ARTD 3128: Arts of Western Africa: Syllabus

Course Requirements:

1. Students are required to regularly attend class via Zoom and participate in lectures and discussions.
2. Students are expected to complete all assigned readings before class and to discuss the subject matter of the readings during Zoom meetings.
3. Students are responsible for writing FIVE reflection papers (two pages in length), completing a take home midterm, and a final research paper (six to eight pages in length).

Course Materials:

Due to the specialized nature of this course, there is no required textbook. All readings for the course are available digitally, via the libguides website:

Course Outcomes:

1. Gain a more detailed understanding of African art by exploring a specific region of Africa and its diverse cultures.
2. Understand the cultural, social, and historical significance of African art in both historical and contemporary contexts.
3. Identify iconic works of African art and to develop skills in discussing these artworks orally and in writing.
4. Engage with the literature of the field and to intellectually question primary and secondary source materials.
5. Demonstrate how art is embedded with specific cultural conceptions and values that can be read and interpreted through an art historical analysis.

ARTD 3128 – Arts of Western Africa

Lecture and Discussion Course, Fall 2020

Thursdays: 2:15: - 3:30 PM, via Zoom

Instructor: Dr. Christopher Richards

c.richards66@brooklyn.cuny.edu

Instagram: bcmuseumed

Office hours: Fridays via Zoom, 12:30 – 2:00PM (please pre-arrange time) or by appointment

NOTE: Although this course is scheduled to meet twice a week, Zoom lectures will occur only ONCE a week, on Thursdays from 2:15 – 3:30. Students are still responsible for completing all readings.

Method of Evaluation:

Students will be assessed through reflection papers, a take-home midterm exam and a final research paper. The summary of your grade distribution is as follows:

Participation/Attendance - 20%

Midterm - 30%

Reflection papers (FIVE total) - 20%

Research Paper (including preliminary assignments) - 30%

Attendance and Participation:

Regular virtual attendance and participation are required. Two or more unexcused absences will be penalized by a lower final grade (one letter grade lower for two unexcused absences). If a student has four or more unexcused absences, this results in an automatic failure. Entering a Zoom meeting 15 minutes after the start time will be marked as an unexcused absence.

Classroom Etiquette

Students should be on time for Zoom virtual class sessions and prepared to participate in discussion (which means having completed all reading assignments prior to class). Although I cannot require that you turn your video camera on, I would encourage all of you to take online instruction seriously, which means setting aside time for our weekly meetings, finding a space that is quiet and comfortable, and being actively engaged in the virtual conversation. Be respectful and attentive to your instructor and classmates.

Consideration of Religious Observance:

Students are allowed to be absent from school to observe religious holidays, however they are responsible for any and all material they may have missed. It is the individual student’s responsibility to ensure that they are provided with this material. Students should contact the professor directly in these instances.

Netiquette Statement

Observation of “Netiquette”: Compose all online communication (including e-mail correspondence) with fairness, honesty and tact. Spelling, grammar and appropriate tone are all important in an online environment. What you put into an online course reflects on your level of professionalism and academic character. Online and e-mail communication that is demeaning or inconsiderate will result in immediate action. Therefore, it is important that you compose communication with respect for all readers.