Artists have produced forms of human expression throughout history that embody cultural identities and values in unique ways. In order to understand how such forms may contribute to the constitutions of cultures, it is important to understand their historical context and how they express meaning. Each artistic discipline uses particular materials with distinct expressive qualities. The artist learns what the significant qualities of the materials are and how they may be manipulated to create and express meaning. Likewise, the receiver of the work must also possess a certain familiarity with the significant qualities of the material in order to actively find meaning, analyze, and appreciate the art form.

In keeping with the goals of a liberal education, Fine Arts aims to develop aesthetic literacy, to cultivate a critical awareness of the aesthetic dimensions of everyday life and culture, and to encourage an exploration of individual creative expression. Because students arrive at St. Thomas with different degrees of experience of the Fine Arts, the courses eligible for the Fine Arts requirement have been selected for their accessibility to people with a wide variety of experience in the particular disciplines.

Students in the BA Programme will be required to select 12 credit hours in Fine Arts, and
may choose some of them from the following cross-listed courses:

Fine Art Cross Listings
ANTH 2633 Issues in Ethnomusicology
ANTH 3313 Anthropology of Art and Communication
ANTH 3673 World Music
IRSH 2003 Art of the Golden Age: the Book of Kells
JOUR 2043 Photojournalism
NATI 2206 Traditional and Contemporary Native Arts of the Atlantic Region
PHIL 2523 Introduction to Aesthetics
RELG 2283 Religion and Art
SOCI 3563 Sociology of Music
SOCI 3573 Sociology of Art and Culture

In addition to these courses, there will be a list of FNAR (Fine Arts) courses offered regularly in the FNAR Programme.

These courses will be offered in 2005-6.

FNAR 1113-A & B & C: A Practical Introduction to Art Fundamentals -- Robin Peck - Fall 2005 and Winter 2006
This course is a practical introduction to concepts, basic materials and processes in art and design through assigned projects introduced by slide lectures and readings. The concepts introduced in this course are applicable to a wide range of art and design practices. There may be special presentations including visiting artist presentations, film screenings, trips to art galleries, etc. 3 credit hours.

FNAR 1203-A: Introduction to Choral Singing – Bjorn Runefors --Winter 2006
Everybody can sing. Each class will start with warm up exercises to help you relax, find your voices and learn how to blend as a group. The music selected will be from different time periods and musical styles, and adapted to the skills of the group. You will learn both by heart and with introduction to reading music. The course will conclude with a concert. 3 credit hours.

FNAR 2013-A & B: Introduction to Music Literacy -- Martin Kutnowski – Fall 2005 and Winter 2006
An introductory, chronological survey of Western Art Music, from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. The course examines the musical styles in Western Art Music from the middle ages to the present, and provides the tools for understanding and appreciating the works of great composers of all eras. Emphasis is placed on attentive listening and analysis of representative works of the literature. No previous musical experience is required. 3 credit hours.

FNAR 2023-A: Music Theory and Performance -- Martin Kutnowski – Winter 2006
An introduction to music theory and performance, with a special focus on recognizing and notating rhythm and pitch. The course will examine the basic elements of music (intervals, keys, scales, chords, meter, among others) from a practical, hands-on perspective. No previous musical experience is required. 3 credit hours.

FNAR 2113-A: Visual Art and Aesthetic Literacy – Peggy Woolsey – Winter 2006
This course delves into the nature and meaning of aesthetic experience in order to better understand the impact of art on everyday life. Students explore the history of mark making, philosophical approaches to art and beauty, and forms and uses of imagery from ancient to modern times. The language of art, the elements and principles of design, are applied to critical analysis of art history iconography. The course includes group and written work, field trips and some studio exercise. 3 credit hours.

FNAR 2123-A & B: Intro to History of 20th Century 3-D Art and Architecture -- Robin Peck- Fall 2005 and Winter 2006
This course is a survey of significant developments in the history of 20th c. (1876-1996) sculpture, architecture and 3-D design through a series of slide lectures and an accompanying series of directed readings. Sculpture is presented as a distinct practice as well as in relationship to contemporary architecture and three dimensional design. 3 credit hours.

FNAR 2133-A: Musical Theatre History and Performance -- Leigh Rivenbark – Fall 2005
Musical Theatre History and Performance explores the development of musical theatre from the nineteenth century to the present. Lectures, recordings, films, scores and librettos are used to examine the evolution of performance, writing, musical style and theatrical design. Students also
learn techniques in acting, voice, singing and movement and perform selections from modern and contemporary musicals. The course culminates in a cabaret-style performance in the Black Box Theatre for a public audience. 3 credit hours.

FNAR 2153-A: Dance History and Performance – Zsuzsa Szabo-Nyarady – Fall 2005
This course offers a cultural, historical and personal dance experience. Explore the history of dance worldwide with an emphasis on western theatrical dance (ex: ballet and modern dance ). Attend and review dance performances. Improve your dance skills and perform in an informal
studio setting. Students with or without previous training are welcome. Active participation is required. 3 credit hours.

FNAR 2163-A: Appreciating the Visual Arts – Reneé Losier – Winter 2006
Art is a vital and persistent aspect of everyday life, inextricably connected to human existence. It has been with us since the beginning of civilization and will be with us. This course is about the appreciation of art, that is, to learn to see, to understand, and to enjoy so as to take an active interesting our visual world. By looking at numerous examples of art from different periods, countries and civilizations, this course will define what art is, review the themes and purposes of art, and determine the language of the visual artist. The various media used by artists will also be reviewed. 3 credit hours.

2173-A: The Artist’s Gaze – Kim Jones – Winter 2006
Students will be introduced to ways of understanding how artists translate the world around them. Taking a thematic (rather than strictly chronological) approach, we will explore how different genres of art have engaged in dialogue with a multiplicity of influences. Important topics will include master-student relationships, individual inspiration and social commentary. A hands-on approach will allow students to create their own artistic expressions in conversation with the writings and visual creations of other artists. 3 credit hours.

FNAR 2243-A: Medieval Art – Jennifer MacDonald – Winter 2006
The art of the Middle Ages is powerful, varied and often surprising. In this course we will look at many genres of medieval art, including manuscript illumination, architecture, painting, stained glass and sculpture, considering examples from Western Europe, the Islamic World (especially Spain) and Byzantium. We will examine innovations made during the period and will study the preservation and conservation of these precious works of art. You will learn about artistic techniques and developments, as well as a vocabulary that will help you when looking at different genres from diverse periods and places. 3 credit hours.

FNAR 2253-A: Visual Art Through Photography – Dan Gleason – Fall 2005
This course uses photography to gain understanding and critical appreciation of the visual arts. It traces the historical development of photography and examines its various uses, such as artistic expression, documentation, social commentary, and persuasion. This lead students tot consider how photography, in these applications relates to the areas of study in the liberal arts. 3 credit hours.

FNAR 2903-A: Introduction to Print-making – David Brewer – Winter 2006
This course will introduce students to print-making as a fine art form. Lecture and discussion will approach the subject from a historical and developmental perspective that will include various demonstrations. A studio component will include instruction with students working
toward creating a print edition of an image of their own design. 3 credit hours.

FNAR 3013-A/B: Music and Meaning -- Martin Kutnowski – Fall 2005 and Winter 2006
Is music a language? Do musical works have ‘meaning’? Is there universality in the semantics of music? Are there, for instance, universal ways to represent love, anger, or sadness? This introductory course explores various types of music (folk, classical, film, TV) from a semiotic perspective; examples are not presented in chronological order. The main objective of this course is to develop in the student a critical aural/analytical habit. No previous musical experience is necessary. 3 credit hours.

FNAR 3303: Images of Women – Colleen Wolstenholme – Fall 2005
This class looks at imagery of women found throughout pre and recorded history as a unique opportunity for gauging women’s value and determining how our existence has been variously defined. Divergent cultural approaches within our converging world to the question of the power and place of women in the world make it crucial to look at the issues raised. To this end, it seems useful to study how images of women have been used or obliterated throughout pre and recorded history and what these images say about the place of women in the world(s) they inhabit. This class will be a survey of these images. 3 credit hours.

FNAR 3113: Reading and Writing Art -- Robin Peck- Winter 2006
“Art Floats on a sea of words, Robert Morris, Splashes in the Ebb Tide” Artforum 1971.
This seminar class introduces art, architecture and design (primarily over the course of the last century and the beginning of this century) through a series of readings and associated seminar discussions. The emphasis will be on the writings of artists and designers themselves. Manifesto, expository, narrative, interview, and personal correspondence texts will be discussed. 3 credit hours.