Liberal Arts Courses – Page 2 – 2024-2025 Academic Catalog

DAH-401 ART PRACTICE, SOCIAL THEORY & THE CITY

Art is not created in a vacuum. It exists within,contexts that are historical, cultural,,political, economic, technological, and physical., This course uses social theory to explore the,relationship between art and practice and the,urban environment. The class will examine the,perspectives of important thinkers in course,modules organized around major themes. Case,studies of specific art practices will also be,examined. These case studies will demonstrate a,diverse set of cultural viewpoints and strategies.,Ultimately, this course offers students an,opportunity to study art as an aspect of personal,identity, a mode of social organization, and a,source of critical and imaginative power within,the city. This course satisfies the General,Elective requirement.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: DAH 200, DAH 201 (or DAH 202)

DEN-307 INTRO TO CREATIVE WRITING

This course introduces students to fiction,,poetry, creative nonfiction and drama and,presents an opportunity to produce written work,in those genres for review by the instructor and,peers. DEN 307 offers student writers an,opportunity to improve their writing. The works,of published writers, like the exhibits of,artists, are used as models and resources. This,course is open to the general student population,,but is required for all Creative Writing Minors.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: DEN 102

DHS-305 SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION?

Throughout history the term revolution has been,applied broadly to political, social, cultural,,and intellectual change. This course will,examine the anatomy of a revolution and ask how,far social protest must go before it can be,considered a revolution. By using the French,,American, and Russian Revolutions as examples of,”real” revolutions, students will explore,pre-revolutionary engines of social and political,change, how these revolutions unfolded, and their,lasting effects. Also, students will explore,whether other popular protests such as movements,in civil rights labor rights, art, might be,considered revolutions.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Take one 3.0 credit, 200 level course from one of the,following subjects: DAH (Art History), DEN (English), DAS,(Academic Studies), DVC (Visual Culture).

DLE-411 CARE OF THE CITY: DETROIT, ART,,AND THE PRACTICE OF REINVENTION

Care of the City: Detroit is an introduction to,Social Practice and Post-Studio art which through,an exploration of spaces of marginality and,collapse in cities in relation to durational,collaboration with communities as a response to,collapse and as evidence of an ethics of care. The,main question pursued: what does it mean to care,for a city? And: is care a choice? We shall make,numerous visits in Detroit as well as extended,comparisons with Chicago (Theaster Gates), New,Orleans (Paul Chan and Joshua Decter), Houston,(Rick Lowe), and Los Angeles (Suzanne Lacy). We,shall explore the image of the city in Social,Practices through music (Marvin Gaye), poetry, and,film (the League of Revolutionary Black Workers).,Short readings in philosophy, theology, and,psychology will complement cultural, historical,,and aesthetic texts in an attempt to develop a,critical practice distinctive to the new,experiences emerging in Social Practice and,post-studio forms and the ethics of care.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Take one 3.0 credit, 200 level course from one of the,following subjects: DAH (Art History), DEN (English), DAS,(Academic Studies), DVC (Visual Culture).

DPL-355 ART, DESIGN & SOCIAL JUSTICE

What is the artist’s role and responsibility in,an historic moment of critical transition in the,environment and in society as a whole? This class,creates the space for a thoughtful examination of,various theories of ethics and justice as they,apply to the visual arts in relation to the,environment. Students will explore the writing of,diverse theorists in justice and ethics and the,practical response of artists to the rapidly,changing world around them. Attention will be,given to all popular mediums that provide the,visual text in our evolving world.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Take one 3.0 credit, 200 level course from one of the,following subjects: DAH (Art History), DEN (English), DAS,(Academic Studies), DVC (Visual Culture).

DAH-214 HISTORY OF ANIMATION AND DIGITAL MEDIA

This two-part course includes seven weeks devoted,to animation and seven weeks to digital media.,The animation portion covers the origins, history,and techniques of traditional, puppet, 3D and,experimental animation. All genres are explored,with an emphasis on the creators and their,innovations in their particular political and,professional context. The digital media portion,covers the emergence of digital media as an,innovative means of expression, reviews the work,of major artists working in the field today and,illustrates how the digital media are influencing,the social and the cultural character of our,society.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: DEN-102

DAH-410 EARLY ITALIAN RENAISSANCE

This course is a survey of the architecture,,sculpture and painting in Tuscany during the,13th,,14th and 15th Centuries, with particular,attention,to the works produced in Pisa, Lucca, Siena and,Florence. This course satisfies the General,Elective requirement.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: DAH 200, DAH 201 (or DAH 202)

DEN-310 THE FAIRY TALE: ART, LITERATURE & FILM

The fairy tale is a distinct genre of literature,,with its own set of characteristics and audience,expectations. In this course, students will,study numerous classic examples of the fairy,tale, such as those collected by the Brothers,Grimm and salon tales written by Charles Perrault,for members of the French court, as well as,modern revisionist adaptations. The origins of,fairy tales from saga and certain Renaissance,collections such as the Pentamerone by,Giambattista Basile and The Arabian Nights will,also be explored. Students can expect to study,saga, classic Marchen, and global examples of,diffusionism. Some attention is paid to art from,the tradition of fairy tale illustration as well,as filmic adaptations.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: DEN 102

DHS-306 DETROIT: PAST AND PRESENT

This course is designed to meet two broad,objectives: 1) to provide a comprehensive,introduction to the historical narrative of the,city of Detroit and the American urban,experience; and 2) to practice skills of critical,analysis in research, writing and presentation. ,We will accomplish these objectives by,researching primary documents and artifacts;,reading personal narratives; viewing select,documentaries and film clips; listening to guest,speakers representing multiple cultural and racial,viewpoints and visiting a site of historical,significance.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Take one 3.0 credit, 200 level course from one of the,following subjects: DAH (Art History), DEN (English), DAS,(Academic Studies), DVC (Visual Culture).