Jane D. Marsching

Visual Language II


Email: jmarsching at massart dot edu
Online syllabus: www.janemarsching.com/massart
office 3rd floor south, hours: Tue 2;30-4:30, Wed 9-10 signup sheet is on the door
Teaching assistants:
Mon 2:10-6:30 Clint
Tue 8:10-12:30 Clark

 

Mon syllabus

Tue syllabus

Mon email

Tue email

Source/Imagery Assign

Source/Book Assign

Source/Video Assign

Independent Assign

 

Project 1 (Part A) Source

“The worlds about us would be desolate, except for the worlds within us”

- Wallace Stevens

Project Description:
Identify a source that is of significant interest to you. The source is anything that you define it to be: subjective, objective, purely visual, having social/political implications, emotional or intellectual. Guidelines
• Think of three (or more) source ideas, along with several reasons why you are interested in them.
• Begin with an idea, sit with it a while, then slowly begin to break it down, piece by piece. Most often you will find that your ideas will lead you in many interesting directions. Sometimes an idea that we believe to be our main interest is actually something else; a different idea that is closely related. For example, you may think that you are interested in morning light; the color of it, warmth of it and the way it makes objects more beautiful, when in fact, your interest may actually be about home, with the comfort and safety it provides and how it feels to be there in the morning. If you are able to articulate the meaning, you will be able to make more conscious connections, have a greater sense of direction and your work will have more depth, resonance and expressive power.
• Go back to each one and document this idea in photographic images, at least 10 different images for each.
Once this list is compiled, type it up and save a copy to your portable hard drive. Save the images to a cd and bring it into class. Be prepared to discuss any or all of your ideas with the class next week. Your classmates will help you to break down all of your ideas into something more solid.


DUE NEXT CLASS –
TWO COPIES of your Source ideas page (one for you, one for me)
A CD of your 30 source images (jpg or tiff)

Project 1 (Part B) Source/Imagery

Project Description:
Now that you have identified a source that is of significant interest to you will begin to explore your idea in photographic imagery, a scavenger hunt for your source.Guidelines
• Based on the discussion in class, choose your new source. Try to find the common source/subject/idea that exists in all three of your interests. Your new source should be this common subject. Write a paragraph discussing why you have chosen this idea as your source for the semester. You will read this paragraph before your presentation to the class next week.
• Using a digital camera, photograph as many images as it takes (at least 40 images) to deepen the visual discussion about your source. At least three quarters of your images should be made off campus. You will present these images to the class next week.
• After you have shot all of your images, import them to your hard drive and edit them down to the 20 images (at least 15 from off campus) that you think best describe your source.
• Burn all your images onto a CD. Your CD must contain the following two folders: One folder titled “20 images to present in class.” A second folder tilted “all other images.”

DUE NEXT CLASS –
• Printed copy of your paragraph discussing your source. (two copies: one for you and one for me)
• CD containing all of your images. (two copies: one for you and one for me)



Project 1 (Part C) Source/Imagery

True art takes note not merely of form but also of what lies behind.
-Mahatma Gandhi

Project Description:
This week you will refine your source idea and photographic images based on the class discussion. Guidelines
• Continue to develop your source idea and its definition by writing a new paragraph. Your paragraph must be a minimum of 200 words.
• Once your paragraph is complete, continue to photograph your source idea (amount given in class) based on class discussion and feedback.
• Select a total of 15 final images. (a combination of your best images from class and new images)
• Compile your images into a presentation form of your choice. For example: An iphoto slideshow, prints on a board or on the wall, a flip book, a photo album, etc.
• Burn all your new images onto a CD. Your CD should contain the following two folders: One folder titled “15 final images.” A second folder tilted “all other new images.”

DUE NEXT CLASS
• 2 copies of your new paragraph discussing your source. (bring a copy to class and email a copy by Wednesday at noon)
• Presentation of your 15 final images.
• CD containing your all of your final images. (two copies: one for you and one for me)