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3/13/01 Hi Everyone -- OK, just to recap what we covered in class, here's what you need to bring together in order to fashion a grand climax to the quarter:
1) Unless you are involved in a project, your paper is due in class tomorrow.
2) We will have our first batch of projects presented tomorrow after I spend a little time in the first hour drawing some threads together that will help you prepare for the final.
3) Your portion of the take home final is due at the final (3-6 p.m.) on Monday. Do not spend more than 4-6 hours assessing the arts offerings in an area that you designate. Make your list as comprehensive as possible but only evaluate two or three in detail. Three double-spaced pages should be sufficient. We will first have the remainder of our projects/presentations, take a short break to fill out some course evaluation materials, and then have the in-class half of the exam.
4) Julia and I are hoping that as many of you as can join us for a brief dinner at our house will do so. I've provided written directions to get there. You may also refer to a map at the MapQuest.com site.
5) There are more student conferences for Thursday and the rest for Monday before the exam. I appreciate your candor and helpfulness as I try to think about how to make the course better.
6) Remember that each of you is to supply some critical commentary thru our web site on at least five performance events that we took in. I will try to give you feedback on whatever you have submitted before the exam.
3/8/01 Hi Everyone -- As promised, we've posted your reading for next week. After looking through several sources I decided to go with Sarah Thornton's account of the Brtish club scene of the 70s and 80s. She is more prescient than others who write about the same general subject. And our guest for Monday (David Sefton) is himself a Brit, so you will be better prepared to see where he is starting from.
If you've forgotten from my earlier email, remember that I've asked you to report on (and critique) five events. If you actually revise your "What is Art" essay, that can count as one of them.
Julia and I would like to invite as many as can come to dinner at our hourse right after the exam/performances a week from Monday. We (or someone in the class) can give you a ride over and back). It won't be a long evening but you will, I think, find the break worthwhile.
Remember that I'm in Miami and won't be holding my office hour tomorrow. Please contact Karl if you need immediate assistance.
The first four conferences today were very helpful to me, so I hope that all of you will make the time.
Best, RW
3/5/01 Hi Everyone: In preparation for Stephen Kanner's visit on Wednesday morning you will find this essay by Michael Lewis to be timely and provocative. In your reading try to ponder the questions: What makes American architecture distinctive? What factors-aesthetic, social, and economic-have contributed to this distinctiveness? How does architecture effect the very nature and quality of our lives?
See you tomorrow, where I will give you a lively introduction to architecture, complete with images!
Best,
RW
2/28/01 Hi Everyone -- To summarize (and supplement) our discussion on Monday, here is the layout for the rest of the quarter:
1) Papers will be due the final class day in class (March 14). The paper should be roughly five double-spaced pages. It should attempt to explore connections between two of the encounters we have had or between any two live experiences that you have had this quarter. Your critique may focus on the aesthetics of the works of art; the cultural, social, historical, and economic dimensions; and the ways in which thye bring different disciplines together.
2) As an alternative to the paper, I encourage you to consider grouping with two other students and creating your own 2-5 minute performance piece. I've already chatted with a number of you about such a project. Your participation in a project will carry the same weight as a paper. Depending on how many participate, we will divide the performances between March 14 and our formal exam day, March 19 from 3-6 pm.
3) Posting reports to the website: Building on what you have already done, I expect each of you to post at least five reports to our class website critiquing individual arts encounters. These will count for roughly 40% of your grade.
4) The rest of of your grade: The midterm will count for 25% of your grade; if your final is stronger, I will discount the midterm. Finally, your paper/performance will count for 25%. The last 10% will come out of Karl's and my evaluation of your participation in all aspects of the class.
5) Visitors for the next two weeks:
Because of scheduling issues, next week will be our architecture week. After previewing the MOCA Schindler show I have decided instead to bring in one of Los Angeles's leading architects, Stephen Kanner of Kanner and Associates (whose offices are right here in Westwood). This Monday, March 5, I will give an introductory architecture presentation that will prepare for Stephen Kanner on Wednesday. I'll also have a reading assignment posted by the weekend.
David Sefton, the new head of UCLA Performing Arts, will join us on Monday, March 12 to talk about the club scene in Los Angeles. We are looking at organizing an expedition on either Monday or Tuesday evening to the Knitting Factory in West Hollywood. Stay tuned.
6) DINNER -- Given that I am out of town from March 21-25, I propose that we proceed straight from our exam to a brief dinner at our house in Pacific Palisades. I'll supply directions in a few days. There will be no single night that works for everyone, but Julia and I hope that all of you who can will come. We always have a great time.
Best, RW
2/22/01 On our website [by popular demand] we've placed the audio that Prof. Winter played in class on Wednesday. Listen to it again to help you think about how we take in and evaluate works of music.
RW, PB
2/4/01 Hi Everyone -- For this week I would like to ask you to acquaint yourselves with the Kodo website. To get you started, I've copied some of the more important text and reproduced in the reading for this week. We are scheduled to hear this exciting group on Wednesday evening at Royce Hall, and I hope that each of you will make every effort to attend.
See you tomorrow!
RW
THIS IS OUR ONE TIME TO ATTEND FREE OF CHARGE. There are also performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, but you will have to pay for these (depending on whether there are Student Committtee for the Arts tickets left, anywhere from $10 to $45).
1/28/01 Hi Everyone -- I promised Karl that I would scan, edit, and send Chapter 1 of John Berger's provocative book, Ways of Seeing, well before class on Monday. So here you have it. Do not worry that the quality of the reproductions is low-res. The arguments do not depend on it and we will be seeing great images in class and at LACMA.
On Monday morning we'll talk a bit about our reactionm to The Weir. I will then say a few introductory words and then Karl will take the rest of class. The Dean has asked me to attend an important meeting in the Dean's office at 10 am so I will, alas, have to miss the last hour. But I will be there for at least the start of Karl's presentation.
Try if you possibly can to join us on MONDAY, JANUARY 29 at 5 pm in FRONT OF SCHOENBERG HALL FOR OUR FREE TRIP (PARKING PAID, NO GETTING LOST, GOOD COMPANY IN THE SAME BUS, AND KARL'S MAGISTERIAL COMMENTARY). WE'LL BE BACK BY 9 pm at the LATEST AND YOU WILL HAVE HAD AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE. THERE ARE PLACES TO BUY SNACKS OR YOU CAN BRING YOUR OWN FOOD. HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THEN.
Don't forget to bring a small notebook for your own note-taking to each event. About half of you have now entered some very interesting assignments on our website. After Wednesday of this coming week (Jan 31) anyone who has NOT entered their "What is Art?" on the website essay will receive an F for that portion of the assignments.
See you tomorrow in the Geffen Lobby, I hope!
RW
01/23/01 Hi Everyone -- Next week we will be talking about contemporary art in California through a huge and provocative show at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (on mid-Wilshire). Although you can attend the show on your own, John Hamilton and I wanted to arrange one opportunity for us to attend as a group.
Because of a host of scheduling challenges (museum schedules, etc.), the only time we have been able to arrange transportation is on Monday the 29th of January at 5 pm (probably leaving from in front of Schoenberg Hall; John will confirm that with us later). I realize that this will once again find us going out two days in a row (The Weir is this Sunday at 6:30 pm at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood), but it will make the rest of the week easy.
The drivers will let us tour the show for about two hours (Karl Haendel will be our primary guide) and then depart about 8 pm to bring us back to campus.
For those of you who will have to attend on your own, the student admission price is low and the museum is easy to find.
Best,
RW
01/22/01 Hi Everyone: We will have the privilege of spending time with Prof. Michael Hackett of the Department of Theater this week, and I have arranged with him some readings that will reinforce our discussion of theater this week. Remember to set aside 6:30 pm this Sunday to attend the production of The Weir at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood!
01/16/01 Hi Everyone: I hope you are all enjoying the long 3-day weekend. We've posted the reading for this week. Try to familiarize yourself before class on Wednesday. Don't worry about terms or expressions that are unfamiliar; we'll address those in class.
If you know someone in class whose just joined us, please pass this along by e-mail.
I've gotten about a third of your "What is art" paragraphs. Keep them coming! Because of the holiday, we may not be able to discuss them until next Monday.
It will be easier if you all use "SAA10" in your subject heading of e-mails to me; that way they go right into the class folder I have set up.
See you Wednesday bright and early,
RW
01/15/01 Hi Everyone -- At the start of class on Wednesday John Hamilton, our secret agent in the Dean's office, will be present to take ticket orders for either the Friday evening at 7:30 pm or the Sunday matinee at 3 pm performances of Mozart's Don Giovanni in Royce HaLL. The tickets are free to you. I will be attending on Sunday afternoon and would be happy to chat with those of you who are there at either the intermission or right after. Dress, by the way, is comfortable and casual.
The performance by the Kronos String Quartet on Saturday night at 8 pm is also free; we will be in our regular classrooom getting a video feed from the hall next door, hence you will not need tickets.
Although it will consume a good chunk of your weekend, I would urge you to try and attend both events if at all possible. They will both be striking and unusual and it may be awhile before you have the opportunity to see and hear something like either again soon. Don't worry about this being a pattern; in many of our subsequent weeks the artists come to us!
See you Wednesday; I 'll send more string quartet and opera notes tomorrow.
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