FINEARTS 247 : Systems, Ecologies and Environments: Embodied Nature

Creative Arts and Industries

2023 Semester Two (1235) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores our place as a species within a broader ecological framework. Enables students to reflect on the limitations proposed by ways of thinking that separate self from world. Through studio practice and artistic research, develops an enhanced awareness of and sensitivity to living systems.

Course Overview

What role do aesthetic processes play in drawing boundaries between nature and culture, humans and animals? This course examines traditional and contemporary creative practice and draws upon key texts to establish frameworks for the rethinking of human as animal. Its aim is to support and encourage notions of inter-species connectivity and to question how art making might shift us away from anthropocentric ways of thinking and living, towards ecocentric considerations.

This is an elective, studio based, interdisciplinary course. There will be a strong emphasis on the production of artwork in studio and the facilitation of the studio as a productive space. Students are expected to generate and develop a body of artwork in response to course topics and to produce short written reflections on key texts. Supported reading groups and seminars will guide students through a series of readings introducing specific core concepts. The delivery of course content is designed to provide students a base from which to critically evaluate and investigate contemporary discourse of art-making specific to the course concerns.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: FINEARTS 101, 102, 103, 104, or FINEARTS 110, 113 and FINEARTS 111 or 112

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Fine Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explore ways in which humans can exist within, and connect to living systems (Capability 6)
  2. Engage critically in group discussions and activities as they occur in the course (Capability 4)
  3. Develop research skills that include a range of material, conceptual and contextual methodologies and apply these to studio production, a group seminar, and an exploratory research portfolio. (Capability 3)
  4. Develop skills in generating, exploring and understanding a range of material affects and their role in producing meaning. (Capability 1)
  5. Develop develop skills in understanding and exploring relevant concepts and their realisation within artwork. (Capability 2)
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of material technologies and their impacts on ecosystems (Capability 1 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Project 30% Individual Coursework
Written Publication 30% Individual Coursework
Project 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Project
Written Publication
Project

Students must achieve 50% or more overall in order to pass the course

Teaching & Learning Methods

Structured studio engagement will consist of the following:
In project groups there will be regular crit meetings or group discussions that seek to actively engage students in open and critically constructive discussion. These group meetings will always attempt to be student centred and often aim to be student lead with an emphasis on student participation within informed debate. Small group meetings with staff will regularly take place. Such groups can be employed to group students with similar interests or tasks facilitating simultaneously an individualised and collective learning experience. Course lecturers will regularly be available for face-to-face meetings with individual students. These meetings will support individual studio learning and supplement and reinforce the collective learning experiences offered within the course.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 20 hours per week involved in each 30 point course that they are enrolled in. Each week includes 5 hours of teaching contact and 15 hours of independent study time. For this course, you can expect 60 hours of studio contact. In addition you are expected to complete 240 hours of independent studio learning including 24 hours of preparatory reading.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including workshops and studios to complete components of the course.
The course may include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable/block delivery.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Students are expected to supply their own journals for technical notes and developmental drawings. Tools and equipment essential to instruction are provided. Beyond the point of initial instruction, students are expected to provide materials.

Health & Safety

Please refer to the Elam School of Fine Arts Health, Safety and Wellbeing guidelines that can be found in the Canvas page for this course in the files section.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

The assessment has been streamlined so that it progresses logically from skill building and acquisition of sustainable materials to research and concept development through publication to a wholistic resolved expression of acquired skills, materials and knowledge in the final assignment. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Requests for extensions of time must be submitted and approved before the due date unless there are exceptional circumstances. Students applying for an extension of time must use the online Fine Arts Extension of Time Application form available on Canvas. The request must be supported by written evidence from a doctor or counsellor (or other relevant evidence).

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 14/11/2022 02:47 p.m.