A. There are three required texts for the course

	Art Worlds, by Howard S. Becker
	The Painted Word, by Tom Wolfe
	Ways of Seeing, by John Berger

(There will also be additional readings assigned. These will be available as hot links on this e-syllabus or will be on reserve at the library.)

B. It will be possible to earn 100 points over the course of the semester:

	25 points: an early semester examination
	25 points: a mid-term examination
	25 points: a final examination
	20 points: a term paper (five points of this will be determined by a prospectus -- see below)
	5 points: attendance and participation. A successful and enjoyable class depends to a significant degree upon the active intellectual involvement of both students and professor. Students are not simply receptacles into which teachers "pour" information, and learning involves the ability to actively engage -- wrestle with, think through, challenge -- the ideas presented in the class. I both encourage and expect that active intellectual involvement in my classes, and that involvement requires that students be present in class (both physically and mentally) and that they be prepared for the class. In the interests of fairness, I start all student scores on this measure at 4 points (which is 80% of the total points you can earn for attendance/participation), and either add to or subtract from those points based upon your in-class performance. Points will be added for perfect or near-perfect (all but 1 or 2 classes) attendance, and for positive involvement in the life of the class; they will also be added in the event that -- for those reluctant to actively participate in discussions -- students take advantage of my office hours to clarify any points about which they are uncertain or interested. Points will be subtracted for excessive absences and/or late arrivals, and for being a negative presence in the class (disruptions, mentally absent). At the extremes, it is possible to earn all 5 points or to earn no points at all. The examinations will be a mixture of short answer and short essay questions. The early-semester exam will be Sept. 10th, during class time. The Mid-Term will be Oct. 15th, during class time. The Final Exam will be on Saturday, December 4th from 8:00-11:00 a.m. The term paper (10-15 typed, double-spaced pages, including the appropriate reference sections) should be a discussion of each student's independent and original research relating either to an "art world" as a whole, or to key elements of that world (e.g., the artists or other producers; the ways in which distribution of the product is accomplished; the effects of distributors or audience members upon the art work itself). The research should be empirical, but theoretically "driven" -- that is, you should use the empirical material to explore a particular theoretical argument that has been covered in readings or lectures for the course. The methods of analysis may be, broadly defined, either quantitative or qualitative, but there must be a clear connection between theory and the the method you choose to use. In general, the goal is to teach yourselves and the rest of the class something interesting and important about the social organization of artistic labor. Final Papers due on the last day of class. The prospectus, 5 points: a short, 3-5 pp. description of your term paper will be due in class during the 6th-7th week of the semester. a. this short paper should include: (1) the specific theoretical issue(s) you will address; (2) the specific research project you have chosen; (3) a description of how you will conduct the research and why you will take that approach; and, (4) a bibliography of the published research that will guide your own work. (The bibliography should comprise complete citations: i.e., date of publication, author(s), title of book/article/journal, city of publication (for books), and complete page numbers. Other Important Course Policies
	Make-Up Exam Policy: There will be ONE date and time for ALL make-up exams: on Reading Day, 10:00 a.m. sharp, in my office.

 

Late Papers and Missed Exams: The general rule, here, is do not do either of these things. If you must miss an exam or turn in a paper late, you will be expected to notify me in advance, and/or be able to provide some proof of your trouble (obviously, in the case of an emergency, advance notification may well be impossible). If you are not able to meet these conditions you will not be allowed to make up the exam or turn the paper in late.

 

Grading: Your grades for the course will be determined by the number of points you have earned, divided by the total possible points. This percentage will convert into letter grades (Note: since the total is 100, your actual number of points will, of course, be your percentage):

 

THERE WILL BE NO POSSIBILITY FOR EXTRA CREDIT WORK! YOUR COURSE GRADES WILL DEPEND UPON YOUR PERFORMANCE IN THE REQUIRED COURSE WORK ONLY!

 

Cheating, Plagiarism: All work -- tests, papers -- must be the product of your own efforts. Any attempt by a student to represent the work of another as her or his own is considered plagiarism; this includes copying the answers of another student on an examination or copying or substantially restating the work of another person or persons in any oral or written work without citing the appropriate source, and collaborating with someone else in an academic endeavor without acknowledging his or her contribution. Pay close attention to this definition, because any student caught engaging in any form of academic dishonesty will receive an "F" for the entire course.. It is not difficult to tell when a term paper or exam has been plagiarized, and I do take the time and make the effort to apprehend cheaters. Academic dishonesty is nothing other than lying and stealing; if you choose to lie or steal you will be treated as a liar and thief.

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