Chairperson: Dr. Katherine A. Hoffman

Professors: Katherine A. Hoffman, Joseph E. Scannell

Lecturers: Murray W. Dewart, Adrienne LaVallee, Landis K. Magnuson, Fr. Iain G. MacLellan, O.S.B., Alexa Thayer, Elsa Voelcker, Donald R. Cox

 

Fine Arts courses are designed to introduce students to the languages of music and the visual arts, and the cultures and contexts in which they have arisen and developed. Opportunity is provided to sharpen perceptual skills and delve more deeply into personal, as well as larger, cultural identities. Historical courses explore the variety of musical and visual forms which civilizations have devised as means of self expression and describe how they reflect the culture which gave them birth. The historical forces which have shaped artists, their processes of working, and their interaction with society are reviewed.

Studio courses, through the hands-on study of techniques and modes of artistic expression, allow exploration of potential for creative expression as a facet of personal development or as preparation for professional training after graduation. Students are given opportunity to work under practicing artists in a setting which facilitates discussion of technical problems and critique of artistic performance.

Courses in music and the visual arts provide a valuable and often times an indispensable complement to work in other humanistic disciplines. They assist students to prepare for graduate studies and for a variety of career possibilities, including arts administration, museum and gallery work, arts education, art therapy, graphic design, and work in the mass media. Internships are available through the Fine Arts department.

The Fine Arts major is interdisciplinary. The student majoring in Fine Arts will complete twelve courses offered by the department, including Introduction to Art, Drawing, Junior/Senior Seminar and a music course. Five courses will be taken in the field of the visual arts, at least three of which must be in history or criticism. The remaining three courses will be electives within the major and may include visual arts, theater, and/or music. A student must take one course in Ancient or Medieval Art, one course in Renaissance or Baroque Art, and one course in 20th Century Art. Students will complete and defend a senior project/paper under the guidance of an advisor, and take a written, more general, departmental comprehensive examination. Students will select courses in conjunction with an advisor, selecting courses in appropriate areas of language, philosophy, theology, etc., to fit the individual student’s interests and field of concentration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visual Arts

1 Introduction to Art

Events in music and dance as well as the visual arts will be reviewed in journals of criticism and discussed in seminar along with writings by artists on the creative process. Collaborative reports will be assigned on important social issues in contemporary art.

2 Introduction to Architecture

An examination of the practical and aesthetic basis of architecture and urban design. Elementary engineering and design problems in housing and other small scale structures. The properties of common building materials and their appropriate use. Basic drafting and model building.

3 Ancient Art

The development of Egyptian, Greek and Roman art within the context of religious practice and political affairs. Selected topics will include the pyramids at Giza and Saqquara, the treasures of the shaft graves at Mycenae, the inconography of gods and rulers and the evolution of temple design.

6 Art of the Middle Ages

From the foundations of Christian art in late antiquity through the fourteenth century in Europe and the British Isles. The development of a distinctive iconography and new building types to meet the needs of the Church.

7 Renaissance Art

The influence of Humanist thought on the development of a distinctive new style, shaped by the study of Roman buildings and sculpture. The emergence of artist scholars like Alberti and Leonardo da Vinci, influential for their theoretical writings as well as their works of art.

8 Baroque Art

European painting, sculpture and architecture from the seventeenth through the late eighteenth century. The spread of the dramatic Baroque style from Italy throughout Europe (Bernini, Rembrandt, Velazquez, Tiepolo, Reynolds). The development of the more intimate Rococo style, bourgeois realism, and Neoclassicism.

9 Nineteenth Century Art

An examination of revolutionary change in painting, sculpture, and architecture, the changing role of the artist in society from courtier to critic to activist and mystic recluse. Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Naturalism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism are among the movements studied.

10 Twentieth Century Art

A study of revolutionary individuals and movements in the visual arts of the 20th century, including Fauvism, Cubism, Expressionism, Constructionism, Dadaism, the Bauhaus, and Surrealism. Emphasis on European works up to 1945.

11 The Arts of the United States and the Americas.

Aspects of the American experience as reflected in painting, sculpture, architecture, and photography from the colonial period to the end of World War II. Major artists, themes, and movements in the United States with consideration of artistic developments throughout the Americas

14 History of Modern Architecture

The course examines the clash between the progressives, those who embraced the new technologies and the search for a distinctively modern style, and the traditionalists who tried to stem the tide. It also studies problems in housing, high-rise buildings and urban design brought to the fore by the effects of industrialization.

15 Contemporary Art

An exploration of contemporary trends in the visual arts and of the role of the artist in society from 1945 to the present with emphasis on American art. Areas of study will include abstract expressionism, pop art, minimalism, conceptualism, earthworks, neo-expressionism, video, performance art, post-modernism, the breaking of traditional media boundaries, etc.

16 Survey of Latin American Art

An introduction to the art and architecture of Latin America from pre-Columbian civilizations to the present. Native American, European, and African traditions are considered separately and in combination as they lead to contemporary Latin American art forms.

17 Parallel Paths in The Visual Arts and Music

A study of art and music history through examination of the life, work, and times of selected pairs of visual artists and composers of the major historical periods from the Renaissance to the late 19th century. The focus of the course will be on interdisciplinary and the ways in which artworks in different media reflect common themes and ideas of a particular period.

18 Crossing the Boundaries: Twentieth Century Art and Music

An examination of major aesthetic innovations and interdisciplinary relationships in the visual arts and music in the 20th century through the study of selected pairs of visual artists and composers. Various approaches will be investigated through analyses of selected works and their cultural contexts.

21 - 40 Special Topics

Major figures and topics in art history and criticism are offered periodically.

Some examples include:

• 24 Frank Lloyd Wright
• 25 The Family in Art and Film
• 26 Romantic Art and Literature
• 28 Picasso
• 29 Asian Art 30
• Women Artists
• 31 Computer Graphics
• 32 Painting II
• 33 Other figures or topics
• 61 Beginning Acting

An introduction to the basic vocal and physical techniques of acting with emphasis on the development of technical skills and the emotional and intellectual resources required in acting. Improvisations, mime and theatre games are used extensively. Formal acting is explored through monologue and duet acting scenes.

62 Beginning Directing

Instruction and practical experience in the art of staging plays. Selection of materials, script analysis, casting, blocking, rehearsal procedure, and techniques of communication with the actor are explored. Directing methods are examined in a series of short scenes prepared for presentation to the class.

63 Topics in the History of the Theatre

Various phases of theatre development are studied. Representative plays are read as examples for discussion.

64 The Cinematic Eye: A History of Film to 1945

A study of the history of film (motion pictures) as an art form from its origins to the end of World War II. Focus will primarily be on influential European and American films, and major advancements in filmmaking techniques as well as the significance of a film for the society of its time. Different genres of film will be explored as well as the work of major individual directors.

65 Contemporary Film: 1945 to the Present

A study of American and Foreign cinema in the post World War II era. The interaction of film and society, as well as specific genres and directors will be considered.

70 Intermediate Architecture

An exploration of architectural design through a series of collaborative projects focusing on campus and area needs which will enable us to deal with problems in new building, renovation and landscape design.

Prerequisite: Introduction to Architecture or permission of the instructor.

71 Elementary Painting

The principles of color theory and composition are explored in this introduction to the materials and tools of painting. Students work from life to create still lifes, portraits, figure studies and landscapes. Studio work is complemented by readings, critical writings, museum visits, and discussion of artistic works of the past and present. In addition to the studio fee, students are responsible for purchase of paints and supplies.

72 Printmaking

Exploration of traditional and experimental techniques of printmaking, including etching, engraving, collagraphy, monotype and cyanotype in the studio and through slide lectures. Studio and materials fees charged.

73 Photography

An introduction to black-and-white photography, including the history, technique, and aesthetics of photography. Students are taught to operate a 35mm camera, develop black-and-white film, and make prints. Assignments stress the different elements involved in making a successful photograph. Students are expected to have their own manually operated 35mm camera. Studio and materials fees charged.

74 Intermediate Photography

A continuation of Fine Arts 73. Technical goals include the ability to use different films properly, control contrast, and produce fine quality prints on fiber based paper. Students will work on long-range assignments. Emphasis on personal vision and making clear statements through editing and sequencing photographs. Studio and materials fees charged.

75 Sculpture

Explores principles of three-dimensional work in the sculpture studio. Elements such as mass, space, time, and motion will be examined as they relate to such design concepts as scale, rhythm, balance, and contrast. Students work with a variety of materials including clay, light-weight wire, metal, wood, paper, and plastic. Studio and materials fees charged.

76 Drawing I

A beginning level course open to students with little or no visual arts experience. The methods of rendering a variety of subjects, including still-life, portrait and human figure in pencil, charcoal, and ink. The works of contemporary and historical artists are examined through slide lectures. Studio and materials fees charged.

77 Color and Design

An introduction to the principles of color and of two-dimensional design through an evaluation of a broad spectrum of works of art. Experimentation with color harmonies and composition in collage and painting assignments. Studio and materials fees charged.

78 Visual Communication and Graphic Design

An introduction to forms of visual communication in contemporary society, highlighting the creative, informative, and persuasive images in print media, computer graphics, and publishing. Studio and materials fees charged.

79 Three- Dimensional Design

An introduction to three-dimensional design as it relates to structure, process, continuity, relationships, functions, psychological necessity, and the view of total design with its environmental implications. Students will be required to solve a series of design problems utilizing hands-on materials and 3-D computer graphics. The course may serve as a foundation for sculpture, engineering and structural design. Studio and materials fees charged

80 Senior Seminar

In some years, depending upon enrollments, this course may be offered as Junior/Senior seminar. This course is required of all Fine Arts majors.

81 - 82 Internship

An opportunity to explore different experiences in work settings in the arts. Three to six credits.

86 Drawing II

A continuing examination of the techniques and principles of organization which were introduced in Drawing I. The course will be divided into four focus areas— the human figure and portraiture with emphasis on anatomical structures; the enclosed environment; the open-air environment; and personal expression. Slide lectures and discussion. Studio and materials fees charged.

Prerequisite: Drawing I

Music

1 Introduction to Music Appreciation

A study of the basic elements of music: melody, rhythm, harmony, tone color, texture and form, and how they are employed in various musical styles. Designed expressly for the student with no musical background, this course is devoted to the development of listening skills and a survey of major forms and types of Western art music. Other musical styles, including selected genres of American popular music and traditional non-Western music, may also be covered.

11 Introduction to Music Theory

An analytic investigation of the basic elements of music: melody, rhythm, harmony and form in the context of Western common-practice tonality. Topics will include rhythm and meter, keys and scales, chords and their inversions, melodic construction, elementary harmonic progressions, and ear training. Some familiarity with musical notation is recommended.

21 Music from Gregorian Chant to Bach

The changing styles of European music from the emergence of Gregorian chant through about 1750. Topics to be covered include Medieval chant, polyphony, and secular song; Renaissance motet, mass, and madrigal; and Baroque opera, oratorio, cantata, sonata, suite and concerto. Composers to be studied include Machaut, Josquin, Palestrina, Vivaldi, J.S. Bach and Handel.

22 Classic and Romantic Music

The development of European music styles and genres from approximately 1750 to 1900 in the works of composers such as Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Berlioz, Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt, Wagner, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler. Genres considered include symphony, concerto, string quartet, piano sonata, opera, and art song.

23 Music of the Twentieth Century

The many divergent paths taken by western art music since Debussy and the impressionists. Topics will include Stravinsky and neo-classicism, Schoenberg and serialism, Bartok and nationalism, Copland and populism, Shostakovich and socialist realism, Carter and ultra-complexity, Cage and indeterminacy, Glass and minimalism, and others.

24 American Music

The music of the United States from colonial days to the present, traced to its European roots but with primary focus on the contributions of distinctively American figures, such as William Billings, Stephen Foster, Charles Ives, Scott Joplin, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, and Leonard Bernstein. Topics include twentieth-century American contributions to art music, the rise of American musical theatre, jazz, and rock and roll.

35 J.S. Bach

A study of the life and works of J.S. Bach set against the cultural background of the 18th century and the prevailing norms of musical styles and genres. Topics include structural analysis of organ fugues, the rhetorical content of the B Minor Mass and the Brandenberg Concertos as reflections of the Enlightenment.

40-41 Special Topics

Major figures and topics in music history and criticism are offered periodically. Some examples include:

• Mozart in Vienna
• Beethovan
• Jazz Studies

 

- Home | President's Welcome | Information | Academics | Admissions -
- Alumni | Athletics | College Bookstore | Campus Map | Geisel Library -
- Saint Anselm Abbey | Site Index | Student Services | What's News -

Please send e-mail with your questions, comments and ideas to webmaster
100 Saint Anselm Drive  Manchester New Hampshire 03102  (603)-641-7000