This course introduces the basic principles of drawing as it relates to concepts of 2D, 3D, and time-based media, through a series of drawing exercises and projects.
This course includes a significant component of mandatory life drawing from the nude model.
This course takes a case study approach to examining the role of the art object as a means of communication within the history of visual culture. Particular attention will also be paid to the unique properties of a range of diverse media, both traditional and new.
Introduction to film analysis via national cinemas and their worldwide reception, taking into account the role of new technologies. This course acknowledges not only the importance of multiple languages and cultures on the planet today but also the rapidly growing international contexts, complicated chains of production and distribution, and vastly different cultures of spectatorship.
All films will be shown with subtitles; no second language expertise is required.
A study of the culture of Europe and North America from 1874 (Impressionism) to 1945 (Nazi propaganda) with particular focus on the visual arts. Topics such as primitivism, Cubism, abstraction, artists' reactions to calamitous world events such as World War 1, and various methodologies, including semiotic and Marxist analyses, will be explored through reading and writing assignments.
This is a survey of the most representative works of Italian cinema, from the early 20th century to the present day. Students will gain an understanding of and appreciation for one of the most influential world cinemas. Movie screenings and exposure to the vocabulary, the history and the techniques of cinema will inform students' subsequent film analyses, delivered through class presentations and/or discussions. Special attention will be given to key Italian cinematic movements, the role of directors, and the making of Italian cult movies.
This online course is an introduction to current imaging software that students use to explore contemporary topics through digital imaging. This course is taught from a fine arts perspective.
Studio course.
Antirequisites
Complete all of the following
Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in any of the following:
The course delivers an introduction to a variety of basic techniques and concepts relevant to contemporary 2D, 3D, and digital art practices, through a series of structured studio exercises and assignments.
Students will explore acrylic paint techniques through a series of lectures, demonstrations, and projects that address pictorial organization and representation as well as abstraction. An emphasis is placed on an introduction to skills development, such as building and preparing substrates for paint application, paint mixing, and colour relationships.
This course introduces students to a thematically, materially, and geographically varied set of art practices which developed across the world from 1940-1970 and are referred to, under different monikers, as high modernism, mid-century modernism, and more recently global modernism. These variants of global art production are explored by analyzing theoretical and aesthetic ideas, as well as art movements and styles such as Socialist Realism, Gutai, Postcolonial Modernism, Cannibalist Aesthetic, Brutalism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Négritude, Indigenous Modernism, and others.
A study of art and architecture in European and American culture between 1780 and 1875. Some of the pertinent themes discussed include art and revolutions, art and the Industrial Revolution, the rise of landscape painting, the urban environment, the exotic, and the erotic. Cross-cultural influences and the complex relationship between the traditional and the "modern" are particularly emphasized.
An examination of the art of the 14th and 15th centuries in Europe. Amongst the many themes that will be explored in this course are mediums (including exploitation of oil paint), scientific perspective, humanism, court structures, art and mercantile sectors, and prominent collectors.
FINE 213Art of the 16th Century in Europe0.50 units
Some of the finest works of art in the western world were produced and some of the most successful artists flourished in this tumultuous century that saw the split in the western Christian Church and the continued rise of extraordinarily powerful court families and monarchs. This course will examine these works of art and the artists against this backdrop. Arranged according to patrons, the course also examines particular stylistic trends (Mannerism, the persistence of the Gothic, etc.) as well as other pertinent issues such as collecting, the writing of art history, the teaching of art, and the role of the artist in society.
FINE 214Visual Culture of Medieval Europe0.50 units
This course explores the visual culture of medieval Europe from the fourth century to the 13th century. The primary focus of this course is the dynamic intersection of cultures and faiths with particular emphasis on emergent and evolving Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, as expressed in architecture, sculpture, manuscripts, metalwork, textiles, and more.
FINE 215Art of the 17th Century in Europe0.50 units
Art of the 17th century. This course focuses on art produced in Italy, Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands in the 17th century. Various types of art (history painting, portraiture, still life, etc.) and architecture (churches, palaces, city homes, etc.) are discussed in relation to the primary political, religious, and societal concerns that characterize the different geographical regions.
FINE 216Indigenous Visual Culture in Canada0.50 units
This course will introduce students to issues in contemporary Indigenous visual culture within the Canadian context. Special attention will be paid to the complexities of contemporary art and cultural practices. The course will examine both practice and relevant theoretical paradigms.
FINE 217Art of the 18th Century in Europe0.50 units
This course is designed to introduce students to the culture of 18th-century Europe. Particular attention is paid to France and Britain but these countries are discussed within the wider context of Europe and, at times, much of the world. By looking at the art, artists, patrons, and collectors, some of the issues that will be discussed include cosmopolitanism, nationalism, empire-building, "taste", consumerism, and women in society.
Various technical methodologies of oil painting and pictorial composition are developed in this course through a series of explorations in observation and abstraction. The plurality of approaches available to painters today is set within a contemporary critical context.
Through this course students will take a materially specific approach to painting through research and experimentation with acrylic paints, paint mediums, and supports. Students will engage with the concepts and techniques of contemporary painting through a series of exercises, lectures, and demonstrations. Projects and assignments will emphasize creative problem solving through an interdisciplinary approach to painting.
This studio course is designed to introduce students to a variety of traditional and contemporary approaches, materials, processes, and conceptual concerns related to working in sculpture. Through demonstrations, presentations, critiques, and discussions, students gain expertise and develop a sculptural vocabulary.
Expressive drawing techniques are emphasized through study with the life model. Conceptual drawing projects provide the student with the opportunity to produce bodies of work.
Studio course.
This course includes a significant component of mandatory life drawing from the nude model.
Experimental drawing is a course for those who wish to challenge their ideas about drawing and image making. An emphasis will be placed on contemporary approaches to drawing and the development of individual forms of expression.
Studio course.
This course includes a significant component of mandatory life drawing from the nude model.
In this introductory course students will engage with the concepts and techniques of contemporary photographic practices covering a range of studio, documentary, experimental, and street photography. The focus is on still imaging, allowing students to explore digital and analogue processes through a series of exercises, lectures, and demonstrations.
Studio course.
Students may need to have access to a fully manual 35mm film camera and/or digital camera, depending on instructor.
In this course students will explore the fundamentals of design through a series of exercises and assignments that cultivate artistic expression and technical skill. Through an exploration of both analogue and digital processes, students will learn to apply the principles of aesthetic design to a variety of contexts, including two-dimensional space, three-dimensional form, and digital frameworks.
Studio course.
Previous experience with digital imaging software is useful.
Students are introduced to a variety of printmaking processes. Techniques explored include etching, engraving, monoprinting, collograph, and lithography. Training in traditional skills is combined with opportunities for individual expression.
The course examines the field of traditional printmaking which has expanded to include new and emerging photo-based technologies and ideas that focus on the concept of the multiple.
This course explores time-based media within a contemporary art context focusing on video and sound. Students learn how to record and edit material through a series of short self-directed projects. Approaches range from stop-motion animation, live-action, and performance to sound and installation.
FINE 241Survey of Greek Art and Architecture0.50 units
A survey of Greek art and architecture from the earliest times to the coming of the Romans. Material studied may include the art of the Bronze Age, the development of Greek sculpture, the evolution of the Acropolis at Athens, and the change in art and architecture after Alexander the Great.
FINE 242Survey of Roman Art and Architecture0.50 units
A survey of Roman art and architecture from the earliest times to the age of Constantine the Great. Material studied may include the art of the Etruscans, the evolution of Roman portraiture, innovations in architectural materials and forms, the use of art and architecture by the Emperors, and the change to Late Antique art.
FINE 243Topics in Fine Arts Experiential Learning0.25 units
This course enables Fine Arts students to gain valuable work experience within an art-related environment. Collaboration between students, professional artists, and art institutions creates a unique learning experience that complements the student's program of study.
This course provides a chronological and thematic overview of the history of visual media examining technologies such as the printing press, photography, early cinema, and the representation of perspective.
FINE 245History of Film and Visual Media from 1900 to Today0.50 units
The course provides a chronological and thematic overview of the history of visual media in Modernity and Postmodernity. It starts at the beginning of the 20th century with the rise of cinema and ends with discussion of the digital age.
FINE 246Expanded Media: Site and Intervention0.50 units
In this course students will use an interdisciplinary approach to explore expanded media practices such as performance art, relational art, social practice, land-based art, and site-specific intervention. Content may centre on diverse approaches through issues of Indigeneity, gender, sexuality, race, and/or diasporias, depending on the instructor. Students will be encouraged to engage in experimental and experiential approaches to produce artworks for both inside and outside of the studio and gallery setting.
In this course students will learn to create interactive artworks using a variety of hardware and software. Following an interdisciplinary approach, students will explore topics such as kinetic sculpture, wearable technologies, and responsive environments.
This course examines how religion has been a central concern and inspiration for filmmakers and how popular films have informed and shaped our understanding of religion.
The course introduces students to the history, methodologies, theories, and aesthetics of non-narrative experimental film with a focus on intersections between film and visual and performing arts.
FINE 257Video, New Media and the Digital Turn0.50 units
This course analyzes the shift in visual practices of the 20th century transformed by the arrival of various digital technologies. An emphasis is placed on the increasing interdisciplinarity of new media, as well as their multi-sensory nature.
A survey of some of the principal novels of 20th century Italy as they have been adapted in film by Italian directors. Students will study literary and cinematic representations of themes such as the rise of the Italian bourgeoisie, the economic boom of the 1960s, domestic violence, and organized crime.
FINE 261Italian Innovators: Italy by Design0.50 units
Students will explore how ideas by Italian designers in the last 150 years have developed into innovative products. Through an analysis of a range of media and advertisements, students will gain insight into the history of Italian design and assess the role of designers as storytellers in Italy's industrial aesthetics.
This course introduces the varied production of world-wide gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender cinema. Inquiry will focus on how queer cinematic production serves as a vehicle for documentation and education, aesthetic and sexual experimentation, as well as cultural export and self-inquiry.
FINE 271Ceramics: Studies in Material Practice0.50 units
Students will explore ceramic material practice as a method for creative expression. The course will focus on visual and conceptual problem solving, while acquiring technical skills and knowledge of ceramic material. The assignments will incorporate hand building, mold making, surface treatments, and glazing techniques.
Students will explore the creative development of clay and examine cultural, historical, and personal modes of expression using a variety of construction techniques. Students will explore figurative and abstract sculptural concepts to develop a working knowledge of clay as a sculptural medium. The emphasis is on design, form, and visual thinking.
FINE 275Calligraphy to Conceptual Art: Text as an Image in Islamic and East Asian Visual Arts0.50 units
Exploring the history of Islamic and East Asian calligraphic arts and the study of Eastern and Western artists, this course examines multiple ways in which writing and other forms of visible language are incorporated into visual arts. Through studio projects, students explore conceptual approaches to text-based image making.
A study of selected themes dealing with gender in the history of art: e.g., the representation of the human body; portrayal of mythological, spiritual, and allegorical figures; professional and amateur artists and their status within societies; etc.
FINE 282Canadian Art from the 17th Century to 19400.50 units
This course examines art in Canada from the beginning of the European settlement in the 17th century to the Group of Seven and the Canadian Group of Painters. Some of the issues that will be investigated include the perception of Canada from abroad, the "new world", nation and nationhood, and the invention and appropriation of culture.
FINE 291Italian Culture and Civilization 10.50 units
A survey of developments in Italian late Medieval and Renaissance culture and civilization. Students will critically assess the emerging Italian short story (novella), paintings, sculptures, architectural styles, theatrical performances and opera in its nascent form. Students will be able to distinguish artistic styles of various genres pertaining to the late Medieval and Renaissance eras and understand how these reflect the cultural zeitgeist of these periods.
This is a topics course that provides students with an introduction to and a familiarity with the art and culture of a particular destination. Working in the field with landscape, cityscape, and monuments of art, students will employ a variety of media to develop techniques for visual reportage, documentation, note-taking, and journal-keeping. Individual aesthetic responses to a wide range of subject matter will be encouraged.
This course hones critical analysis skills and develops research practices (by exploring artists, materials, techniques, readings, etc.) that will enhance the student's knowledge of contemporary art practice, as well as equipping students to articulate their area of interest within contemporary art. Gallery visits and artists' talks are components of this course.
FINE 309Advanced Topics in Two-Dimensional Media0.50 units
This course will broaden the scope of students' ideas and techniques in two-dimensional media (including, but not limited to printmaking, drawing, collage, photography, painting). Through experimentation and individual research, students will be encouraged to take a personal approach to developing thematically connected independent works.
FINE 312Advanced Topics in Three-Dimensional Media0.50 units
This advanced course exposes students to the expansive field of three-dimensional artistic expression. Students can choose to work in the areas including, but not limited to ceramics, sculpture, installation, site specific work, and kinetic sculpture. Through thematically driven prompts, individual research, and experimentation students will develop an independent body of works.
FINE 315Advanced Topics in Expanded Media0.50 units
The course will expand students' engagement with interdisciplinarity across media, techniques, and practices. Working in response to thematic assignments provided by the instructor, students will create artworks in the area(s) of their choosing, including, but not limited to performance, time-based media, media art, and others. Designed to expand artistic vocabulary, the course encourages independent, experimental, and ambitious approaches to art making.
A survey of contemporary international art movements with emphasis on work since 1970. Readings in contemporary criticism and gallery visits are an integral part of the course.
This advanced studio course is designed to support students as they pursue self-directed studio-led research. Building on previous experience in studio practice, and under the guidance of the instructor, students will be encouraged to develop independent approaches to studio practice, and to present their work through individual and group critiques.
FINE 330Topics Course in Museums, Galleries, Curatorship0.50 units
Often taught by the University of Waterloo Curator, this course explores a range of topics dealing with museums, galleries, and curatorial practices. Field visits may be a required component of this course.
This course examines the history of the institutionalization of the teaching of art. The course is organized as a series of case studies dealing with various formal academies of art and less formal gatherings of artists from the Renaissance to the 20th century. The aims of the course are to analyze why these institutions were formed, how they were organized, what were their mandates, and what was their status in their contemporary worlds. Some of the themes that will be investigated throughout the course include: art in the service of power and politics, the status of the artist, the ideal human form, the classical and medieval traditions, the impact of the avant-garde, the conflict with authority, and the academy as community.
What is art? What is beauty? What do the two have to do with each other? This course introduces students to some fundamental issues in the philosophy of art, and to a variety of philosophical views on these issues.
FINE 341Advanced Studies in Greek Art and Architecture0.50 units
An advanced survey of the art and architecture from a selected time period of Greek history. Material studied may include the art and architecture of the Aegean Bronze Age, and the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods. Archaeological, historical, and cultural issues specific to each time period will be discussed through the important media of the day.
Prerequisites
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
CLAS241 - Survey of Greek Art and Architecture (0.50)
FINE241 - Survey of Greek Art and Architecture (0.50)
FINE 342Advanced Studies in Roman Art and Architecture0.50 units
An advanced survey of the art and architecture from a selected time period of Roman History. Material studied may include the art and architecture of the Etruscans, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire. Archaeological, historical, and cultural issues specific to each time period will be discussed through the important media of the day.
Prerequisites
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
CLAS241 - Survey of Greek Art and Architecture (0.50)
FINE241 - Survey of Greek Art and Architecture (0.50)
FINE 343Topics in Fine Arts Experiential Learning0.25 units
This course enables Fine Arts students to gain valuable work experience within an art-related environment. Collaboration between students, professional artists, and art institutions creates a unique learning experience that complements the student's program of study.
This experiential learning course is intended to enable Fine Arts students to gain valuable work experience within an art related environment. The course is designed to complement the student's academic program by providing an opportunity for the practical application of skills and concepts.
Prerequisites
Complete all of the following
Must have completed the following:
FINE343 - Topics in Fine Arts Experiential Learning (0.25)
FINE 364German and Russian Film Pioneers0.50 units
An examination of early German and Russian cinema, and the way these two film industries influenced each other. Influential theories of film from the period will also be studied.
FINE 368International Comics and Animation Film0.50 units
This course will examine the interconnections of comics (graphic novels, manga, etc.) and animated film, forms of visual communication particular to the 20th and 21st centuries, in the historical and social contexts of various national traditions.
FINE 377Religion in Science Fiction Films and Television0.50 units
This course examines how religion, religious themes, and the religious imagination are explored in and through science fiction film and television. Topics include the use of science fiction to discuss questions of transcendence, humanity, and divinity, as well as the challenge of extraterrestrial and artificial lifeforms.
FINE 383Computational Digital Art Studio0.50 units
An upper-level studio course to create computational projects that function as art works and aesthetic experiences. Students will work in an interdisciplinary environment to combine computer science principles with fine art technical and conceptual skills.
Prerequisites
Complete all of the following
Must have completed the following:
CS105 - Introduction to Computer Programming 1 (0.50)
CS106 - Introduction to Computer Programming 2 (0.50)
Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
CS100 - Introduction to Computing Through Applications (0.50)
CS200 - Concepts for Advanced Computer Usage (0.50)
CS230 - Introduction to Computers and Computer Systems (0.50)
This unique upper-level course is focused on interdisciplinary collaboration. Students work in teams to create aesthetically and technically engaging works of art that bridge the worlds of fine art and engineering. Students learn about conceptual development and critical analysis, prototyping, iterative design, and interactivity. The course provides the opportunity for students to share knowledge and develop skills outside of their discipline. Through lectures and presentations students are exposed to a history of art that uses different forms of technology and interactivity.
This is a topics course that provides students with an introduction to and a familiarity with the arts and culture of a particular destination. Working in the field with landscape, cityscape, and monuments of art, students will employ a variety of media to develop techniques for visual reportage, documentation, note-taking, and journal-keeping. Individual aesthetic responses to a wide range of subject matter will be encouraged.
This course is intended to help Fine Arts students make the transition from art school to professional practice by providing an opportunity to examine their own practice within the larger context of the professional art world.
This seminar course explores aspects of art theory, history, and visual culture that will assist students in situating their work within contemporary art practice.
This thesis course involves an intensive exploration and development of individual studio research through practice and experimentation, resulting in the production of a significant body of work. Students will be guided by the work of relevant artists and theorists. In addition to embedded professional practice, an important part of the culminating year is critiques by other faculty members, graduate students, visiting artists, and fellow students.
This thesis course will continue to guide students in the development of their individual studio research as they work towards completion of a significant body of work supported and complemented by appropriate documentation. In addition to embedded professional practice, an important part of the culminating year is critiques by other faculty members, graduate students, visiting artists, and fellow students.
This course provides Fine Arts students with an opportunity to study a range of topics that will explore, expand, and refine personal areas of interest in studio practice. Students will be required to undertake a range of classroom assignments in addition to working independently on an area of focus. Submitted studio work will be evaluated by a committee of Fine Arts faculty.
Students will research and execute a series of self-directed projects, addressing historical precedents in the context of the concerns of contemporary art practice, and supported and complemented by appropriate documentation. Submitted studio work will be evaluated by a committee of Fine Arts faculty.
This course consists of directed individual studio work in the student's chosen area of concentration, as indicated in their original statement of intention. Regular critiques and discussions will be scheduled by the Graduate Committee. Open to Fine Arts part-time graduate students only.
This course consists of directed individual studio work in the student's chosen area of concentration, as indicated in their original statement of intention. Regular critiques and discussions will be scheduled by the Graduate Committee. Open to Fine Arts part-time graduate students only.
FINE 671Graduate Summer Studies 1 (Part-time)1.00 units
Students will carry out independent studio work under the supervision of Fine Arts faculty members. Work done during this course will be exhibited early in the Fall term. Open to part-time Fine Arts graduate students only.
This course consists of directed individual studio work in the student's chosen area of concentration, as indicated in their original statement of intention. Regular critiques and discussions will be scheduled by the Graduate Committee. Open to Fine Arts part-time graduate students only.
This course consists of directed individual studio work in the student's chosen area of concentration, as indicated in their original statement of intention. Regular critiques and discussions will be scheduled by the Graduate Committee. Open to Fine Arts part-time graduate students only.
FINE 673Graduate Summer Studio 2 (Part-Time)1.00 units
Students will carry out independent studio work under the supervision of Fine Arts faculty members. Work done during this course will be exhibited early in the Fall term. Open to part-time Fine Arts graduate students only.
This course consists of directed individual studio work in the student's chosen area of concentration, as indicated in their original statement of intention. Regular critiques and discussions will be shcedule by the Graduate Committee. Open to Fine Arts part-time graduate students only.
Prerequisites
Must have completed the following:
FINE673 - Graduate Summer Studio 2 (Part-Time) (1.00)
A seminar course in which the various issues, motives and concerns of contemporary art will be presented and discussed. In addition to lectures on contemporary art, visiting artists and critics will speak on various aspects of the field, and participate in group discussions. Students will carry out research on individual topics and will make an extended presentation of their findings towards the end of the term. Open to Fine Arts graduate students only.
A continuation of FINE 680. The research begun in FINE 680 will be continued in greater depth and consolidated in a major written paper. Open to Fine Arts graduate students only. Prerequisite: FINE 680.
This course will meet coterminously with FINE 680 . Students at this level will help to organize parts of the course and will serve as commentators and respondents for the critiques and presentations of the students in FINE 680. Open to Fine Arts graduate students only. Prerequisite: FINE 680, 681.
This course consists of directed individual studio work in the student's chosen area of concentration, as indicated in their original statement of intention. Appropriate studio space will be provided for all students enroled in this course, and regular critiques and discussions will be scheduled by the First Year Graduate Committee. Open to Fine Arts graduate students only.
A continuation of FINE 690 ; directed individual studio work in the student's chosen area of concentration. Open to Fine Arts graduate students only. Prerequisite: FINE 690.
Students will carry out independent studio work under the supervision of Fine Arts faculty members. During half of the term, students may serve as interns in the studios of professional artists, under the terms of the Keith and Win Shantz Summer Internship Program. Work done during this course will be exhibited early in the Fall term. Open to Fine Arts graduate students only.
This professional practice course looks as the art school from a pedagogical perspective. It examines some of the practicalities of teaching a studio-based course (developing a course syllabi and assignments), as well as historical and theoretical underpinnings.