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Office Hours: Wed., Thu. 10:30-11:30a, 3:30-4:30p + by appt.
312.369.7380 _ dparr@colum.edu _ 623 S Wabash, Rm 721A, Chicago, IL 60605

COURSE SYLLABI

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Giacomo Balla - Leash in Motion, 1912

Giacomo Balla
Leash in Motion, 1912

Dada, Surrealism, Futurism

Core Info

The Course Fee: $15.00

Course fees are used to support special class materials and activities. A certain percentage of the course fee will be credited directly to your student card after the add/drop deadline. The course fee funds on your card are directly linked to this specific course and the balance will return to zero one week following the end of the semester.

A course through three modernist avant garde movements and their histories....

Beautiful as the chance encounter of a sewing machine and an umbrella on a dissecting table.
-- Lautréamont

Course Description

This course will survey the avant garde art movements of the early 20th century with particular focus on Dada, Surrealism, and Futurism. In keeping with the experimental flavor of the art produced by these movements, the course will have an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis and comparison of painting, sculpture, typography, music, fashion, performance, film, photography, and writing. The course will also provide an historical frame for understanding the experiments and investigations of the avant garde artists who challenged and redefined the traditions of European art in response to social conditions of mechanization and war.

Course Rationale

This course is intended for students of any major, and at any level of study. There are no pre-requisites for this course. It is intended to give depth to students' understanding of 20th century art, but it is also intended to inspire beginning students to explore the art of the 20th century in further study. Given the course's focus on the avant garde's interest in the formation of the artist and in the role of art in society, this class is designed with the practicing student/artist in mind, and will complement the studio orientation of the Art + Design Department and of Columbia College.

Course Objectives

Students will develop an understanding of the influence and importance of the art produced by the avant garde in the early 20th century. After taking this course students will:

  1. be able to identify major works by artists and designers associated with the Dada, Surrealist, and Futurist art movements, and will be able to discuss the formal (and anti-formal) strategies of collage, photomontage, noise, manifesto, and dream.
  2. be familiar with the historical, political, cultural and intellectual forces that influenced the emergence of the avant garde.
  3. be able to relate works by avant garde artists to general art historical and design movements from the 19th century to the present.

Students with Disabilities Statement

Students with disabilities are requested to present their Columbia accommodation letters to their instructor at the beginning of the semester so that accommodations can be arranged in a timely manner by the College, the department or the faculty member, as appropriate. Students with disabilities who do not have accommodation letters should visit the office of Services for Students with Disabilities in room 520 of the Congress building (312.344.8134/V or 312.360.0767/TTY). It is incumbent upon the students to know their responsibilities in this regard.