AIS 275 B: Introductory Topics in American Indian and Indigenous Studies

Spring 2022
Meeting:
MWF 11:30am - 12:50pm / ART 003
SLN:
10183
Section Type:
Lecture
Joint Sections:
ART H 233 A
NATIVE ART OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST SURVEYS INDIGENOUS ART OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST FROM THE COLUMBIA RIVER IN THE SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST ALASKA IN THE NORTH AND FROM ANCIENT THROUGH CONTEMPORARY TIMES. FOCUSES ON THE HISTORICAL AN CULTURAL CONTEXTS OF THE ART AND STYLISTIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRIBA AND INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS' STYLES. VLPA OR I&S CREDIT. AIS CULTURE AND HISTORY ELECTIVE.
Syllabus Description (from Canvas):

 

                     

Andrea Wilbur-Sigo                 Andrea Wilbur-Sigo                     

Houseposts, UW Intellectual House, 2015,  Andrea Wilbur-Sigo (Squaxin Island/Skokomish -- Salish) 

 

 

Art & Culture on the Northwest Coast
AH 233/AIS 275B – Spring 2022
Katie Bunn-Marcuse
kbunn@u.washington.edu
M,W,F 11:30-12:50, Art 003

Jump to Weekly Readings Overview

Course Description: This course will be a survey of Native art as a cultural expression of the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast.  We will study art as material expressions of the Native peoples of Puget Sound, British Columbia, and Southeast Alaska from ancient times to the present as well as exploring regional styles, with emphasis on cultural function, aesthetics, and factors of change as well as ceremonial and commercial art.  Topics will include sovereignty, the impacts of historical and present-day colonialism, appropriation, and other issues of current concern.  Each week we will look at a different cultural area and focus on particular themes within each area.  

Course Goals:  This course has multiple goals.  The first is to expose students to the art and culture of the Northwest Coast’s First Nations and to their particular forms of aesthetic expression. In addition, we will explore the methodologies of art history:  learning to look at and describe a work of art both verbally and in writing.  A key goal of the course is to become aware of the history and ongoing responsibilities, both personal and institutional, in relationships with the Indigenous people in our region and their tangible and intangible expressions of identity and heritage.

Learning Objectives:  Students will learn to recognize artistic styles and to analyze artworks on a formal and contextual level.  Critical reading skills will be developed through daily reading and written responses. Writing assignments will encourage reflection on readings and discussions. We will practice comparative techniques and apply them to the artworks or practices under examination.  

Writing and Annotating Assignments: Assignments in this class include written reflections and also brief annotations on the weekly readings. Both of these will require close reading and analysis of class material focusing on the central concepts presented in the class and in assigned readings.  Writing (which includes brief annotations) will be a key part of engaging with course material through reading responses and other short on-line and in-class writing work. Critical reading and reflection will be part of the weekly expectation in this class.  Your dedication to documenting your critical thinking in class preparation materials will strongly influence your success on exams and other written material.

TA:
Giordano Conticelli is the TA for this class.  He is available to chat with you about your assignments (the book report, reflective essays, and homework), to read drafts, or give other feedback.  While he doesn't have set drop in hours, you can email to find a time to meet: conticg@uw.edu

Required Texts: 

1) UBook Store – Entering Time: The Fungus Man Platters of Charles Edenshaw by Colin Brown. $19.95
2) Other assigned readings will be linked as pdfs on Canvas

Images:  Selected images from the class discussion and lecture will be available online to aid in your writing assignments as you review class material for the mid-term. 

Office Hours:  Dr. Bunn-Marcuse will be available for questions and concerns after class on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Individual appointments in person or via Skype can be scheduled via email at any time. 

 
Graded Assignments:

As a 200-level class, the assignments in this class are meant to develop critical reading and reflection. There are many, small assignments rather than just a few large ones. This is intentional so that students can develop reading and writing practices and skills throughout the quarter. Staying up-to-date with assignments is key!  If you need an extension on any work due to personal circumstances, please talk to me in advance so we can plan appropriately.  Flexibility comes with advance notice.

Homework & Participation– For most sessions, you will be asked to annotate one of the assigned readings. Your annotations should comment on the linked article and bring in issues, examples, or synergies with the other assigned readings or video for the day. Post your own comments (2 or more), beginning or ending with a question for your classmates.  Then be sure to reply to one or two of your classmates posts.

Grading:  The course will be graded according to the following formula:

  • 55% Quizzes and Tests, in class
    • 5% Map Quiz
    • 5% Book Quiz
    • 25% Test #1
    • 20% Test #2
  • 30% Writing
    • 10% Book Report
    • 5% Museum reflection
    • 10% Reflective essay, end of term
  • 20% Homework & Participation

Class meetings:  Class meets on Mon, Wed, and Friday for discussions, lecture, and group work. An atmosphere of collegial support respecting differences of opinion and divergent worldviews is essential. Participation is encouraged and expected from all members of the class. Prepare to chat with your classmates about your assigned readings. Coming to class prepared is essential to participating in the discussions.  Taking notes in class and in your reader will be key to success on midterms and finals. No recording of class lectures or discussions without my permission.

Expectations for Success:  All students can succeed in this class.  There are a number of resources available on campus for additional help including the TA for AH 233 and the writing center for feedback on drafts of written assignments. Please contact me if you would like some assistance finding the best help for you. Your most helpful resources are your classmates and teammates.  Use may use the Groups function on Canvas to aid your individual study time by posting questions to your colleagues or form a study group to review information and augment your understanding.

Contributions & Attendance:  This success of this class depends on the active participation of all members.  By attending, you agree to contribute to discussions of reading material and additional material presented in class.  Your insights and questions on the materials are a valuable part of the content of this class. Share the thoughts you have generated from your assigned writings and model the types of analyses presented in class.
 
Late & incomplete work:  Reading annotations are due by 10am on the day of class. They may be turned in early but will not be given credit if they are turned in after the discussion day.  Writing assignments will be graded down (B to B-) for each day past the due date.  Late exams will not be accepted without a doctor's note or other critical circumstances.  If you need an extension on any work due to personal circumstances, please talk to me in advance so we can plan appropriately.  Flexibility comes with advance notice.

 

Teaching Philosophy: In my classes, students track artworks through time, exploring their ceremonial, commercial, and personal contexts in ways that illuminate both the details and the broad strokes of cultural and social exchanges. Writing and speaking about an object’s visual impact challenges many students to approach the subject with creativity and openness that engenders wide-ranging discussions and deep thinking by students and professors alike. My own training in formal analysis and attribution supports in-depth discussions of style and form, situating objects historically with regard to time and place. I strive to pair formal analysis with a robust art historical approach, integrating components of historical, cultural, and social as well as aesthetic concerns, building in an ethno-historical approach to sources.  A critical element to this approach is engaging with First Nations artists, academics, and culture-bearers, to share their knowledge and experience of the dynamic history of cultural processes.  I strive to bring Native artists and academics into my classroom to provide a first-hand discussion of the issues in their own practice.

The core of my research and teaching engages the social life of an object within its cultural paradigm and as it travels outside of the original sphere of production.  As well, discussions of contemporary art practice must also integrate current political and legal issues into an interpretive framework.  Critical understanding of the colonial relationships that led to the alienation of Indigenous material culture is the foundation of any serious discussion of contemporary political and legal constructs that impact Indigenous sovereignty over land, knowledge, material expressions, and human rights. 

My number one priority in teaching Native American art history is for students to develop recognition of and respect for Native art forms and more generally for Indigenous culture.  I want them to realize that these are living cultures, still in existence and changing through time.  This goal is accomplished through the content of the course, guest lectures by Native artists and scholars, and my enthusiasm and respect for the subject. 

School of Art + Art History + Design policies

School of Art + Art History + Design Syllabus Policies

    Peterson Salish Seahawk 2014.JPG

image by Qwalisius Shaun Peterson, 2014

Catalog Description:
Covers introductory topics on current research and readings in American Indian and indigenous studies.
GE Requirements Met:
Social Sciences (SSc)
Credits:
5.0
Status:
Active
Last updated:
March 26, 2024 - 4:45 am