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Academic Year 2002/2003

Mimesis: Sculpture as a Medium of Resemblance and Difference
CHUM 325 SP

Mimesis and the questions surrounding the problem of representation have dominated sculptural practice throughout its history (in spite of notable exceptions). By virtue of being three-dimensional, sculpture, of all the visual art media, particularly presses the question of its physical resemblance to the subject represented. Sculpture's exploration of the mimetic is particularly pertinent now in an era in which mechanical reproduction of images in both two and three dimensions is evermore proficient and pervasive.

This course is a studio/seminar of 12 students, open to both Art majors and non-majors. The course explores various questions about mimesis through assigned studio problems, informed by readings, art viewings, and discussion, to which students will respond by making sculptures. Students will investigate how representations make use of different types of resemblance and difference to investigate a subject: materiality, scale, color, functionality, context, etc. Sculptural processes of carving, casting, and construction will be employed both as practical representational techniques and for their metaphoric value in relation to mimesis.

This course serves as both an introduction to issues of representation and an introduction to sculpture and may substitute for ARST445 as an Art Program sculpture credit.

MAJOR READINGS

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

The instructor of this course will not be using the on-line wait list. If you are interested in this course, please contact the instructor directly.

COURSE FORMAT: Studio

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA ART    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Schiff,Jeffrey   

Times: .M.W... 01:10PM-03:40PM;     Location: ASN101

Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: 12)

SR. major:    Jr. major:

SR. non-major:    Jr. non-major:    SO:    FR:

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal:    Reading Non-Verbal Texts

Permission:    Permission of Instructor Required

Last Updated on MAR-18-2003

Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459