Response Assignment #5

NOTE: The due date for Review # 1 has been pushed back to Tuesday, October 23rd.

Reading/Viewing for next week: Responses are due by 8:15 a.m. on October 16th.

• Emlinger Roberts, Rebecca. (2005) The Stripper: Victim Art and the Art of Suffering, Antioch Review, Winter, Vol. 63 Issue 1, p23-39 (sign into library with your username and password to get access).

• Minx, Trixie. (2007) Burlesque: The Art of Tease, The Perspective from a Dancer, Root Magazine.

• View: Moonlight Madness – Betty Howard Burlesque
  

Questions for consideration:

1. Considering some of the points that Emlinger brings up in her article, as well as those made by Minx, where is the boundary line between what can be considered art, erotic art, and/or porn?
2. At what point, if any, does a particular piece of art move into “victim art”? Is there such a thing as victim art? Under what circumstances might someone become a victim under the auspice of art? Back up your discussion with textual evidence.
3. Emerlinger suggests at one point early on that it can be near impossible separating art from morality; what does she mean by that? And how does that play out in the context of this particular performance?
4. Describe the differences in approach between Emlinger and Minx. Are each talking about the same kind of performance art? Why or why not? What is different about their discussions of this type of performance, and what kind of arguments do each make about it?
5. How does Emlinger represent the stripper in her article? As a pioneering transgressive artist? a victim? something in between?
6. The video that you watched – is it stripper art, victim art, or burlesque? Explain your reasoning, and be sure to back up your thoughts with a thoughtful discussion that includes reference to the readings.
7. Reflecting upon Emlinger’s article, how might social context change the meaning of art? And must we know or understand a performance or art piece’s background, history, and other implications in order to appreciate it as art? How might we understand the stripper performance in Emlinger’s article before versus after she speaks to the dancer and learns of her HIV status?

Feel free to write about any other issue, concern, or interesting point that you noticed; just be sure to connect it to the readings.

Response Assignment #4

Blog Response DUE ONLINE by 8:15 a.m. on October 9th:

Reading Due:

• Croce, Arlene. “Introduction” and “Discussing the Undiscussable,” Crisis of Criticism (handout given in class).
• “Confronting Head on the Face of the Afflicted,” Crisis of Criticism (handout).
  

You must address BOTH readings in your blog response. Your response must also be thoughtful and critical, not merely a restatement of what you read. Also, when you provide textual evidence (quotes or summarizations), be sure to explain HOW that quote or reference further illuminates the point you are trying to make. DO NOT let the quote speak for you!

• In Croce’s essay, she says that she has not seen Bill T. Jones’s “Still/Here” and doesn’t plan to review it. According to Croce, why will she not review the dance performance? What is your response?
• Croce brings up the term “victim art” within her (non)review of Jones’s dance performance. What exactly do you think Croce means by the term “victim art”? Do you agree or disagree with Croce’s term “victim art” and why?
• Croce’s essay brought on a slew of critical responses, some suggested that while Croce’s essay was understandably controversial, Croce also had some good arguments. What might those be? What did Croce argue about art and/or our ways of perceiving it that actually have logical merit?
• Discuss Oates response to Croce with a focus on the term “victim art.” Does Oates take primary offense at the use of the term “victim art” or Croce’s claim that such art is “beyond criticism”? Why? Explain your response and provide textual evidence (quotes, paraphrases and/or examples from the text) to back up your conclusion.
• In what ways are Oates’ arguments both convincing AND unconvincing? Where are the strengths in her arguments? Where are the flaws? Again, explain your response and provide textual evidence (quotes, paraphrases and/or examples from the text) to back up your conclusion.
• Oates utilizes multiple examples in an attempt to argue that history is full of art that points to painful and authentic experience, but we do not render it “beyond criticism” as did Croce with the Bill T. Jones’ dance. However, what is the primary (and perhaps the most significant) difference between Oates’ examples and the Bill T. Jones’ dance (not)reviewed by Croce?

EXTRA CREDIT question (you must answer this along with one above to receive extra credit): In Croce’s essay, she argues a certain point of view in regards to what she believes consitutes art or makes it valuable as art. In what ways does each author reflect (however explicit or subtle) one of the main arguments of either Plato, Bell, Tolstoy or Winterson?

** Always, always back up your thoughts with some example, quote, or explanation.

Response Assignment #3

Blog Response DUE ONLINE by 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25th.

* Please write a one-two page review for next class (on the Jeff Wall Art Institute exhibit) – to turn in, typed, double-spaced. Using your own style, tone, and voice, try to be as creative as you can in your overall review of the work. Don’t forget to address aesthetics (composition, style, lines, colors, etc.) while discussing the work and how these aesthetics help support your response to the overall collection. You can focus on the collection as a whole or one piece (though I then expect comparison/s to either other pieces or the collection).

Then read/view the following:

• Art Objects | extract by Jeanette Winterson
• The Guardian | 2002 | What is art for? by Jeanette Winterson
• View: Jeanette on a thing called art.

Then, answer any one set of questions below, incorporating your understanding of at least two of the three readings/viewings into your response:

• According to Winterson, what makes art valuable? Must art carry a message? Must it demonstrate technical expertise? Or must it simply be aesthetically pleasing? How do we, as a society, typically place value on certain art items?
• According to Winterson, must art do something to be worthy of being called art? And if so, what must it do? Elaborate and explain your response.
• If Winterson had seen the Jeff Wall exhibit that we saw last week, how might she respond?
• How does Winterson seem to view the relationship between art and its audience? Does art have a greater responsibility to its audience than the audience to art? And in what ways does this either directly contradict or support some of the authors we’ve read up to this point?
• When considering the value and/or significance of art, do you think a piece of art stands alone (or should stand alone)? Or do you think knowing something about the artist is important and/or necessary? What do our readings thus far suggest?
• Winterson suggests that art is not a luxury, but rather a need. How does she support this idea? Why, according to Winterson, do we need art?

Response Assignment #2

Blog Response DUE ONLINE by 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 18th

Read each of the following and then respond to ONE of the questions within EACH reading (at bottom). You can either post two separate blogs or one.

• Excerpts from What Is Art? by Leo Tolstoy
• Excerpts from “The Aesthetic Hypothesis,” in Art, by Clive Bell

Again, I suggest that you take a look at the discussion questions first, so that you will have them in mind while reading (and can take notes or highlight as needed). And be sure that you utilize textual evidence to support your thoughts.

Response Assignment #1

Blog Response DUE ONLINE by 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 11th

Respond to one of the questions within the “Excerpts from Plato“ reading. I suggest that you take a look at the discussion questions first, so that you will have them in mind while reading (and can take notes or highlight as needed). Ignore the minimum page count (that was for when students handed it in). However, do make sure that your response is thoughtful and incorporates some textual evidence (quotes, paraphrasing, etc.).

Inform me immediately if you are having problems accessing either the reading or the blog.

MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR FIRST NAME ON ANY POST YOU WRITE and include the email address to which you would like for me to send comments and grade.

Attention Students:

Students: Welcome to the Reviewing the Arts Class Blog.

Every week, you will be expected to blog here. Respond to each assignment by clicking on the “comments” link (until someone posts the first comment, it’ll read “no comments”). The assignments will vary – between responses to your readings, writing short reviews, thoughts about class discussions, assignments to locate images and/or other articles/blogs that refer to the topic, etc. So be sure that you check this blog before each and every class!

I expect you to also engage your fellow classmates in discussions. Be sure to read the comments that precede yours so that you are not merely reiterating a point that has already been made, but are rather adding to, enriching, and expanding the discussion that is taking place.

I am more concerned about quality of writing than quantity. In other words, I will not ask that you write a certain length or amount, but am rather more interested that your responses are critical, thoughtful, and creative.

In order to receive credit, you must put your first name on all posts and enter the email address to which you want to receive your grades for each post. I respond to all posts via email to whatever email address you enter, with grades, so be sure to enter the email address you use most often.

Adding additional resources and comments will be looked upon favorably, when the time comes to turn in final grades, and could be particularly useful for those who may need an extra boost at the end of the semester (hint, hint). HOWEVER, adding websites and resources WILL NOT replace your required weekly journal responses. If you are experiencing problems with this online discussion board, please inform me immediately.

* If, after your first or second posting, you do not see your blog post right away, it’s because it has probably gone into moderation (for me to approve), so don’t panic. After a few postings, the blog will then begin to automatically accept your posts without the need for moderator approval.