Looking to fill your Fall/Spring class schedule? Fine Arts has a wide range of great courses guaranteed to compliment whatever else you may be taking—and most Fine Arts courses are open to all students, regardless of discipline. (But be sure to check the pre-requisites on individual courses.)
If you’re looking to change the way you listen to music—or expand your idea of sound in general—the School of Music currently has space in Global Music Traditions (MUS 391) with Jonathan Goldman and Mary Kennedy, Listening to Music (MUS 115) with Anita Bonkowski and Music, Science and Computers (MUS 207) with Andy Schloss, the man behind the recent Trimpin installation at Open Space.
Ever wonder why we wear what we wear? The Department of Theatre is offering a cool fashion/costume history course (THEA 362/363) taught by acclaimed Canadian designer Mary Kerr. Fall focuses on ancient times through to the 17th century, while Spring looks at the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. More than just togas and zippers, however, you’ll learn the cultural, artistic and psychological aspects of clothing, and how what we wear defines our culture.
Things are heating up over in the Department of Writing this fall, where you can explore The Art of the Action Film (WRIT 300) with screenwriter Michael Giampa. Watch action films for course credit? Too cool! Also highly anticipated is the Spring course Public Broadcasting and the Public Good (WRIT 321), featuring this year’s Harvey Southam Lecturer in Journalism, Jo-Ann Roberts. Best known as the host of the top-rated CBC Radio afternoon show All Points West, Roberts’ course will look at the history and future of public broadcasting in Canada, and how Canadian journalism is influenced by the strength of the CBC. It will be of particular relevance to creative and professional writing students with an interest in journalism and media studies, as well as those in political science, public administration, history, sociology, anthropology or other related departments.
From Matt Trahan’s recent MFA exhibit “Come Undone”
If you think the ideas and practice of art hasn’t changed over the past 50 years, the Department of Visual Arts is there to help you learn otherwise. Understand how art is changing, and how you can keep up, with the likes of Introduction to Contemporary Art Theory (ART 150) taught by recent MFA grad Matt Trahan, or Intro to Contemporary Visual Art (ART 151) and Foundation Photography & Video Art (ART 105), both with Laura Dutton, also a recent MFA grad. Remember, you don’t have to be an artist to take—or appreciate—these courses.
Other Visual Arts courses that will appeal specifically to artists include Drawing and Painting (Art 103) with Matt Trahan and Todd Lambeth, Media Technology and Arts (Art 106) with Digital Media staffer Cliff Haman, Painting (Art 212, Mondays 1-3:50) with acclaimed artist Sandra Meigs, Sculpture (Art 222, Mondays, 1-3:50) with busy local artist Megan Dickie, and Video Art (Art 272, Wednesdays 1:30-4:20pm) with Jennifer Stillwell. Note: these courses open for registration to non-Visual Arts students at noon on Friday, July 27th.
Learn how to see the world differently with the History in Art department. And if you think understanding art doesn’t matter, then you’ve never seen a magazine, TV, photo, painting, book cover, graphic novel, graffiti wall or iPad. Find out Why Art Matters (HA121) with Dennine Dudley and you’re guaranteed never to see the world the same way again.
Also on offer from HIA are such fascinating-sounding courses as Erin Campbell‘s People & Things in the Early Modern Domestic Interior (HA 345)—wherein she looks at toys, games, furniture and jewelry, amongst other everyday household objects—as well as The Image of the Artist (HA 241), documenting how artists have risen from lowly labourers to celebrities, and The 18th Century in Italy (HA 343A), which focuses on all things Venice. (Ah, Venice!)
Meanwhile, HIA’s Marcus Milwright peels back the layers of urban life in Medieval Islam with his Introduction to Islamic Archaeology (HA 348). Looking at life through the lens, Susan Hawkins offers a History of Photography (HA 369) and Carolyn Butler-Palmer is considering Art History and the Lens (HA264). Over on the eastern edge of the Pacific Rim, Asato Ikeda is examining Japanese Modern Art & Contemporary Visual Culture: the 1950s to Today (HA 337), Religion, Philosophy, and the Arts in China & Japan (HA 270) and considers the art of Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism and Shinto in Religion, Philosophy, and the Arts in China & Japan (HA 270).