ART 207 Graphic Design Literacy

Lecture Hours: 4
Credits: 4

Explores the historical and cultural underpinnings of graphic art and design and brings a holistic presentation of graphic design history from the pre-historic to the present. Examines how culturally based assumptions influence perceptions, behaviors, and issues.

Recommended: WR 121Z with a grade of C or better.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Explain the cornerstones of graphic design developments in context of time, place and cultural norms.
Describe selected works of graphic art in terms of subject, form, content, purpose, medium or technique, period, movement, or style.
Identify both innovation and adaptation in graphic design traditions.
Compare and contrast selected graphic artists, works, periods, movements, and styles in graphic art.
Analyze graphic works as visual communications that reflect and construct social systems.
Relate how the history of graphic design is relevant to contemporary graphic design issues.
Connect visual communication of the past to the present.
Develop a graphic design topic into a coherent essay with appropriate written source material, thesis, argument, conclusions, and correctly used citations.
Create a portfolio of graphic art that considers the material learned from this course.

Additional Statewide General Education Outcomes

Interpret and engage in the Arts and Letters, making use of the creative process to enrich the quality of life.
Critically analyze values and ethics within a range of human experience and expression to engage more fully in local and global issues.

Course Meets Cultural Literacy Outcome:

Identify and analyze complex practices, values, and beliefs and the culturally and historically defined meanings of difference.

Content Outline

Geography and Climate
- Influences
Complex Social Structures
- Influences
Repertoire of Graphic Art Techniques
- Invention and adaptation
Repertoire of Subjects, Motifs, and Ornament
- Invention and adaptation
Importance of Style
- Reflection of use
- Indicator of cultural affiliations and period
Graphic Arts Style and Production
- Influences and Adaptations
Graphic Art
- Specific Terminology
- Specific Methods
Changing Technologies
- Influences
Periods of Time
- Prehistory
- Ancient Cultures
- Classical Cultures
- Medieval and Renaissance Europe
- 17-19th century Europe and Japan
- Modern and Contemporary
Developing a Graphic Design Paper
- Selection of source material
- Constructing argument
- Citations