11824_JFKU_Catalog Front Cover.indd - John F. Kennedy University

College of Graduate and Professional Studies Course descriptionsCollege of Graduate andProfessional Studiesa&C 5342 dreams and the arts 3Students will survey sacred art throughout history as seen from avariety of cultural perspectives. Topics will include visual art,architecture, music, and dance as well as philosophical and religiousconcepts from numerous traditions including Greco-Roman,classical Chinese, shamanism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.Emphasis rests upon how these concepts relate to the developmentof artistic process of each student. Reading and term paper arerequired. Theory and process elective.a&C 5350 artist in Society 3A ‘topics’ course offering a variety of approaches to various ways inwhich art interacts with contemporary culture: Often taught byvisiting artists, topics have included environmental art, generosity,social sculpture, community activism and political change as wellas broader surveys of various archetypal roles assumed bycontemporary artists through performance, social intervention andother works of social praxis. Offered in Spring MFA requirementMATA elective.a&C 5360 Beyond the Studio: CommunityCollaboration a 3A two-quarter sequence of courses facilitating inquiries into theways in which art and arts organizations work with the largercommunity. Individual approaches to moving beyond traditionalboundaries between art, social action and community aredeveloped. In the first part of the course, guest lectures andindividual research enables students to develop personallyappropriate venues through which they explore community-basedart. Assigned reading and written project. Offered Fall MATArequirement MFA elective.a&C 5361 Beyond the Studio: CommunityCollaboration B 3A two-quarter sequence of courses facilitating inquiries into theways in which art and arts organizations work with the largercommunity. In the second quarter (part B), students undertakecommunity projects through which their individual work as artistsis translated into a specific activity that serves the community insome manner. Affiliations and internships with community artsorganizations are a part of the course. Individual choice ofappropriate venues and activities is strongly emphasized. Assignedreading and community project. Prerequisites: A&C5360Community Collaboration A. Offered Winter MATA requirementMFA elective.a&C 5400 Movement and improvisation Training 3An introduction to the foundational practices and contexts ofmovement and improvisation as solo and ensemble explorations inperformance. Emphasis is placed on physical practice and artisticcontextualization of body-based activities. This experientially-basedcourse will introduce students to the basic forms and traditions ofdance, movement, and improvisation as a gateway into personal andsocial transformation. The class will focus on increasing the skillsin core strength and flexibility, fluidity of movement, timing andpresence: synchronizing the mind and body in performance.MATA/MFA elective Performance Specialization Requirement.a&C 5403 Performance Composition 3Development of the essential skills of composition for creatingperformance using movement, narrative, language, image andsound. Students will be engaged in the structure, process andtechniques of composing work for stage such as scoring, mapping,self-scripting, choreographing and directing. Formal elements suchas time, space, light, shape, rhythm, emotion, linear and non-linearcomposition will be considered in depth. Students will beencouraged to develop and recognize their own compositionalvoice, working with various performance styles, identities andperspectives. MATA/MFA elective Performance SpecializationRequirement.a&C 5501 Visual Culture 3Examines the production, consumption, philosophy, andpsychology of visual images, inquiring into their economic, gender,class, political, social, and aesthetic agendas. Understanding howour seeing is affected by our visual environment, how seeing andbelieving are conflated, how commodification of images empowersthem, how we participate in the creation of meaning by ourconscious or unconscious relations with the visual environment,has become essential.a&C 5505 Contemporary arts Theory and Criticism 3Intensive exploration of new developments in contemporary art andthe philosophical concepts upon which they are based. variousexamples of art criticism are examined as expressions of currentphilosophies of art. The effects of these writings on contemporaryart and culture are examined in detail. Offered in Winter MFArequirement.a&C 5530 art, archetype, and Creative Process 3Examines the origins and structures of creative self-expression andits relation to culture and spirit. Students gain important insightsinto the nature of criticism and self-investigation as well as thedynamics of group interaction in support of increasingly deeperlevels of skill and insight.a&C 5550 MFa Mid-point review 1A comprehensive review of the student’s work halfway through theprogram. Submission of mid-point paper required. Student’soriginal artwork is reviewed by a faculty committee selected by thedepartment chair. All degree candidates must present their artworkand discuss it with the committee in order to continue in theprogram. The committee determines if the candidate hassuccessfully met the department's standards and offers suggestionsfor future investigations. Guidelines provided. Prerequisites:Successful completion of 45 units. Offered quarterlyMFA requirement Permission of dept. and signed contract priorto registration.a&C 5555 Transformative arts Mid-point review 1A comprehensive review of the student’s work halfway through theprogram. Submission of a mid-point paper along with the student’swork is reviewed by a faculty committee appointed by thedepartment chair. All degree candidates must present their workand discuss it with the committee in order to continue in theprogram. The committee determines if the candidate has118 College of Graduate and Professional Studies JOHN F. KENNEDy UNIvERSITy