Art 165, Art History I
Fall 2009
Instructor: Dr. Catherine Jennings
Office: JWLA 105A
Office Hours: Tuesday 10:00-12:00 and Wednesday 9:30-12:00; Thursday 11-11:30, and by appointment
Office Phone: 575-562-2162
Email: [email protected] (Warning: use your ENMU email account and always reference
the class in the email header. Email sent from a non-ENMU account is likely to be deleted.)
INTERNET ACCESS:
You will need a computer with an Internet connection and an active email account in order to submit your
papers to Turnitin.com. Instructions for setting up your account can be found on the turnitin.com website.
Art History 1 turnitin.com information:
Enrollment password: arthistory1
Class ID: 2804844
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
Art 165 Art History 1 (4). Survey of the major visual arts from prehistory through the 15th century. (F)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is a survey of the art from Prehistory through the European Middle ages. The primary
focus will be upon the arts of Europe and the Mediterranean, moving from the stone age through
Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Aegean art; then Greek, Etruscan, and Roman art; and concluding
with Early Christian, Byzantine, Islamic, and the arts of Medieval Europe. In addition to the
historical and cultural context, the class will consider the materials, techniques, compositional
principles, and how all of this contributes to the creation of a meaningful artwork.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
 To introduce the student to significant works of art and art-related concepts, especially those that
have influenced the development of European art.
 To increase understanding of historical context and its importance to the original meaning(s) and /
or function(s) of an artwork in its culture of production.
 To consider the idea of “art” and the various functions, purposes, and forms of art and design in
different centuries and cultures.
 To expand understanding of art forms and media by developing a basic vocabulary and a set of
analytical tools for perceiving and interpreting the visual, intellectual, and emotional impact of
works of art.
 To empower the student to speak and write about art, especially in relation to the terminology and
practice of art history.
REQUIRED TEXT:
Kleiner, Fred S. and Christin Mamiya. Gardner’s Art through the Ages: The Western Perspective.
vol. 1. 13th edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 20009. (available at the ENMU
bookstore or online via Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or other bookseller.).
COURSE POLICIES:
Grading and assignments:
 40% Writing Assignment:
Formal analysis paper:
Art 165 Art History I: 2009 Syllabus
page 2
 You will turn in (stapled together): a title page, three (or more) full pages of text, and an
illustration of the artwork.
 Your paper should be typed and proofread. It should consist of at least three-pages of
formal analysis that focuses upon analyzing and interpreting a single artwork (not
architecture) from the historical periods and cultures covered in this class. Do NOT use a
work in the preface. Ask if you are unsure.
 The work may be either one in your book, or one not in your book but by an artist in your
book.
 This is not a research paper and should involve no information except that which you
find within the work itself. That means no biography and no historical context.
 Consult the vocabulary and critique handouts, see our SI leader, and see Dr. Jennings for
help.
General instructions:
 Each student must go to the Writing Center in JWLA for help with writing before turning
each paper in for grading. Have the writing center staff send Dr. Jennings confirmation of
your visit, and be sure the confirmation contains information as to which assignment it is.
Since the idea is to create a better paper by obtaining help from the writing center, go to the
center at least three days before the paper is due, and then edit your paper as needed.
 Each paper must be submitted to Turnitin.com for a plagiarism check before a paper copy is
turned in to Dr. Jennings for grading. Papers not submitted to Turnitin.com will receive a
zero grade. Plagiarism will result in a zero grade. The Turnitin.com site has information on
how to open your account and how to submit your paper electronically. Dr. Jennings does
check to confirm that the paper she grades is the one submitted to Turnitin.com.
 Each paper should be typed and then proofread to eliminate spelling and grammatical
mistakes. Text should be double-spaced. Staple together the pages of papers over one page
in length. Do not use plastic folders or covers for your papers.
 If your paper does not fulfill the assignment objectives, you will receive it back un-graded
with instructions to write a new paper (on a new topic) that does fulfill the assignment
objectives.
 Re-written papers:
 If you wish to improve a paper grade, ask Dr. Jennings about a re-write / re-grade
option.
 The original paper (bearing Dr. Jennings’ comments) must accompany a re-written
paper when it is turned in for grading.
 The rewrite process should also involve a visit to the writing center and submission
of an electronic version to turnitin.com.

60 % three exams (20% each).
 There will be two midterms and a final exam.
 Exams will include (at the least) multiple choice, short answer, and essay.
 Additional information, including study guides (with lists of works and sample questions)
will be provided as handouts.
 The list of artworks covered by the exams will not be cumulative from exam to exam.
 DO NOT MISS EXAMS. There will be no make-up
Late Work:
 Each day an assignment is late results in a ten-point grade reduction unless you receive approval in
advance (very rare) or have a valid (documented) medical excuse.
Art 165 Art History I: 2009 Syllabus

page 3
It is better to turn an assignment in late, and receive a lowered grade, than not to turn it in at all and
receive a zero. Turn in all assignments if you want to pass this course.
Attendance:
 TAKE NOTES.
 Attendance is required for each class period. Information in lectures will be in the exams and is not
always duplicated in the text. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain notes from other students if a
class is missed.
 Roll will be taken at each meeting.
 You have three absences to do with as you wish. According to Art Department policy, every absence
over three will result in a letter grade reduction on your final grade. If you miss three days
because you just cannot get out of bed, and then your car has a flat tire and you miss a fourth day –
your final grade goes down ten points. An example: if you have a 75 (B) average and four absences,
your final grade for the class will be a 65 (D). Save your three absences. You never know when an
emergency will happen!
 As a bonus: if you have perfect attendance (no absences at all), a point will be added to your final
grade average (an 89 average [B+] then becomes a 90 [A-])!
Standards of Class Behavior:
 Any class behavior that distracts or undermines an atmosphere conducive to learning will not be
tolerated. This includes chatting, sleeping, reading newspapers, eating dinner, and arriving late or
leaving class early.
 The instructor reserves the right to regard any student behaving this way as absent for the day.
Absences for Religious Holy Days:
 If you expect to miss a class period due to the observance of a religious holy day, let Dr. Jennings
know within the first two weeks of class. Alternate arrangements for exams and assignments will
then be made.
Accommodation for Special Conditions:
 The office of Disability Services is willing to work with students to prepare descriptions of
disabilities and needs. Such assistance should be requested in advance.
 Once you have met with Disability Services and know what special arrangements you will need in
order to meet course requirements, see Dr. Jennings to discuss the condition, solutions that have
worked in the past, and responsibility for arranging these accommodations. This meeting should
occur during the first two weeks of school.
Academic Honesty Policy:
 The Faculty is strongly committed to upholding standards of academic integrity. These standards, at
a minimum, require that you never present the work of others as your own. Plagiarism will result in a
failing grade. Know what paraphrasing means, and pay attention to citation when writing your
papers. The turnitin.com site provides a good overview of both plagiarism and paraphrasing.
Letter grades will follow this scale:
100-98: A+
97-94: A
93-90: A-
89-87: B+
86-84: B
83-80: B-
79-77: C+
76-74: C
73-70: C-
69-67: D+
66-64: D
63-60: D-
59-0: F
Art 165 Art History I: 2009 Syllabus
page 4
ART DEPARTMENT GRADE DEFINITIONS AND EXPECTATIONS:
Prerequisites for students seeking grades of A, B, or C, are to attend all classes, fulfill all assignments, and meet
all deadlines. In addition to these basic requirements, those who wish to receive high grades (B or A) must show
devotion and attention to achieving the highest quality results:
A : will be given for work which exceeds the requirements and which is technically and conceptually
outstanding.
B : will be given for work which meets the requirements and which is technically and conceptually good.
C : will be given for work which meets the requirements and which is technically and conceptually average.
D : will be given for work which does not meet requirements and which is technically and conceptually inferior.
F : will be given for work that is unacceptable or incomplete.
We offer the following suggestions for “A” students:
 Set high goals, then work diligently to meet them on time.
 Plunge into assignments thoughtfully and independently.
 Think in terms of all the possibilities: actively engage in the learning process, instead of just “getting
things done.”
 Be open-minded.
 Present formally and conceptually strong work that captures the attention of others.
Average students (“C” grade) are recognized for:
 Not being well prepared.
 Not knowing what is expected from them.
 Not pushing themselves to discover fresh solutions
 Achieving only what is required.
 Working well only with constant direction.
Poor students (“D” and “F” grades) are recognized for:
 Exhibiting low energy and no interest or involvement.
 Continually expecting personal guidance from the teacher.
 Being unwilling to accept responsibility for own performance.
 Being satisfied with achieving below-average results.
 Being unwilling to try new things.
 Consistently exhibiting poor work habits.
 Not being prepared for class.
Art 165 Art History I: 2009 Syllabus
page 5
Course Schedule
(subject to change, as needed)
Week 1: August 20, 2009
Course introduction, Formal Analysis
Week 2: August 25 & 27
Formal Analysis (if needed), Stone Age
Read: Gardner's, Introduction, handouts (elements and principles; formal analysis)
Gardner's, Chapter 1, The Birth of Art
Note: Wed. August 26 is the last day to drop or add a class
Week 3: September 1 & 3
Stone Age, Ancient Near East
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 2, The Art of the Ancient Near East
Week 4: September 8 & 10
Ancient Near East, Egyptian
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 2, The Art of the Ancient Near East
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 3, The Art of Ancient Egypt
Week 5: September 15 & 17
Egypt, Aegean
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 3, The Art of Ancient Egypt
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 4, The Art of the Prehistoric Aegean
Due Thursday: formal analysis paper
Week 6: September 22 & 24
Aegean, Greece
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 4, The Art of the Prehistoric Aegean
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 5, The Art of Ancient Greece
Week 7: September 29 & October 1
Greece
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 5, The Art of Ancient Greece
Due Thursday: Midterm 1 (Chapters 1 - 4)
Week 8: October 6 & 8 (official “midterm” week)
Greece, Etruscan
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 5, The Art of Ancient Greece
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 6, The Art of the Etruscans
Art 165 Art History I: 2009 Syllabus
Week 9: October 13: No class, midterm break
October 15:
Roman
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 7, The Art of Ancient Rome
Week 10: October 20 & 22
Roman
Late Antiquity
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 7, The Art of Ancient Rome
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 8, The Art of Late Antiquity
Week 11: October 27 & 29
Byzantium
Read: Gardner’s Chapter 9, The Art of Byzantium
Due Thursday: Midterm 2 (Chapters 5 – 8)
Week 12: November 3 & 5
Byzantium, Islam
Read: Gardner’s, Chapter 10: The Art of the Islamic World
Week 13: November 10 & 12
Early Medieval
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 11, Early Medieval Art in the West
Due Tuesday: Last Day to turn in re-written Formal Analysis
Week 14: November 17 & 19
Early Medieval
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 11, Early Medieval Art in the West
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 12, Romanesque Art
Week 15: November 24
Romanesque
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 12, Romanesque Art
November 26: No classes, Thanksgiving Break
Week 16: December 1 & 3
Romanesque, Gothic
Read: Gardner's, Chapter 13, Gothic Art
Week 17: "Final" Exam (Chapters 9-13)
Final exam: Thursday, December 10, 12:30-2:30, in the classroom
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