Theatre and Visual Arts
Theatre
The Fordham Theatre program trains emerging artists to develop their process through mentored exploration in performance, directing, design and production, and playwriting.
Rigorous conservatory training enriched by an expansive academic curriculum—that is the essence of the Fordham University Theatre program, which prepares students as theatre practitioners and visionaries. In a creatively fertile, experiential, and artistically rigorous environment, the theatre program nurtures the individual, encouraging each student to follow their passions and activism, using theatrical expression to create paths for empathy, understanding, and dialogue. Collaboration is the keystone: Our majors launch their training with a yearlong class in collaboration. We learn by doing: Our experiential curriculum augments our full mainstage season with student-driven studio productions. Artistic freedom is crucial: Our studio season is creatively led by students. Process is primary: A result reveals itself as a moment in a continuous process. Risk is a muscle: We nurture the impulse to risk, the core of creativity. Ethics surface in an artist’s choice: We care for the whole person. Our faculty are leading theatre practitioners, and they cultivate diverse aesthetics: The Fordham Theatre Company explores classical and experimental work. We partner with leading professional artists in our education curriculum and production, and build professional bridges through internships, workshops, and a wealth of other opportunities.
Visual Arts
The study of visual arts provides students with technical knowledge and skills as well as a critical and historical understanding of the field. The visual arts at Fordham are open to all students and are taught within the context of a liberal arts education. Students are given a knowledge base particularly suitable to today’s visually oriented world and job market. Classes are small, with considerable one-on-one contact with the instructor. Critique is emphasized in all classes, and students are given the resources to develop and take full advantage of their creativity. Engagement in New York City’s culture, museum and gallery tours, studio visits, and visiting artist lectures are integral parts of each concentration’s curriculum. In addition, students are encouraged to explore on their own and to take advantage of all that New York City has to offer as the arts capital of the country. There are opportunities for senior thesis projects, study abroad, internships, and tutorials in each area of concentration.
Program Activities
Ildiko Butler and Lipani Galleries
The Ildiko Butler and Lipani Galleries are maintained by the faculty for professional and student art exhibitions. The gallery programmer is Vincent Stracquadanio. Visit the Fordham University Galleries for more information.
Honors in Visual Arts
To graduate with honors, a visual arts student must complete and exhibit a senior thesis project. Majors wishing to have a senior exhibition must submit an application to Junior Review in the spring of their junior year. After Junior Review, students approved for a senior exhibition will work with an adviser and will be admitted to VART 4600 Senior Seminar: Studio Art in the fall of their final year. Students who do not qualify for admission to Senior Seminar may, with instructor and departmental approval, still complete a senior thesis and/or a portfolio.
Visual Arts Awards
Up to three Ildiko Butler Travel Awards are given annually for independent research in the medium of photography. A travel award and a visual arts award are given in honor of Susan Lipani. A portfolio award in honor of James Storey is offered to a senior whose work over their time at Fordham has shown evidence of exemplary talent and potential. The William F. DiPietra Film/Video Production Grant is offered to any visual arts major or minor who has a film project in mind, regardless of their area of study. Three grants of $1,000 each will be given to outstanding visual arts majors or minors to work on a film.
Junior Review
In the spring of their junior year, visual arts majors wishing to do a seminar thesis will submit a portfolio of their work for faculty review. The purpose of this review is to determine admission to the VART 4600 Senior Seminar: Studio Art. A subsequent review the following fall will determine whether a student will exhibit in one of the galleries in the spring of senior year.
For more information
The Department of Theatre and Visual Arts contributes VART 1101 Urbanism, VART 1135 Visual Thinking, and THEA 1100 Invitation to Theatre as courses to fulfill the fine arts requirement. VART 4300 Representation in Art satisfies the Values Seminar/EP4 requirement, but it is not required. It does not count as an elective toward the visual arts major. THEA 3004 Global Theatre History: Foundational Impulses and THEA 3005 Global Theatre History: Evolutions of the Present each fulfills the Advanced Literature Core requirement.
Theatre courses
THEA 1000. Theatre Practicum. (0 Credits)
This practicum gives students practical and technical theatre skills and helps them refine and practice the skills they are learning in their classes. Students work in the scenic, electrics, and costume shops as well as in front-of-house roles, including box office management. In this practicum, students gain hands-on experience in technical theatre through supporting Fordham Theatre's Mainstage productions. Each semester, students must complete 48 hours and serve on Mainstage Crew, including strike. Majors must take five semesters of Theatre Practicum and minors must take three semesters. This course is Pass/Fail.
THEA 1100. Invitation to Theatre. (3 Credits)
This course guides the student on an experiential tour of mounting a theatrical production. The role of the playwright is defined and each student will write a short scene. The function of the director is demonstrated by analyzing multiple stagings of the same text; each student will direct a scene. The actor is a primary element of theatre; each student will act a scene. We will explore the role of the designer who creates the physical world of the play; each student will conceive a design. Interwoven with the production elements will be a survey of theatre history focusing on Greek, Elizabethan, contemporary and global theatre. Students will attend live performances of plays.
Attributes: FACC, FRFA.
THEA 1160. Design Fundamentals. (4 Credits)
This course cover the fundamentals of design, including color theory, texture/patterns/motifs, placement in space, scale, 2D/3D layout theories, and studies in traditional visual unities. These topics will be explored through many forms of 2D and 3D exercises, including drawing.
Attribute: THME.
THEA 1210. Introduction to Fashion Design. (3 Credits)
This course explores the art and the business of fashion design by tracing its history in Europe and America; understanding the contribution of fibers to the medium; communicating design details through several modes of drawing; and investigating the market factors that shape contemporary fashion industry around the globe.
Attributes: FASH, THME.
THEA 1220. Fashion Techniques. (3 Credits)
An overview of Fashion design techniques including research, fabric selection, sewing and basic pattern-making. From studying techniques used by contemporary and historical designers, this course will work through the basic skills necessary for students to create their own designs.
Attributes: FASH, THME.
THEA 1800. Internship. (1 Credit)
Internship.
THEA 1999. Tutorial. (1 Credit)
Independent research and reading with supervision from a faculty member.
THEA 2010. Acting I. (4 Credits)
The course aims to strip away preconceived notions of acting, forge a visceral understanding of the unity of body and voice, demonstrate that expanding the imagination is the highest skill of the craft, and explore the nature of transformation; theatre is an art of radical change. Required Vocal Lab.
THEA 2015. Acting for Non-Majors. (4 Credits)
Introductory acting technique for non-theatre performance majors. Emphasis on developing and freeing the voice, body, imagination, and emotions. Activities of the course include vocal and body warm-ups, theatre games and exercises, improvisation, and scene work.
Attribute: THME.
THEA 2035. Drafting for the Theatre I. (4 Credits)
This class serves as an introduction to the basic principles of observing, analyzing, and representing three-dimensional objects through the means of drafting. The goal is to first equip students with the knowledge and skills to read, interpret, and understand architectural theater drawings and scenery master ground plans and center line sections. The second goal is to equip them with the ability to develop their own master ground plans and center line sections. This task requires they learn a very complicated computer program called Vectorworks and learn industry drafting standards and concepts. By the end of the course, students should be able to produce basic master ground plans and center line sections which are the basis for any scenic drafting package. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: THDP.
Prerequisite: THEA 1160.
THEA 2037. Drafting for the Theatre II. (3 Credits)
Building upon the foundation developed in Drafting I, students in Drafting II will learn how to create an entire drafting package that includes the master ground plan, center line section, composite front elevation, deck plans, scenic elevations, and any prop elevations. This course will not only strengthen their abilities within the Vectorworks program but also serves as a means to reintroduce everything learned in Drafting I. Additionally, students will learn the basic concepts of how to draw lighting and sound plots within Vectorworks through guest lecturers working in the industry.
Attribute: THDP.
THEA 2045. Introduction to Directing. (4 Credits)
This class introduces students to some of the basic tools of theatre directing by having them craft several short pieces that explore ways of using space, movement, gesture, light, sound, objects and spoken words to communicate a story to an audience. Open to non-majors.
Attribute: THME.
THEA 2070. Theatre Design. (4 Credits)
Create a world for a play complete and true unto itself by thoroughly researching the text and characters through visual and emotional research. Learn to react viscerally and instinctively to the text and then articulate that reaction through various forms used in the professional theatre: models, costume sketches, lighting sketches, sound landscapes, projection, drawings and research. This course will serve to instill a thorough process that can be utilized for the remainder of one's career and will guarantee that a production will result whether you're a playwright, director, designer or any theatre artist. No prior coursework required. Open to non-majors.
THEA 2080. Collaboration I. (4 Credits)
First semester of a full-year course for all theatre majors. The class introduces students to the areas of acting, directing, playwriting, design, and stage management, with focus on the art of collaboration.
THEA 2090. Collaboration II. (4 Credits)
Second semester of a full-year course for all theatre majors. The class introduces students to the areas of acting, directing, playwriting, design, and stage management, with a focus on the art of collaboration.
THEA 2230. Costume Design I. (3 Credits)
Study of the principles involved in the design of costumes for the stage with an emphasis on research, the development of drawing and painting skills, and the investigation of character.
Attributes: FASH, THDP.
THEA 2235. Costume Design II. (3 Credits)
Continuation of THEA 2230: Costume Design I.
Attributes: FASH, THDP.
Prerequisite: THEA 2230.
THEA 2260. Conceptual Foundations of Theatre Design. (4 Credits)
As Design Fundamentals is to the body, so Theatre Design: Conceptual Foundations is to the soul. The spine of the course is to manifest physically (through research and visual exercises) what has been formed conceptually, through emotional response to text and other stimuli.
THEA 2350. The History of Our Outfits. (3 Credits)
How did we end up in the clothes that we’re wearing? A historical look at the clothing we wear, where it came from, and how we ended up dressing like this. In this course, students will explore the origins and influences that have brought us to the clothes that we wear today. We will take a deep-dive research-project-based approach to the study of the history of the garments that we, the class, consider our clothing today.
THEA 2700. Acting II. (4 Credits)
Introduction to scene study for the actor using the Stanislavsky approach. Work on scenes chosen from realistic plays. Students will study character development by exploring psychological objectives and how they are embodied in physical actions.
THEA 2750. Performing Italian. (4 Credits)
Students will advance their fluency in Italian by learning to act in Italian in summer residence in Rome. Jointly taught by a Professor of Italian and a Professor of Acting, the students will explore structure and grammar, and expand their vocabulary by reading, writing, and speaking in full-immersion mode as they learn how to inhabit a character using a play by Nobel-prize winning author Dario Fo. Acting is an exciting way to learn a language because one's need to master the language is motivated by the desire to inhabit the imaginary circumstances created by great playwrights. The project will be enhanced by trips to Roman theatres, and the opera at The Baths of Caracalla.
Attributes: ITAL, MLL, THME.
THEA 2755. Performing Dante. (4 Credits)
In this course, students undertake an in-depth study of Dante's Divine Comedy through the use of performance and a close reading of the text; social and historical contexts are emphasized. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ALC, COLI, ITAL, ITMA, MLL.
THEA 2805. Stage Management I. (3 Credits)
The study of the organizational responsibilities and practical skills needed for a stage manager to bring a production through auditions, rehearsals and performances. Each student will also work on a series of projects, from paper projects, to practical projects that relate to their work in the studio or on the mainstage. This course is open to majors only. Minors by permission.
Attributes: THDP, THPL.
THEA 2811. Stage Management Workshop. (0 Credits)
This workshop will be a space for specific production-related problem solving, individual mentorship, and discussions regarding the evolution of responsibility from studio production to main-stage production.
THEA 2815. Stage Management II. (3 Credits)
Continuation of THEA 2805: Stage Management I. Course will expand skills from previous course. This course is open to majors only. Minors by permission.
Attributes: THDP, THPL.
THEA 2900. Theatre Management. (3 Credits)
This course offers an introduction to the managerial aspects of American theater in the post-pandemic world. In this interactive course, students will not only learn the functions of theater management (commercial and nonprofit) but will also address the challenges facing the industry today and expand their strategic tool belt to be the industry changemakers of the future. Students will learn key functions of theater, including season planning, budgeting and contracts, HR, marketing and PR, fundraising, audience development, and more by choosing a theater to profile for the duration of the class. Class is comprised of grounding in key principles of theatre management, guest lectures from practitioners across the industry, and robust classroom discussion.
Attributes: AMST, ASAM, THDP, THME, THPL.
THEA 2999. Tutorial. (2 Credits)
Independent research and readings with supervision from a faculty member.
THEA 3000. Acting III. (4 Credits)
Continuation of intensive scene study based on the Stanislavsky system. Techniques of scene analysis, scoring and appropriate rehearsal procedures will be covered. Performance majors only.
THEA 3004. Global Theatre History: Foundational Impulses. (4 Credits)
The two-course sequence in theatre history makes emerging artists aware of their global heritage. Theatre is an event of communication. Global Theatre History examines the nature of this compelling exchange. This foundational course in the sequence will foreground theatre’s originating impulses, its participants, its cultural contexts, and its impact on the human journey. The course asks: What is theatre and what does it do—intentionally or not—for its cultures? How does performance emerge from and shape the creative imagination? Addressing these questions will mean thinking critically about the nature of theatre as it is theorized and practiced across the globe. Students will develop skills in reading critically, in independent historical research, and in communicating the umbilical link of the past to the present. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ALC, EP3, GLBL.
THEA 3005. Global Theatre History: Evolutions of the Present. (4 Credits)
The two-course sequence in theatre history makes emerging artists aware of their global heritage. Theatre is an event of communication. Global Theatre History examines the nature of this compelling exchange. This course relates the contemporary global theatre to the critical aesthetic and social revolutions that have made the present possible. The course asks: How did the contemporary theatre become what it is? Addressing this question will mean thinking deeply about the nature of the global theatre as a continually evolving form that has both conserved traditions and pushed beyond imposed limits in order to respond generatively to cultural crises. Students will develop skills in reading critically, in independent historical research, and in communicating the umbilical link of the past to the present. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ALC, EP3, PLUR.
THEA 3011. Text Analysis. (4 Credits)
Through careful, intensive reading of a variety of plays with different dramatic structures and aesthetics, students begin to see that options exist for interpreting a script. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: THME.
THEA 3012. New Play Dramaturgy. (3 Credits)
Responding to new work is its own art. How do you help and support a playwright as they continue to explore a new work actively in process? This course will establish the vocabulary and skillset necessary to approach new play development with rigor and curiosity, all to help open every possibility of a writer's storytelling and craft. By studying theatrical antecedents—from Aristotle to more modern and inclusive perspectives on dramaturgy—a dramaturg will have robust reference points to meet a writer where they're uniquely at in the germination of their vision. The course will also introduce students to new work development incubators and institutions in the city and beyond, and feature guests such as literary managers and literary agents who will discuss their relationship to new plays.
Attributes: ENGL, THDP, THME.
THEA 3017. Song as Scene I. (4 Credits)
Learn how to effectively present musical material by exploring the text and combining it with sure vocal technique. An accompanist is present at each class, and different types of songs will be explored, ballad, up-tempo, comic/character, and pop/rock. Acting exercises will be used to fully flesh out the songs. Seamless transitions from scene to song to scene will be examined. The notion of singing as simply acting on pitch will be stressed. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: THME.
THEA 3030. Actor's Vocal Technique I. (2 Credits)
Vocal exercises for the actor to help release the voice, develop larger breathing capacity, and agility in articulation. Work on developing physical ease while exploring varieties of vocal projection through speech and song, and text.
THEA 3040. Actor's Vocal Technique II. (2 Credits)
Advanced exploration of the voice.
THEA 3050. Movement for the Actor I. (2 Credits)
This course will include: 1) Vigorous physical training to develop physical stamina along with Yoga breath-work and stretches to increase flexibility, agility, focus and concentration; 2) Butoh-influenced image work to develop body awareness and sensitivity as well as stimulate movement by images exercised by one's imagination; 3) Creating characters by exploring the center, weight, rhythm, colors and temperament of the character; 4) Individual and group improvisational exercises to learn to trust and act upon organic impulses.
THEA 3060. Movement for the Actor II. (2 Credits)
Continuation of THEA 3050: Movement I. This course will include: 1) Continuation from Movement I of developing physical stamina and intensifying breath and Yoga work; 2) Continuation of Movement I based on Butoh-influenced image work; 3) Deeper exploration of character work and also taking the character out of the naturalistic realm to invite another layer of understanding on a more unconscious level; 4) Exploring abstract movement; 5) Creating group and solo pieces.
THEA 3066. Musical Theatre Intensive. (4 Credits)
A five-week summer intensive that offers a varied schedule of four classes: Musical Theatre workshop, Vocal techniques, Dance for Musical Theatre, and Acting. Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., students will work in the classroom as a company. The early afternoon and evenings will include field trips, guest seminars, and attendance at Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off Broadway plays and musicals. Find the program application online at fordham.edu/summer.
Attribute: THME.
THEA 3067. Solo Vocal Performance Workshop. (3 Credits)
In this course, students will develop the unique skills for solo vocal performance, from identifying your authentic voice to honing your vocal technique to connecting with your audience and promoting yourself. Grounded in the history and business of cabaret, the course will give students a chance to work one-on-one with a master teacher in vocal technique and with an accompanist to craft their own multi-song performance.
THEA 3070. Movement For The Actor (Non-Majors). (3 Credits)
This class will focus on physical training and well-being, which will include: strengthening the body and increasing stamina and flexibility through a cardio and stretching routine; enabling a wider range of physical movements through an exploration of time and space, varied weights, and varying speeds and rhythms; deepening the listening and responding through the body with individual and partner work; deepening the connection between the voice and the body; awakening the sensory receptivity of the body; and exploring transformation and character work. Some of the tools and techniques that will be studied to facilitate this work are: labanotation, animal work, action theatre, Lucid Body and Gaga-influenced movement and dance improvisation, theatre games, yoga, and meditation. Students will create solo work, duets, and group pieces.
Attribute: THME.
THEA 3090. Stage Combat. (3 Credits)
Students will become familiar with the concepts, techniques, and safety practices of stage combat. Each class begins with a warm-up/stretch and then moves into strengthening and isolation work. Each class ends with work on original, ongoing choreography.
Attributes: THDP, THME.
THEA 3100. Acting IV. (4 Credits)
A scene study course with an emphasis on integrating Stanislavsky technique with non-linear, non-realistic texts. The actors will work with playwrights outside the canon of mainstream realism, such as Samuel Beckett, Gertrude Stein, Naomi Wallace, Erik Ehn, Heiner Muller, Adrienne Kennedy, Richard Foreman, Ruth Margraff, Caryl Churchill, Lisa D'Amour, Daniel Alexander Jones, and Suzan-Lori Parks. Work with heightened movement and voice extends the actors' vocabulary. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
THEA 3205. From Page to Stage. (4 Credits)
Page to Stage is an introductory directing class focused on translating a dramatic text into theatrical performance. The class is required for directing majors and open to theatre majors in other tracks. Using a single focal text, students will work individually and in teams on class exercises and homework assignments that explore key aspects of the director's craft when working on a playscript, including text analysis, research, collaborating with designers and actors, staging, and the rehearsal process. The semester culminates in a final evening presentation of staged scenes from the model play. Prerequisite: THEA 3011: Text Analysis, except with special permission.
Prerequisite: THEA 3011.
THEA 3253. Moliere: From Page to Stage. (4 Credits)
This course taught in French explores French Theatre and offers the opportunity to engage in the creative process from page to stage. Students will have the opportunity to participate in different capacities, such as performers, designers, dramaturgs, and stage managers. This course emphasizes the importance of working collaboratively. Students enrolled in the French and Theatre Programs will share their strengths and learn from each other. We will combine reading, theory, and analysis of a single play by Molière, and put what we learn into practice in rehearsal. The semester will end with a public performance.
Attributes: ALC, THPL.
THEA 3265. Writing for Theatre. (4 Credits)
This course encourages students to become playwrights and to improve their fluency in French. This is a creative writing course for theater with an opportunity to produce and perform an original sort play. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
THEA 3350. Ancient Theatre in Contemporary Practice. (4 Credits)
The ancient origins of theatre are still present in theatrical practice today. In traditional societies, these practices are more overtly present. In others, there are elements of the ancient practice that inform contemporary aesthetics, forms, and styles. Even in the most mechanized societies that have lost continuity with the ancient past, there are theatre practitioners who look to ancient theatre for certain qualities it possesses which give vitality to contemporary performance. This course seeks to investigate key examples of ancient theatre that are still practiced today, as well as examine how contemporary artists train in ancient techniques and use them to vivify new experiments in theatre. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: THME.
THEA 3355. Ancient Theatre in Contemporary Practice II. (4 Credits)
A continuation of Ancient Theatre I. Further exploration of the ancient origins of theatre are still present in theatrical practice today. In traditional societies, these practices are more overtly present. In others, there are elements of the ancient practice that inform contemporary aesthetics, forms, and styles. Even in the most mechanized societies that have lost continuity with the ancient past, there are theatre practitioners who look to ancient theatre for certain qualities it possesses which give vitality to contemporary performance. This course seeks to investigate key examples of ancient theatre that are still practiced today, as well as examine how contemporary artists train in ancient techniques and use them to vivify new experiments in theatre. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: THME.
THEA 3362. Lighting Design I. (3 Credits)
This course investigates how lighting design completes the visual world. We will explore how light can transform the theatrical space. Lighting is the key element to the forward movement of a theatrical production, as it creates transitions between scenes and defines time and place as the story is told. We will also examine alternative functions and use of light within photography and architecture. Open to non-majors.
Attributes: THDP, THPL.
THEA 3374. Lighting Design II. (3 Credits)
Continuation of THEA 3362: Lighting Design I.
Attributes: THDP, THPL.
THEA 3420. Sound Design I. (3 Credits)
From the physics of sound waves to the finesse of cueing, Sound Design covers the foundations of the field. The class will touch on topics in acoustics, system design, vocal reinforcement, sound effects, playback and audio development software, and the role of sound design in the rehearsal and tech process. The goal is to develop the conceptual rigor and practical technique to support a small production with an integral audio component.
Attributes: THDP, THPL.
THEA 3425. Sound Design II. (3 Credits)
A continuation of Sound Design I.
Attribute: THDP.
Prerequisite: THEA 3420.
THEA 3455. Projection Design I. (3 Credits)
Explore the growing design field of Projection Design. Learn to use text and research to inspire ideas for projections in a play. Through storyboarding each student will learn how projections can integrate into the space and world of a play.
Attributes: THDP, THPL.
THEA 3460. Projection Design II. (3 Credits)
Continuation of THEA 3455: Projection Design I.
Attribute: THDP.
Prerequisite: THEA 3455.
THEA 3515. Theatre & Community Engagement. (3 Credits)
This course will study how theatre engages with community. To be taught by Public Theatre Public Works Artistic Director Laurie Woolery, it will examine and explore intersections in theatre practice and community creation and engagement. Public Works, a major program of the Public Theater, aims to restore and build community by connecting people through theater—both performing it and experiencing it—reminding us that we’re all in this together.
THEA 3520. Producing through a Social Justice Lens. (4 Credits)
In this class, students will examine the process of producing new works from inception to completion with cultural equity at the core. Utilizing the fundamentals of producing, students will embrace a producer’s role as a leader of social change and interrogate the current system from the top down. What changes are necessary to implement a new system? How can real change thrive in today’s theatrical climate? Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: PJSJ, PJST, SL, THDP, THME.
THEA 3530. Creative Producing. (4 Credits)
This course will explore the various models to produce shows in the U.S. and touch upon some U.K. models. We will go from the early development process of commissioning, rights acquisition, readings, and work sessions to the production process of nonprofit productions, commercial productions on and off Broadway, as well as nontraditional productions that are becoming more prevalent on both sides of the Atlantic. The course will include guest speakers from across the industry, analysis of budgets, contracts, and financial modeling from active productions and real-time insight into productions being produced on Broadway during the entire semester. The course will build on the theatre management and production management courses currently offered within the program and allow a deeper insight into the theatre business as a whole at a time when the nonprofit system is evolving at a rapid pace and the audience for every production is undergoing a generational shift. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: THDP.
THEA 3564. French Theatre and Performance. (4 Credits)
This course explores French theater and offers the opportunity to engage in the creative process from page to rehearsal to a full public performance at the end of the semester. It also teaches students how to express themselves more effectively in French and develops their ability to communicate thoughts and feelings to others. We will combine acting, history, reading, theory, and analysis of major modern playwrights. Invited guests from the French and bicultural theater community in New York City will share their experiences with students and provide opportunities for students to practice their new skills and learn more. Taught in French. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ALC, THME.
Prerequisite: FREN 2600.
THEA 3600. Master Class in Design. (4 Credits)
This course is taught by a designer who is a luminary in the field, and will explore theory, practice and career issues for designers. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: THDP.
THEA 3700. Playwriting. (4 Credits)
This playwriting workshop is the cornerstone of the playwriting program. It intentionally welcomes writers of many levels of experience to one dynamic space. The goals of the workshop are to teach basic craft and create an environment that will guide the writers' explanation of their individual voices. We concentrate on four major issues: storytelling, character, structure, and language.
Attributes: CVW, ENGL, THME.
THEA 3750. Plays and Screenplays. (4 Credits)
We will write a short play and a short screenplay across the semester. They will be two versions of the same story in different forms. Honing the necessary craft is our project. Excerpts of plays and films will serve as models. The goal is to spark creative thinking while exploring dual strategies for storytelling. What are the differences between writing for the stage and the screen? How might a play be adapted for the screen? How might a screenplay be brought to the stage? How do we tell stories in dialogue? How do we tell stories with pictures? How do we maximize the power of dialogue and pictures by combining them? Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: THME.
THEA 3800. Internship. (2 to 3 Credits)
Supervised placement for students interested in work experience.
THEA 3900. Cueing and Narrative. (3 Credits)
This course will incorporate the study of both Lighting and Sound Design to explore storytelling through Theatrical Design choices.
THEA 3910. Period and Style. (3 Credits)
This course will incorporate the study of both Scenic and Costume design to explore storytelling through theatrical design choices. This course will concentrate on how history and period specifically aid in creating the world of a play.
THEA 3920. History of Theatre Design. (4 Credits)
This course surveys architectural and mode-of-dress movements in history and explores how those movements have informed stage design through the ages. It will cover movements from the ancient (Western and Eastern) through contemporary times. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: THME.
THEA 3950. Production Management. (3 Credits)
This introductory course to Production Management will teach students how to supervise the creation of a physical theatrical production by exploring the responsibilities and duties required to mount a production that meets its artistic goals without compromising business concerns. Emphasis will be placed on the practical aspects, from estimating a project to budgeting, scheduling, staffing, and contract negotiations. We will discuss the importance of facility and safety oversight of a traditional venue versus site-specific work versus touring and festival planning. Through field trips to New York City theaters and production companies, students will observe current production management techniques and see production managers collaborate with producers, directors, designers, and stage managers at various stages of the process. This is a great course for designers to understand how production budgets are allocated and production deadlines are set, and for stage managers who want to expand their technical skill set.
Attribute: THDP.
THEA 3985. Set Design I. (3 Credits)
Investigates how the design of an environment creates the world of a play. Working with plays, students will use text analysis, character development and emotional response to develop ideas about the space. Through visual research, models and sketches, students learn their process of creating a set and practice articulating their ideas.
Attributes: THDP, THPL.
THEA 3987. Set Design II. (3 Credits)
Continuation of THEA 3985: Set Design I.
Attribute: THDP.
Prerequisite: THEA 3985.
THEA 3989. Set Design III. (3 Credits)
In this course, students investigate how the design of an environment creates the world of a play. Working with plays, students will use text analysis, character development, and emotional response to develop ideas about the space. Through visual research, models, and sketches, students learn their process of creating a set and practice articulating their ideas. Students will gain a practical application of rendering an idea into fully dimensional scenic models.
Attribute: THDP.
THEA 3999. Tutorial. (3 Credits)
Independent research and reading with supervision from a faculty member.
THEA 4000. Creating a Character I. (4 Credits)
Advanced scene study employing exercises and exploration specifically designed to give the actor a technique with which to develop a distinct characterization. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: THPE.
Prerequisite: THEA 3100.
THEA 4001. Creating a Character II. (4 Credits)
Continuation of THEA 4000: Creating a Character I.
Attribute: THPE.
Prerequisite: THEA 4000.
THEA 4020. Adrienne Kennedy: Text and Performance. (4 Credits)
This interdisciplinary seminar will explore the playwriting and performance work of Adrienne Kennedy with methods that combine literary study, dramaturgical analysis, and embodied practice. Drawing from performance research practices, students will engage with Kennedy’s writing by examining it textually and historically alongside relevant cultural, political, and theatrical ideas; and in dynamic interchange, by exploring, interpreting, and embodying her work as creative artists––allowing it to inspire and infuse their own artistic practice. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: COLI, ENGL, ENRJ, ICC.
THEA 4030. Rehearsal Technique. (3 Credits)
A laboratory geared toward directors, actors, playwrights, and any theatre artist eager to explore, practice, and analyze the process of rehearsal. In this practicum, students will apply acting and directing pedagogy to the practical rehearsal process; analyze communication techniques specific to theatrical practice, such as giving, taking, and interpretation of direction; explore devised and ensemble-building work; and study and explore the essential building blocks of rehearsal, such as articulating and executing vision, the collaborative process between actors and directors, and understanding artistic intention and effectiveness of impact. This course can be taken to satisfy the Advanced Acting requirement.
Attribute: THPE.
THEA 4045. Young, Gifted, and Black. (4 Credits)
This interdisciplinary course will explore themes of political, social, and personal transgression and transformation in the cultural tradition of Black American Theatre and performance from the Harlem Renaissance, through the Black Arts Movement to the present. The interrelationship of text, music, and movement will be highlighted to underscore significant aesthetic innovations and also to allow for a discussion of plays, playwrights, and performers in the fullest possible context. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ACUP, ADVD, AMST, ASAM, COLI, PLUR, THME.
THEA 4050. Arts, Social Justice, and Human Rights: Foundations. (4 Credits)
This course explores the dynamic connection between the arts, social justice, and human rights. Students will investigate the relationship between arts and politics, and arts and community organizations. They will also consider the transformative potential of "Theatre of the Oppressed" and applied theatre in empowering marginalized communities. Additionally, the course will introduce students to artists who have successfully embodied the values of citizenship, inciting advocacy and driving positive change. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: INST, ISIN, PJSJ, PJST, SOCI, URST.
THEA 4100. Acting Shakespeare. (4 Credits)
An investigation of the various historical and contemporary techniques of acting Elizabethan verse through close textual analysis and in-class performance of scenes from Shakespeare's plays. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: THPE.
Prerequisite: THEA 3100.
THEA 4120. Acting Shakespeare II. (4 Credits)
Advanced Scene and text work in Shakespeare. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
THEA 4143. Shakespeare: Text and Performance. (4 Credits)
This course will study Shakespeare's plays first as texts and then as performance, focusing on the literary/historical aspect of a play, and then the same play as a theatrical script for realization on stage. Through close readings from widely disparate points of view, we will grasp how the theatre engages audiences and creates meanings, and how time and culture are expressed in both text and performance. We'll investigate questions about adaptation, authorship, the status of "classic" texts, and the transition from manuscript to stage and film. The final project can be an essay, the student's short video of a Shakespeare excerpt, or a brief performance. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ENGL, ENHD, ICC.
THEA 4144. Hamlet: Text and Performance. (4 Credits)
We will study Shakespeare's Hamlet as a historical/literary text and as a theatrical script. Through close readings from desperate points of view, we will encounter how the theatre acts to create meanings, and how time and culture are expressed in text and performance. Areas of study will include set design, costumes, film adaptations, literary re-writings, pop culture renditions, and references in music and advertising.
Attributes: ENGL, ENHD, ICC.
THEA 4145. Dramaturgy. (4 Credits)
The word dramaturgy, "the art or technique of dramatic composition or theatrical representation," describes a series of practices that include aspects of playwriting, directing, and theatrical scholarship. This interdisciplinary seminar takes a capacious view of the practice of dramaturgy, approaching it as both a creative and a scholarly practice. As dramaturges, we will be literary and performance scholars, researching theater history, dramatic theory, and the broader cultural and historical contexts of our theatrical projects; we will also work as practitioners, collaborating with our peers to translate diverse texts into theatrical events. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: ICC.
THEA 4148. Medieval Drama. (4 Credits)
Divine mysteries and scurrilous scatology, Everyman's workaday struggles and a king's political quandaries, lavish one-night courtly entertainments and massive Biblical plays performed by an entire community: the drama of the English late Middle Ages (roughly 1350-1500) was resourceful, local, non-professional, and endlessly inventive. In this course, we study medieval English drama along three axes: as literary texts full of humor, pathos, and meaning; as evidence for historical performance practice and theater history; and as scripts brimming with possibility for performance. Combining intensive reading of medieval play texts with key works by important theater practitioners, we examine medieval drama on its own terms and ask what it means to read and perform these works in the 21st century. To help answer this question, students collaboratively design, direct, and stage a medieval dramatic work of their choosing as a final project. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ENGL, ENHD, ICC, MVLI, MVST.
THEA 4151. Performing Medieval Drama. (4 Credits)
In the English late Middle Ages (roughly 1350-1500), theater was a thoroughly local affair. Performances spanned from one-night-only entertainments, acted by lavishly costumed noblemen for their peers, to massive cycles of city-specific religious plays, performed annually over a period of days by an entire community. Scurrilous scatology stood alongside the most divine of mysteries; the humble, menial struggles of Everyman had their place on stage just as much as the social and political quandaries of a king. In this course, we will study medieval English drama both as a body of literature and as a repository for medieval performance rhetorics we can experiment with in the present day. A series of assignments over the course of the semester will help us understand late medieval plays and their unique theatricality. The semester culminates with a collaboratively staged and publicly performed medieval drama of the student's choosing. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ENHD, MVLI, MVST.
THEA 4152. The Tempest: Text and Performance. (4 Credits)
This course will study Shakespeare’s play The Tempest as a historical/literary text and simultaneously as a theatrical script that we will act in the classroom, focusing on a single scene at a time. Through close readings from disparate points of view, we will investigate how the theatre acts to engage audiences and create meanings, and how time and culture are expressed in both text and performance. Students will read several adaptations of the play, as well as viewing film versions and adaptations such as Prospero’s Books. We’ll investigate questions about adaptation, authorship, the status of a “classic” text and its variant forms, and the transition from manuscript to stage to film. Assignments will include readings, essays, and presentations. Quizzes will include regular exercises in blank verse, especially iambic pentameter. The final project can be a scholarly essay, the student’s short video of an excerpt from The Tempest, or a brief performance. No acting background is necessary. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ENGL, ENHD, ICC.
THEA 4250. Acting for the Camera I. (4 Credits)
Introduces the actor to the techniques of acting for the mediums of television and film, including issues of scale, angle, and material. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: THPE.
Prerequisite: THEA 3100.
THEA 4260. Acting for the Camera II. (4 Credits)
Continuation of THEA 4250: Acting for the Camera I.
Attribute: THPE.
Prerequisite: THEA 4250.
THEA 4301. Performance and Art. (3 Credits)
This acting course for dancers will work in developing original scenes based on poetry, sculpture, paintings and scene study. Emphasis on work with physical actions and creating a physical and psychological score to illuminate actor-created work. Focus on imagination, writing and performance skills. For Alvin Ailey BFA majors.
THEA 4302. Russian Theatre Workshop. (2 Credits)
This course conducted in Moscow includes work in acting, movement, dance, voice, Russian theatre history, and a study of the current Russian theatre. There is also an alternate program of scenography, costume design, and theatrical design theory and history. It is taught by the faculty of the Moscow Art Theatre School.
THEA 4305. Clown and Improvisation. (4 Credits)
Examining different comedic traditions, students will study techniques from commedia dell'arte, clown and improvisation. Drawing on the teachings of contemporary artists such as Keith Johnstone and Phillippe Gaulier, the course will demonstrate and sharpen comedic skills by creating a sense of continuity between traditional and contemporary comedy. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: THPE.
THEA 4306. Clown and Improvisation II. (4 Credits)
This course is a continuation of Clown and Improvisation. Examining different comedic traditions, students will study techniques from commedia dell’arte, clown, and improvisation. Drawing on the teachings of contemporary artists such as Keith Johnstone and Phillippe Gaulier, the course will demonstrate and sharpen comedic skills by creating a sense of continuity between traditional and contemporary comedy. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: THPE.
Prerequisite: THEA 4305.
THEA 4400. Senior Audition I. (2 Credits)
Prepares students to audition for professional theatre companies, agents, casting directors, and graduate schools. Students develop audition pieces and also learn to prepare cold readings. Guidance also provided in the preparation of headshots and professional resumes.
THEA 4410. Senior Audition II. (0 to 2 Credits)
Preparation of the Senior Showcase, in which students present scenes for producers, agents, and casting directors.
THEA 4425. Design Showcase. (3 Credits)
This course focuses on presenting and discussing students' work as a design or manager while developing their understanding of the business of theatre and their potential role in it. We look at portfolios, resumes, and CVs, cover letters, and production books, and talk with established professionals and recent graduates about the best strategies for entering the New York and regional theatre communities. Design and Production students only, required for participation in the annual Design Showcase.
Prerequisite: THEA 2070.
THEA 4430. Senior Showcase I: Designers, Managers, Directors, Playwrights. (2 Credits)
Prepare for your move from student into industry professional. This is a two-semester course. This semester, we will focus on discovering who you’ve become as an artist, collaborator, and individual over the course of your time at Fordham. With that information, we will determine how to create the best presentation of you and your work. We will work on creating personal videos that show who you are and how you work. We will develop a website to showcase everyone’s work as a class with links to each student’s personal body of work. Each student is expected to have a completed personal video and website. Websites must include a body of work; completed, in-process, and/or theoretical work; an About page with bio; your resume; and a way to contact you. We will discuss more expectations as the semester continues. The semester will culminate in a completed "Who I Am" video to be used in your senior showcase.
Attribute: THDP.
THEA 4440. Senior Showcase II: Designers, Managers, Directors, Playwrights. (2 Credits)
Prepare for your move from student into industry professional. This semester will focus more on networking and technical elements of the industry including finances, acquiring or making work, and making relationships with other industry professionals. We will aim to establish clear methods of communicating your work and perspective. We will have at least two sets of "speed-dating" reviews. The course will culminate in a final Showcase of your work and time at Fordham.
Attribute: THDP.
Prerequisite: THEA 4430.
THEA 4500. Theatre, Creativity, and Values. (4 Credits)
This Senior Values Seminar is designed to give students an opportunity to examine and reflect upon creativity and the theatre. How does creativity mark the distinctness of the human person? How does human creativity point to the presence and action of God? What purpose does the theatre serve for society? Emphasis is placed on personal integration of philosophical principles and personal technique and craft. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: AMCS, EP4, THME, VAL.
THEA 4501. Directing Production Workshop. (3 Credits)
An advanced production class that guides students through the process of producing a fully-staged production for public performance.
Attribute: THPL.
THEA 4505. Design Production Workshop. (3 Credits)
This course is designed to run with Directing Workshop to merge design and directing students in practical production experiences. In the process, students will hone their ability to analyze text, shape a design idea, communicate with artistic collaborators, create working drawings and models, plan a production schedule, and create and manage a budget. Designers must be working on a project in the studio season. Stage Managers vet their process on the mainstage.
Attribute: THPL.
THEA 4700. Advanced Design. (3 Credits)
This advanced design course is open to junior and senior theatre design and production majors only and will be taught by the holder of the Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre. The chair will design this course as relates to their discipline and will likely focus on the interaction between audience/environment and object/performer.
Attribute: THDP.
THEA 4800. Internship. (4 Credits)
Supervised placement for students who are interested in work experience. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
THEA 4999. Tutorial. (4 Credits)
Independent research and reading with supervision from a faculty member.
Visual arts courses
VART 1055. Figure Drawing. (4 Credits)
This course focuses on the study of the figure through direct observation. Various techniques of rendering and diverse media will be explored. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPD.
VART 1101. Urbanism. (3 Credits)
A historical introduction to the issues, principles and processes of urban design in western societies. Lectures will trace the evolution of selected cities (from ancient Athens to contemporary Los Angeles) taking into consideration the design decisions that have affected our built environment and urban culture. Field Trips. (Satisfies Fine Arts core requirement).
Attributes: ACUP, AMST, APPI, ASHS, FACC, FRFA, INST, ISEU, ISIN, URST, VABE.
VART 1111. Intro to Art & Engagement: Protest, Participation, the Public and other Performance Practices. (4 Credits)
In this course we will explore engaging—with communities, social issues, and other real life matters—as an art form. “Engaging” is a verb that signifies an action—so rather than focusing on producing objects we will focus on carrying out activities, such as: lectures, workshops, debates and the dissemination of information. We will frame this work—our engagement with the real world—as performance. Art objects we make in conjunction with these performances may include zines, poetic instructions, drawings, paraphernalia and videos. This CCEL course includes encounters and collaboration with community partners. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ACUP, AMST, ASAM, NMDD, PJSJ, PJST, SL, THEA, VAAE.
VART 1124. Photography I. (4 Credits)
Instruction is offered in basic camera and darkroom techniques of black-and-white photography. Class will also include critiques of students' work and discussions of aesthetic questions pertaining to photography. Additional darkroom hours required. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: COMM, VAPH.
VART 1128. Introduction to Digital Photography. (4 Credits)
This class is an introduction to the fundamentals of digital photography. The objectives are to understand camera usage, demonstrate control of image editing and printing, and develop a personal vision. Instruction methods will comprise technical demonstrations, lectures, critiques, screenings, and field trips. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: NMAT, NMDD, VAPH.
VART 1135. Visual Thinking. (3 Credits)
A foundation course in visual communication. The course will cover the following topics: visual perception, composition, light and color, drawing perspective, words and images, graphic design, and photography and photo montage.
Attributes: COMM, FACC, FRFA, NMAT, NMDD.
VART 1138. Watercolor Painting. (4 Credits)
An introductory course in watercolor exploring the possibilities of the medium. Students will develop an understanding of value, color and composition while using techniques such as wet into wet, dry brush, washes and layering. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPD.
VART 1150. Drawing I. (4 Credits)
Work in pencil, ink, charcoal, and other graphic media designed to involve students in various approaches and attitudes toward representation and expression in drawing. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPD.
VART 1160. Architectural Language. (4 Credits)
(Formerly VART 2060 - Architectural Design I.) Introducing the basic language of 3D form and space making, this studio course involves students in the process of architectural vision, critique, analysis and creation. Emphasizing short, elementary in-class assignments, students learn to use the same tools --sketching, diagramming, scale model making, and computer modeling and animation-- used by design professionals to shape our world. Lab fee. All are welcome. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: URST, VABE.
Mutually Exclusive: VART 1161.
VART 1163. Computer Drafting for Architectural Interiors and Stage Designs. (4 Credits)
Work with Vectorworks, Rhino, and Sketch Up CAD software to draw existing architectural interiors then redesign and renovate the spaces; as well as create Theatrical Designs for theatre stages and special corporate events that are site specific at locations around the city. This course is intended for VART Architecture and THEA Design students but is open to anyone interested in learning about Computer Drafting and Design. Offered at FCLC 1st Summer Session. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VABE.
VART 1180. Painting I. (4 Credits)
An introductory course in painting, emphasizing basic formal and technical concerns. Acrylic paints will be used. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPD.
VART 1219. Sculptural Methods. (4 Credits)
This course is designed for visual arts majors and non-majors who are looking to explore sculpture as a part of their ongoing work or interests. Over the monthlong summer session, each student will learn introductory ideas and technical skills when making art in three dimensions. Hand forming, basic casting techniques, making models, in addition to the utilization of digital media and readymade objects are among the topics to be covered. The aim of this course is to concurrently develop processes with concepts—to consider, form, and reflect on an individual’s actions while in the studio. Ideas are just as important as their material manifestations; therefore, participation, discussion, and textual expression are encouraged. In addition to studio work, students will have the chance to visit galleries and museums, and learn about contemporary practitioners of the field. Toward the conclusion of the session, each student will develop a cumulative final project that presents their respective interests and research through sculptural means. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
VART 1234. Modes of Transport: Choo Choo, Vroom Vroom. (4 Credits)
In this course, we research various modes of transport—such as rail, road, water, cable, and human-powered—and their impact on the environment as well as on our perception of the world. In addition to reading, watching films, and conducting archival research, we will experience almost every mode of transport. We subsequently reflect on both our real (sensory) experience and our artificial (imaginative) experience. We then use artificial intelligence (AI) to make essay films (and other artworks) about what we have learned and experienced with our real intelligence (RI). Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: AMST, NMDD, URST, VAAE.
VART 1265. Film/Video I. (4 Credits)
An introduction to film/video production techniques used to make short projects. Students will study composition, lighting, and editing in creating their own Super 8 mm film and digital video work. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: COMM, FIPR, FITV, NMAT, NMDD, VAFV.
VART 1800. Internship. (1 Credit)
Internship in Visual Arts.
VART 1995. Phone to Book. (4 Credits)
Phone to Book is an introductory course that uses smartphones to generate images, which are then carefully sequenced into bound books through print, on-demand publishing platforms. Creating digital images and quality photographic books has never been more accessible thanks to current technology; nevertheless, traditional questions remain: what is a good image, and how does picture sequencing influence meaning? This course introduces students to basic phone camera usage and digital editing techniques, along with traditional photographic concerns and editorial strategies. Further, through demonstrations, assignments, and critiques, Phone to Book provides a balance between technical and aesthetic matters relating to photographic practice. By the conclusion of the course, each student will have produced a book of original content that is intentionally structured and thoughtfully designed. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: NMAT, NMDD.
VART 1999. Tutorial. (0 to 1 Credits)
Independent research and readings with supervision from a faculty member.
Attributes: VABE, VAFV, VAGD, VAPD, VAPH.
VART 2003. Graphic Design and Digital Tools. (4 Credits)
In this course, students will be introduced to the visual language and professional applications of graphic design. The Adobe Creative Suite's digital design programs are introduced through tutorials, workshops, and assignments. Through hands-on projects, presentations, research, and discussion, students are encouraged to learn about the history and current practice of design, as well as develop their craft and creative voice. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: AMST, ASAM, COMM, NMAC, NMAT, NMDD, NMMI, VAGD.
VART 2040. Elements of Architecture. (4 Credits)
This course introduces the foundational principles of architectural design in a studio environment, where students can develop the basic skills needed for architectural study. A series of design projects will cover a range of architectural explorations around space, surface, scale, and sequence. These four elements will be supplemented by research into general areas of architectural history, artistic concepts, neighborhood dynamics, and site analysis. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ENST, ESEL, ESSD, THEA, URST, VABE.
VART 2050. Designing the City. (4 Credits)
This is a creative and and practical studio course in urban design, focusing on the relationship between people and the built environment. A series of analytical mapping exercises is organized across many scales, from the street to the larger neighborhood. Students will then learn and use computer software to visualize project interventions in public places in New York, practicing the imaginative art of the possible. Recommended to Urban and Environmental Studies students, but open to all. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: AMST, APPI, ASHS, ENST, ENVS, EPLE, ESEL, ESSD, URST, VAAE, VABE.
VART 2055. Environmental Design. (4 Credits)
This introductory course explores the physical relationship between mankind and nature. Slide presentations, field trips and readings will outline the histories and forms of settlement patterns, landscapes and gardens, and our increasing interest in sustainable development, renewable energy and conservation. Sketching, design and model-building in landscape settings. Intended for design, history and science students. Required field trips and lab fee. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: AMST, ASAM, ENST, ENVS, EPLE, ESEL, ESSD, SOIN, URST, VABE.
VART 2070. Architectural Design. (4 Credits)
This is a design studio course that synthesizes contextual, artistic, environmental, and functional requirements in the design of landscapes, public spaces, buildings, and furnishings. A series of design project proposals is prefaced by exercises in analysis, skill building, theory, critique, and fabrication. (Formerly VART 2060/3070 Architectural Design) Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ENST, ESEL, ESSD, THEA, URST, VABE.
VART 2080. Interior Design Through Form, Function, & Light. (4 Credits)
Introduction to Interior Design will explore how form, function, and light are integral to the design process when creating a welcoming and dynamic space. We will design our own interiors from personal domestic spaces to large scale public spaces. We will work on renovation projects as well as new construction. We will explore basic design principles and learn how to apply design elements that support your style choices and help you communicate your ideas. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VABE.
VART 2099. Ethics in Architecture and Design. (4 Credits)
Is it possible to create designs that benefit everyone? This course explores the moral principles that govern a designer’s choices, and the dynamics—such as power, privilege, convenience, fear, and economics—that can get in the way of these principles. Students will be given resources to engage in conversations and will be prompted to challenge thinking related to morals and values within design decisions. Students will use model making, sketching, and Adobe Suite to conduct a series of creative design exercises. Our duty as designers is to ensure that we are creating for the greater good. This course will investigate if and how we as designers can accomplish that. No prior design experience is necessary for this course. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: VAAE, VABE.
VART 2121. Abstraction. (4 Credits)
We think abstractly and routinely navigate the complex abstract structures of our world. Abstract art- the major art form of the last century has tried in many different ways to come to grips with this situation. This course rather than treating abstraction as a style considers it as a way of thinking visually as a structure for creativity and expression. Working across material disciplines, the course will employ painting, drawing, and three dimensional techniques. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPD.
VART 2130. Painting II. (4 Credits)
Intermediate instruction is offered in painting. Emphasis will be placed on developing individual approaches to the solving of creative problems within the context of 20th-century historical and critical concerns. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPD.
VART 2140. Collage and Mixed Media. (4 Credits)
A course emphasizing the formal, material and thematic exploration inherent in collage and mixed media techniques. Different visual disciplines and approaches will be combined to produce two- and three-dimensional work. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPD.
VART 2150. Drawing II. (4 Credits)
A workshop in various techniques and media. Field trips to museums and galleries. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPD.
VART 2185. Photography II. (4 Credits)
In this course, students will initiate specific photographic projects, which they will pursue throughout the semester, and further develop their personal vision. Instructional methods will include technical demonstrations, lectures, critiques, screenings, and field trips. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: COMM, NMDD, VAPH.
VART 2196. Large-Format Photography. (4 Credits)
Large format-view camera technique, which produces large negatives and permits extraordinary image control, will be taught along with medium photography in this intermediate level class. Students will work on short, specific technical assignments as well as a long-term individual project. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPH.
VART 2222. Art of the Interview. (4 Credits)
The historic neighborhood of San Juan Hill was razed in the 1950’s to make way for Fordham College at Lincoln Center, the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and other developments, as part of the Lincoln Center Urban Renewal Plan. With the support of Fordham’s Center for Community Engaged Learning, we are creating a new archive of oral histories with elders who remember Lincoln Center before it was Lincoln Center. We work with software such as Reaper, Audacity and MAX (no experience required) to create sound installations, podcasts and live performances—when possible and appropriate, in collaboration with our interviewees. Readings include artist publications and articles on history and sound studies. The original full-length unedited interviews will be added to our class’s Lincoln Square Oral History Project digital archive: https://research.library.fordham.edu/lincolnsquare/ Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ADVD, AMST, ANTH, ASAM, HIST, NMAT, NMDD, SL, THDP, URST, VAAE, VAFV.
VART 2265. Film/Video II. (4 Credits)
Advanced film/video production techniques will be explored as students complete several projects over the course of the semester. Students will shoot 16mm film and video and learn sound design and post-production digital effects. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: COMM, FIPR, FITV, NMAT, NMDD, VAFV.
Prerequisite: VART 1265.
VART 2400. Web Design & Digital Portfolios. (4 Credits)
This course is an introduction to web design from a visual and technical perspective. It focuses on the basic languages of front-end web development: HTML, CSS, and Javascript in conjunction with the principles of graphic design, typography, and user experience. Coursework emphasizes coding as an artistic medium—a way of making handcrafted, creative websites. Through project-based assignments and readings, students will explore and challenge what a website is, and experiment with various tools and techniques to produce an interactive design portfolio of visual projects. No prior coding experience is required. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: NMAT, NMDD, VAGD.
Prerequisite: VART 2003.
VART 2424. Art and Action on the Bronx River. (4 Credits)
This course is designed around direct experiences with the Bronx River, which flows only a few minutes' walk from the Rose Hill campus. The river is a critical urban landmark, a scenic dividing line that runs from Westchester County to the East River. Throughout the semester, we will study the history of the river, its ecology, its relationship to surrounding communities, and its connection to New York City’s watershed. Walking, collecting, observation, and boating are some of the actions that might be combined with creative processes throughout the semester. We will also explore contemporary artists whose work combines social practice, activism, and environmental action. This is a visual arts class; however, experience in the creative arts is not required to be successful in this course. Assignments will be experimental in nature and may include drawing, photography, creative writing, and alternative research techniques. Throughout this course we will directly engage with the Bronx River Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting and protecting the river. We will also engage with the river itself. The engagement is what gives this course a CCEL designation. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ACUP, AMST, APPI, ASHS, ASRP, ENST, ESEL, ESSD, NMDE, SL, VAAE, VAGD, VAPD, VAPH.
VART 2500. Typography and Design. (4 Credits)
Structured as a lab course, the fundamental perception, concept and method of graphic design will be introduced through a series of set projects and exercises. We will explore how graphic design can engage, inform and challenge the viewer as well as how the design of visual communication is influenced by social, political and cultural issues. Through lectures, slide presentations, assignments and class discussions, we will examine the formal aspects of typography, the relationship between type and image, and the impact of new technologies on design practices today will be examined. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: NMAT, NMDD, VAGD.
Prerequisite: VART 2003.
VART 2545. Projects and Concepts. (4 Credits)
A multi-media studio course that emphasizes creative solutions to a varied series of visual problems. The student will be able to use painting, drawing, collage, photography, sculpture, and video, as well as installation and performance to make artworks that “think out of the box”. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPD.
VART 2550. Book and Zine Design. (4 Credits)
All students with an interest in self-publishing are welcome to the class. The focus will be on the design, layout, and production of a publication from the cover to the copyright page. You will learn through weekly assignments and readings about design, type, paper, and binding techniques. We will look at and critique the numerous "indie" publications available, and the final product will be a self-published book, "zine," or chapter book. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: COMM, NMAT, NMDD, VAGD.
Prerequisite: VART 2003.
VART 2600. Type in Motion. (4 Credits)
Type no longer lives in a static environment. It does not stand still; it jiggles, expands, inflates, rotates, and morphs. In other words: Type is now in constant motion. In this course, we will explore the capabilities of typographic animation using Adobe After Effects. Through hands-on assignments, tutorials, guest lecturers, and the observation of current trends, students will gain an understanding of composition and storytelling, with an emphasis on cause and effect. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: NMAT, NMDD, VAGD.
Prerequisite: VART 2003.
VART 2650. Visual Effects and Motion Graphics. (4 Credits)
How does the addition of movement and sound affect a design? In this course students will look at the history of visual effects and motion graphics and review work by the most exciting contemporary studios and individuals in the field today. Students will learn the fundamental principles of motion design and will gain hands-on knowledge of Adobe AfterEffects. The class format will consist of demonstrations, tutorials, lectures, hands on projects, and class reviews. Emphasis will be placed on research, exploration, and experimentation. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: NMAT, NMDD.
Prerequisite: VART 2003.
VART 2700. Logos, Branding, and Presentation. (4 Credits)
This advanced level class will focus on the development, design and presentation of an organizational product identity. The assignment will include research, a written proposal and a final presentation of a design for a logo, product, brochure and a promotional material. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: NMAC, NMAT, NMDD, VAGD.
Prerequisite: VART 2003.
VART 2750. Magazine and Editorial design. (4 Credits)
This class focuses on the basics of magazine and editorial design using the Adobe Creative Suite Indesign program. Through presentations, demonstrations, discussions, and hands-on projects students will learn how to balance creativity and function, as well as format layouts to facilitate production and design. An emphasis will be made on how hierarchy, consistency, and an understanding of typography and design principles will enhance the reader's experience.
Attributes: COMM, NMAT, NMDD.
VART 2800. Seminar Graphic Design. (4 Credits)
This seminar course is open to all students interested in graphic design. Class will include visits to designers' studios, slide lectures, assigned readings and written essays. We will look at the role of the designer in society both in the past and present, and examine the art of graphic design. Permission. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: NMDD.
VART 2999. Tutorial. (2 Credits)
Independent research and readings with supervision from a faculty member.
Attributes: VABE, VAFV, VAGD, VAPD, VAPH.
VART 3001. Documentary Photography: Japan. (4 Credits)
This intensive class is designed as a platform for intermediate and advanced level students to further develop their photographic production with an emphasis on generating documentary projects focusing on the people, culture, and architecture of Japan. The megacity of Tokyo will serve as the starting point for our investigations, with image making itineraries that will take us from the cosmopolitan ward of Shinjuku, to the center of youth culture in Shibuya; and from the cutting edge fashion districts of Harajuku, to the temples and shrines of Asakusa. Concurrent with our photographic explorations we will examine contemporary exhibitions in venues such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography in Ebisu, as well as view the ancient collections housed in Japan’s oldest and largest museum, the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno. Traveling by Shinkansen bullet train at 300 km/h (186mph), we will make our way south to Kyoto, the nexus of traditional Japanese culture and history with approximately two thousand temples, shrines, and gardens that we can utilize as both the catalyst and stage for our photography. The extraordinary wealth of visual stimuli we will experience in Japan over ten days will certainly inspire, as well as function as the backdrop against which to critically discuss the strategies that photographers employ in communicating their interests. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPH.
VART 3030. Art Design and Politics. (4 Credits)
How can art and design be used as a form of social activism? This studio-art course pushes beyond the confines of the classroom/gallery, taking art “to the streets” with collaborative, student-directed creative initiatives that effect positive change in the real world. The course structure is flexible, with projects driven by the particular interests of the students enrolled. We will dive into ethical conundrums related to social justice and explore the intersection of activist, research, and aesthetic strategies. Readings, guest lectures by artist-activists, and seminar-style classroom brainstorms over potluck dinners will provide students with the tools and inspiration to meaningfully engage with communities in a joint effort to see power and reimagine it in innovative ways. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: AMST, APPI, ASAM, HCWL, HUST, NMDD, NMDE, PJSJ, PJST, VAAE, VAGD, VAPD, VAPH.
VART 3055. Ecology for Designers. (4 Credits)
An introduction to functional ecosystems, and the application of that knowledge to the re-design of the urban built environment. Energy use patterns, resource management, water cycles, productivity, food production, systems integration will be inspected, leading to the proposition of a hypothetical urban ecosystem, which may include water re-cycling, habitat restoration, bio-mimicry, renewable energy, and vertical farming. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ENST, ESEL, ESSD, NMDE, URST, VAAE, VABE.
VART 3056. Urban Environmental Design. (4 Credits)
A creative studio/seminar course in the design of renewable technologies, mixed use urbanism, hybrid ecologies; productive systems and resilient, sustainable cities. This is a synthetic studio, combining the concerns of Urban Design, Green Architecture, and Environmental Design in complex urban spaces, buildings, and networks. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ENST, ESSD, VABE.
VART 3060. Visual Justice: Enacting Change Through Image-Based Storytelling. (4 Credits)
Starting with the premise that narratives can dispossess and malign but also empower and humanize, this studio-art course explores the ways image-based storytelling can enact visual justice by challenging the “single stories” that uphold systems of oppression. Students will study contemporary works of art and literature focusing on a range of issues and their overlap, including race, ethnicity, class, migration, housing, incarceration, disability, gender, sexual orientation, and the environment, and will be supported in creating an image-based story of their own in the medium of their choice. No previous art-making experience required. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ACUP, AFAM, AMST, COLI, CVW, ENGL, LAHA, LALS, NMDE, PJSJ, PJST, POSC, URST, VAAE, VAGD, VAPD, VAPH.
VART 3070. Urban Architectural Design. (4 Credits)
This is a creative studio course in architecture and urban design that bridges the distinctions between these two fields, and focuses on the relationship between people and space. A series of analytical exercises will deal with many users and communities that require special attention from designers. We will learn from what these groups advocate for to envision a more equitable built environment. These communities include but are not limited to advocates for disability justice, affordable housing, alternatives for the unhoused, and immigrants. Students will then learn and use computer software to visualize project interventions that deal with these complex issues. The class will conduct site visits and hear lectures by leading experts in the field. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: AMST, APPI, ASHS, ENVS, EPLE, PJSJ, PJST, URST, VAAE, VABE.
VART 3131. Abstraction II. (4 Credits)
An advanced class in abstraction. Painting, drawing, three-dimensional work, photography, and video are used to investigate issues in abstraction. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPD.
VART 3132. Projects and Concepts II. (4 Credits)
An advanced multi-media studio course emphasizing creative solutions to a variety of visual and conceptual problems. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPD.
VART 3134. 20th Century Art: Modernism and Modernity. (4 Credits)
A survey of the major developments of modern art from the late 19th century until today, with an emphasis on work done before 1940. This course will undertake the larger task of understanding modernism in art as a visual response to the conditions of modernity. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ACUP, AMST, ASAM, COLI, VAPD.
VART 3135. Modernism and Its Aftermath. (4 Credits)
This course provides an overview of contemporary art, stressing work done since World War II but also exploring the early 20th-century roots of modern art and modernism. In addition, various postmodern approaches will be examined. We will pay particular attention to abstract expressionism, pop art, minimalism, post-minimalism (both American and European), Earth art, and conceptual art. This course satisfies the second art history requirement for the visual arts major. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ACUP, AMST, ASAM, COLI, INST, ISIN, VAPD.
VART 3186. Photography III: Portfolio, Book, Exhibition. (4 Credits)
The primary objective of this advanced class is to provide a forum for participants to expand their self-directed photography projects and receive constructive criticism at the highest level. Students will examine photographic strategies to effectively communicate their interests, maximize image relationships through thoughtful sequencing, and focus on realizing their work by developing a combination of portfolios, books, and exhibitions. Class instruction methods will include rigorous project analysis, technical demonstrations, lectures regarding historical and contemporary photographers, guest photographers, and gallery/museum field trips. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPH.
Prerequisite: VART 2185 (may be taken concurrently).
VART 3250. Speculative Design. (4 Credits)
“How can we address future challenges with design?” —Dunne and Raby Speculative design is to create products and services while thinking about the future and emerging technology trends. Designing for the future means looking at different perspectives and thriving on imagination to solve wicked problems. We will explore the relationship between people and objects in both physical and digital design and how we can apply these ideas that could be built 10 to 20 years from now. It is not about creating an app for your phone or a website. But it will be a chance to create something beyond that reality. Think “Black Mirror,” augmented reality, virtual reality, voice activation, machine learning, etc. This class is about collaborating and answering the what-if questions of the future. We will learn fundamental principles of design futures, research and predict future problems, and design and prototype solutions. No coding background is required. Imagination is mandatory. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: NMAC, NMAT, NMDD, VAGD.
VART 3251. Film Video Postproduction. (4 Credits)
Through demonstrations and field trips, students will learn how to work with professional technicians to complete their films. Film processing, color correction, sound design, music scoring, special effects, title design, and distribution will all be discussed. Students will complete exercises and finish a short film that can be submitted to festivals. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: FIPR, VAFV.
VART 3257. Seminar: Avant-Garde Film/Video. (4 Credits)
This studio course will explore the practice of current avant-garde film and video from a visual arts perspective. Various artists’ strategies for creating challenging work will be considered, including the use of abstraction, appropriated imagery, autobiographical detail, disjunctive sound image relationships and other aesthetic choices. The course will include field trips to view current experimental films and videos at museums, film festivals and art galleries. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: FITV.
VART 3258. Film/Video Installation. (4 Credits)
Students will create their own video installations using multiple monitors and mixed sounds. Using video monitors and film loops, students will create their own moving image pieces for the gallery/museum context. We will consider historical background and how contemporary practitioners use multible screens and sound to explore unexpected terrain. Students will present their video installation work in a gallery show at the end of the semester. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: NMAT, VAFV.
Prerequisite: VART 1265.
VART 3261. Documentary Film/Video Production. (4 Credits)
Students will plan, shoot, and edit a short non-fiction film. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: FIPR, FITV, VAFV.
Prerequisite: VART 1265.
VART 3262. Narrative Film/Video Production. (4 Credits)
Students will plan, shoot, and edit a short fiction film. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: FIPR, VAFV.
VART 3267. Urban Film Video Production. (4 Credits)
After looking at ways in which the city has been framed historically in films, students will pursue research in the city using video as their tool. Using interviews, screen text, voice over, and other documentary techniques, students will explore a project of interest to them and make a series of short films that reveal an aspect of the urban milieu. In class sessions and in one on one meetings with the professor, students will propose and refine their project and gather feedback about communicating in visual language on city issues. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: COMM, URST, VAFV.
VART 3268. Film/Video Animation. (4 Credits)
This course will explore two- and three-dimensional film and video animation. We will study the works of film artists in the hopes of gleaning inspiration from the history of animation. Students will create their own films in this class using flat art (drawings, paintings, photographs, or collages) or sculptural objects. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: NMAT, NMDD, VAFV.
VART 3333. Art Making in Hell's Kitchen. (4 Credits)
Students will respond to the neighborhoods around FCLC by taking photographs, shooting digital video, painting and drawing, using posters and text, recording sound, making architectural sketches, or engaging in site-specific performances. The course will start with visits from neighborhood activists and observational walking tours to identify tensions and problems in the locales. Then students will make individual and group projects in their chosen mediums culminating in an exhibition of the work in the Lipani Gallery. No prior experience or equipment needed. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ACUP, ADVD, AMST, ASAM, LAHA, LALS, NMDD, SL, URST, VABE, VAFV, VAGD, VAPD, VAPH.
VART 3500. Documentary Photography: Italy. (4 Credits)
This intensive summer-session class introduces you to the basic and advanced techniques of image production with an emphasis on generating documentary projects directly relating to the people, culture, and architecture of Italy. The cosmopolitan city of Rome, rich in artistic history, serves as the starting point for our photographic explorations, as well as the catalyst for discussions addressing the historical significance of the documentary impulse. The course concludes with the production of a book of students’ photographic projects. Students use 35mm black-and-white film. A dark room will be provided. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAPH.
VART 3535. Seminar: History of Photography. (4 Credits)
This course explores the history of photography from 1839 to the present. The work of leading American and international photographers will be studied in the light of the technical, social, and aesthetic issues of their time. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ACUP, AMST, ASAM, VAPH.
VART 3541. The Streets of New York. (4 Credits)
This course will use the streets of metropolitan New York as its classroom and its laboratory. By studying the initial foundations, street layouts, building typologies, historical topology, and geography of the region, with its architectural monuments and everyday street-life, we will seek to understand this city's past—ecological, urban, and architectural. We also will discuss current urban dynamics and challenges that include but are not limited to gentrification, climate change, and environmental racism. During the second half of the course, we will be conducting a series of walking tours. Therefore, on occasions this course will meet off-campus. Note: Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: ENST, ESEL, ESSD, PJEN, PJST, URST, VAAE, VABE.
VART 3800. Internship. (2 to 3 Credits)
Supervised placement for students interested in work experience.
Attributes: VABE, VAFV, VAGD, VAPD, VAPH.
VART 3810. Seminar in Graphic Design. (4 Credits)
This seminar course is open to all students interested in graphic design. Class will include visits to designers' studios, slide lectures, assigned readings and written essays. We will look at the role of the designer in society both in the past and present, and examine the art of graphic design. Social responsibility in the context of a design’s ability to educate, inform or propagandize and deceive will also be examined. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attribute: VAGD.
VART 3999. Tutorial. (3 Credits)
Independent research and readings with supervision from a faculty member.
Attributes: VABE, VAFV, VAGD, VAPD, VAPH.
VART 4090. Senior Project Architecture. (4 Credits)
In this advanced studio seminar, students may pursue a specific design project with the consent and guidance of a visual arts faculty member. Portfolio preparation. A program proposal, with a schedule, bibliography, and proposed site, is due at the outset. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: URST, VABE.
Prerequisites: VART 3070 or VART 3080.
VART 4300. Representation in Art. (4 Credits)
This course deals with the ethics of representation and considers how art deals with depictions of people. What is an artist's responsibility to their subject? This seminar will provide a sense of ethical insight and social morality into this aspect of visual literacy and will encourage students to be critical, active, and engaged artists and viewers. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: COLI, EP4, VAL.
VART 4600. Senior Seminar: Studio Art. (4 Credits)
This is a course for senior visual arts students who wish to have a senior project exhibition. The seminar will discuss critical issues relating to the making, presentation, and interpretation of contemporary art. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
Attributes: VABE, VAFV, VAGD, VAPD, VAPH.
VART 4700. Capstone Seminar. (4 Credits)
This Capstone Seminar builds on the Senior Seminar in Studio Art and is directed at students engaged in a senior project exhibition. Readings, group discussions, and critiques are focused on improving students' critical awareness, conceptual ability, and technical skills. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
VART 4800. Internship. (4 Credits)
Supervised placement for students who are intereseted in work experience. Four-credit courses that meet for 150 minutes per week require three additional hours of class preparation per week on the part of the student in lieu of an additional hour of formal instruction.
VART 4999. Tutorial. (4 Credits)
Supervised individual projects in photography, painting/drawing, graphic design, architecture or filmmaking/video. May be continued to a maximum of eight credits.
Attributes: VABE, VAFV, VAGD, VAPD, VAPH.