Here is the Syllabus for our class this semester at CCA.
ALTERNATIVE BODIES: ART/DESIGN (DIVST 300-05)
Instructor: Tania Hammidi Email: THammidi@cca.eduSpring 2012, 12 – 6pm, CCA/SF, N9
➤ Course Description: This interdisciplinary studio course aims to critique the notion of a singular market place based on Eurocentric design ideals: white, middle-class, heterosexual, Judeo-Christian, and American-born men and women who fit the dimensions of the normalized body size. Instead, we will identify underrepresented communities that have experienced gender/sexual, racial/ethnic, and/or socioeconomic inequalities within the domestic marketplace and the manner in which they have been neglected or underserved by major purveyors of design-related products and services.
Based on our research, analysis, and exploration of these underrepresented markets via reading, visual media, and in-class exercises students will propose and create a final design project based in community-grounded research on an “alternative body” and the market/design needs of that body/community. Each student is welcome to work in their chosen field/medium to practice creative problem solving towards the goal of developing an innovative and relevant design/art solution focused on four main axis of their chosen “alternative body” and community. These four needs must address: social marginalization, gender/sexuality, race or religion, physical/or mental dis/ability.
➤ Assignments and Requirements:
Course grade is based on class attendance and successful completion of: weekly homework (15%), discussion of readings (20%), sketchbook development (to be reviewed by instructor three times during the semester, 5%), Final Project (50%), participation in Final Crit (10%). Each assignment is graded on an 100-0 (A-F) scale.
Devil's Cloth: A History of Stripes (2003) Author: Michel Pastoureau
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Criminal of Poverty: Growing up Homeless in America (2006)
Publisher: City Lights Foundation Books
The Normal One: Life with a Difficult or Damaged Sibling (2003)
Author: Jeanne Safer, Ph.D.
Publisher: Delta Trade Paperbacks
(Hard-copies handed out in studio)
Selected excerpts from: Human Dimension and Interior Space: A Source Book of Design Reference Stand (1979), Julius Panero and Martin Zelnik Watson-Guptil
“What the Well-Dressed Dyke Will Wear,” Lisa Cowan (Cowrie, June/July 1974)
“Excess: An Obituary,” Zygmunt Bauman (parallax, 2001, vol. 7, no. 1, 85-91)
“Introduction,” Adorned in Dreams (1985), Elizabeth Wilson (recommended)
“Knot in Our Name: Activism Beyond the Knitting Circled”, Wendy Somerson, (bitch, issue no. 34) (recommended)
“Q & A with Dean Spade” Friday, December 31, 2011 at http://queerture.wordpress.com/
• Sketchbook designated exclusively to this class. Bring to every class.
• Art supplies relevant to your medium/major, plus basic sketching tools: pens, pencil, tracing paper, markers and/or colored pencils, etc.
• Access to digital design programs as applicable to your project’s needs and your individual skill set within your discipline
• Materials to create prototypes and final project in 2D and/or 3D (depending on your major, field of interest, project proposal
➤ Conduct and Attendance Policy
• 3 tardies (more than 15 min late) = 1 absence. 3 absences = failure of course
• Mandatory attendance of critique as well as participation in scheduled class time during studio courses.
• No cell phone or texting during class, you will be asked to leave class.
• Internet use ONLY for class research or project.
➤ Course Learning Outcomes. Students will
• Gain perspective and awareness about a variety of under-represented demographics/markets in the U.S.
• Understand and utilize both quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Develop skills for need-finding methodologies relevant to different “alternative bodied” markets
• Hone presentation skills: professional, clear, relevant use of materials, language, and communication skills to convey the attitude and category of design planned for each project.
• Sharpen 2D and 3D design skills in addressing unique and specific needs of chosen demographic/markets
• Combine both written and visual communication to convey ideas, messages, and proposal of ideas
• Design as both an individual as well as part of a team with a collective goal
➤ College and/or Department Policies
CCA students are expected to maintain standards of academic integrity. The college identifies four types of academic dishonesty:
✘ Cheating, or the intentional use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic or studio exercise.
✘ Fabrication, or the intentional and unauthorized fabrication or invention of any information or citation in any academic or studio exercise.
✘ Plagiarism, or the intentional or knowing representation of words, images, concepts, or ideas of another as one's own in any academic or studio exercise.
✘ Facilitating academic dishonesty, or intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to violate any provision of this code.
Please refer to: http://www.cca.edu/students/handbook/integritycode for additional information.
SYLLABUS Fridays Noon – 6pm, Room N9, January 20 – May 4/2012
Class 1 Jan. 20, 2012 Intro
Lecture: Introduction & overview of studio & assignments
Studio: String/flag sculpture
a) Purchase books and supplies.
b) Create portrait of yourself as designer in 2D non-digital tools. Incorporate the lyrics to a song in your design. The self-portrait describes you as a designer/artist and points to your values, goals, and style.
Class 2 Jan. 27, 2012 The Expectations of Bodies
Lecture: European ideals in research and the marketplace
Discussion: Self-Portraits.
Studio: Expectations of Bodies exercise; Final Project, First sketch
HOMEWORK: Read The Devils Cloth (Pastoureau). Take notes and bring to class.
Class 3 Feb. 2, 2012 Outcasts by Design
Lecture: What comes first: the center, or the margin? What role does design play in this dynamic?
Discussion: The Devil’s Cloth
Studio: I Shot Andy Warhol film
a) Create a “Stripe” Collage in 2D or 3D – medium of your choice. Where do you see stripes in the design / world today? What kinds of stripes? What are they doing / what is their function? Be sure to draw on Pastoureau’s ideas as your create the piece. Be prepared to speak about them when presenting the collage next time.
Class 4 Feb. 09, 2012 Tools
Lecture: Tools in the Design Research, an introduction: quantitative v. qualitative.
Discussion: Stripes Collage
Studio: Needs assessment group-work – via Human Dimension and Interior Space: A Source Book of Design Reference Stand (1979) – all in-class
HOMEWORK: “Excess: An Obituary,” Zygmunt Bauman (parallax, 2001, vol. 7, no. 1,
85-91) and “Introduction,” Adorned in Dreams (1985), Elizabeth Wilson
Class 5 Feb. 17, 2012 Sizing Up Normativity
Lecture: The De-Regulation of Scale,
Case studies in Industrial Design, Fashion, Sculpture, Performance
Discussion: Zygumunt Bauman
Studio: Choreographic Exercise
HOMEWORK: Read Lisa Gray-Garcia, Criminal of Poverty (pp. 1 – 170)
Class 6 Feb. 24, 2012 Homelessness, Poverty, Property
Lecture: How Homelessness Persists
Discuss: Criminal of Poverty (pp. 1 – 170)
HOMEWORK: Finish Lisa Gray-Garcia Criminal of Poverty (pp. 171 – 285)
Class 7 March 2, 2012 Poverty + Psychiatric Disability
Lecture: What happens when we “lose our minds?” Welfare, SSDI, and Valerie Solanas
Discussion: Discuss Criminal of Poverty (pp. 171-285)
Studio: Finalize your Proposal for Final Project – Discuss & get approval from w/ instructor by end of class. You should be working on this continuously
a) Create a “Stripe” Collage in 2D or 3D – medium of your choice. Where do you see stripes in the design /
Class 8 March 09, 2012 Site Visit – ARC http://www.arcalameda.org/
Lecture: Location and meeting instructions, TBA
HOMEWORK: Read Jeanne Safer, Ph.D. The Normal One
Class 9 March 16, 2012 Physical Disability
Lecture: History of Wheelchairs, ADA notes.
Discussion: Discuss Jeanne Safer, Ph.D. The Normal One
HOMEWORK: Read “Q & A with Dean Spade” Friday, December 31, 2011 http://queerture.wordpress.com/ and “What the Well-Dressed Dyke Will Wearm,” Lisa Cowan (Cowrie, June/July 1974)
March 23, 2012 Spring Break No Class
Class 10 March 30, 2012 Queer & Transgender
Lecture: Lesbian, transsexual, & transgender art/design
Discussion: Spade interview; Cowan article.
Media: Outsider Chronicles (Dorsey)
Studio: Queer your Project (in-class) / Exercise
HOMEWORK: Project Proposal for ARC Show
Class 11 April 6, 2012 Developmental Disability
Lecture: Review of Developmental Disability
Discussion: Site visit, Current Project Proposal
HOMEWORK: work on ARC project
Class 12 April 13, 2012 Development Disability
Studio: STUDIO TIME – Work on ARC show
SUNDAY -- APRIL 15 – ARC FASHION SHOW !!! -- all students
ARC Show Literary Breakdown and Crit
Student Studio Time for Final Projects
Class 14 April 27, 2012 Final Crit, 1st Half
Last Class May 4, 2012 Final Crit, 2nd Half
Sequoyah Country Club, Oakland
4550 Heafey Road Oakland, CA 94605
Our class is collaborating with FD4 Conceptual students, and ARC clients to put on a fashion show on April 15, 2012. We were courted a year ago to do so – and have been selected because of the focus of our class. This is a great opportunity!
Read about ARC here: www.arcalameda.org/
The Fashion Show will be held at the Sequoyah Country Club in Oakland. Our role will be to handle all installation and set aspects of the show: from music to lighting to set design!
A) The Fashion Department (via Martha) has invited any ALT BODIES students to team up with FD4 Conceptual students in conceptualizing and designing the 14 garments which will adorn 14 ARC clients for the show. If fashion design interests you, hop on the bus NOW. You’ll need to coordinate with Professor Martha Maggos-Dufort, who will connect you with a FD4 student – the two of you will meet with ARC clients at CCA, discuss ideas together, and construct the garments together. This takes your initiative, which begins by emailing Martha: mmaggosdufort@me.com
Please let me know if you will be pursuing the fashion design portion of the ARC show.
B) The rest of us will split into groups and conceptualize the installation, lighting, and musical aspects of the show to ARC’s satisfaction. One or two of us will document the event on video. Please note, at present we are working to make this portion of the course an ENGAGE project. This is still in the works. You certainly can put this on your CV as community-based design!
We will meet by 9 am on April 15th at the Show Location to install the show. Bring everything you need to install, set lights, arrange music. ARC will be covering the necessarily expenses of our set design and installation – but all budgetary needs must be discussed and determined in advance with me. Dream big and then economize. Do something excellent!
Directions to Sequoyah Country Club:
https://www.sequoyahcc.com/viewCustomPage.aspx?id=14
FASHION DESIGN FOR ARC SHOW, SCHEDULE
Designers & clients meet. Exchange ideas. Clients measured (for designers to be able to begin pattern development). Students & clients may choose to work together off site to develop ideas 1:1.
Students present initial ideas to clients. Both work together to modify/develop....
'Fit'. clients try on muslin/first stage of garment. Designers & clients further develop garment/design
2nd/final 'fit'. Refinement/adjustment. Final garment & outfit styling determined - accessories, and accompanying garments to be found,
Sunday, April 15 - Show !
