

The second half of class on

seminar night is taken up with
a lecture or presentation giving
a preview of the event to be
seen the following week. The
instructor will introduce students to the nature of the event
to be attended, and focus on
significant issues related to it,
which will be addressed in the
next written assignment. This
is where youll learn what to
watch for, how to listen, and
how best to appreciate and understand the wide variety of
works well be seeing.
You should plan on paying
careful attention and taking
good notes on seminar nights.
Your understanding of the key
issues raised during seminar
night discussions and presentations will be essential to your
success on the midterm and
final exams.
Fall 2016

Academy of Art University

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Fall 2016 Instructors

Please make a note of these email addresses. These are the only addresses to use for contacting
your instructor. We will not be responsible for work sent to any other email addresses.

Craig Griffeath
cgriffeath@comcast.net

Claudia Holm
cloudart55@gmail.com

Your Grade in this Class

Grading for Seminar in the Arts is done by a numerical point system. There are 1000 total possible
points in the semester. Your final grade will be based on the total number of points you earn.
Weekly Attendance
In Class Participation
Written Assignments
Midterm Exam
Final Exam

(15% of total grade)

(20% of total grade)
(35% of total grade)
(15% of total grade)
(15% of total grade)

Final Grade Calculation

950 = A
800 = B670 = D+
900 = A770 = C+
630 = D
870 = B+
730 = C
600 = D830 = B
700 = C<600 = F

The ways you can earn points in this class are:

Attendance10 points for every class you attend, 150 points possible for the semester. Continuous class
attendance is required and is your responsibility. Attendance means arriving on time and staying for the entire
class.
Homework7 Assignments each worth 50 points, 350 points possible for the semester. Assignments
must be presented in a professional manner. Papers must be typed (double-spaced, standard 12-point font),
proofread and spell-checked, and should show care and thought in preparation, structure, and content.
DiscussionsYou should plan to participate often; this class is based on the sharing of everyones views
your opinions are important! 200 points possible for the semester.
ExamsA Midterm Exam and a Final Exam, each worth 150 points, 300 points possible for the semester.
You will be asked to compare and contrast the characteristics of the various events seen, to demonstrate familiarity with the main topics of class discussions, and to show an understanding of particular concepts and
terms discussed in class.
An excused absence does not change the due date for assignments. All work must be submitted on time
to receive full credit. Work submitted later the same week will be reduced by one grade. Work that is more
than two weeks late will not be accepted. All written work must be in the students own words. Any direct or
indirect use of source material must be properly noted and cited to its original author. Plagiarism will not be
tolerated. Cheating on any requirement in this class will result in an F for the assignment with no chance to
make up the work.
This class helps students achieve the following Liberal Arts Program Learning Outcomes:
Critical Thinking and Analysis

Written Communication Skills

Appreciation of Art and Aesthetic Sensitivity

LA126 Seminar in the Arts

Historical Awareness

Broadened Interest in the World Around Them

Fall 2016