SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES

SEMESTER:
FALL
COURSE:
VISUAL ARTS OF THE WORLD - SECTION A & B
LECTURER :
JOYCE AKACH
TIME/DAYS:
M/W 3.30-5.10 PM and 5.30 7.10PM
VENUE:
ROOM B4/ ROOM Q
CREDIT:
3 UNITS
OFFICE HOURS: M/W 1.00 3.00 PM and by appointment
CONTACT:
jakach@adjunct.usiu.ac.ke

1. DESCRIPTION
Welcome to FAR 3001. The world around us presents us with a rich
ensemble of visual elements every day. Through our eyes we absorb
these elements and subconsciously draw our own conclusions about their
beauty or lack of it. Learning about the visual arts will help us to turn this
subconscious act into a conscious one. This way, we will be able to look at
the visual world with fresh eyes and make informed judgments about
beauty.
The study of the visual arts will further enable us to undertake artistic
endeavors and maybe even develop our own individual style. In this way
we can enhance our creative talent that is necessary for our success in
any profession in todays competitive world.
The aim of this course is to provide us with an understanding of the
elements and principles that govern the creation of visual arts as well as
an appreciation for the works of art from around the world.
Students are expected to be actively involved in research on the visual
arts and to participate in group work, presentations and field excursions.
Further, each student should be prepared to produce their own art pieces
through drawing, painting and using a variety of computer graphic
software.

1.1

Prerequisite: None

2. LINK TO UNIVERSITY MISSION OUTCOMES & TO PROGRAM

LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this course the students will have achieved the following
outcomes:
a. Competence in critical thinking, creative skills, use of technology,
and communication skills.
b. Demonstrate effective, efficient and ethical leadership.
c. Service to the community: Acquire practical working experience
through participation and contribution to community and societal
causes.
d. Demonstrate preparedness for career and lifelong learning in their
chosen disciplines as well as understanding of and appreciation for
the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge.
e. Demonstrate the use of qualitative and quantitative research skills
in humanities, social sciences and natural science.
f. Demonstrate awareness and appreciation of diversity, and
development of a world view informed by a multicultural global
perspective.

3. EXPECTED COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES (Not more than 6)

At the end of this course the students should:
a. Have a keen understanding of the elements and principles of
art and design and be able to manipulate these elements and
principles in innovative ways.
b. Be familiar with the development of the Visual arts from the art
of ancient Egypt to todays post-modernist movements.
c. Appreciate the deep symbolism of African art and be able to
adopt this to a modern setting in creative ways.
d. Have learnt to appreciate a variety of styles in art through the
study of works of great artists.

4. CONTENT & CLASS SCHEDULE

WEEK 1:
Outcome 1: Competence in critical thinking, creative skills, use of
technology, and communication skills
1.1
Presentation and discussion of the Course Outline.
1.2
Introduction to visual arts
Themes and Purposes of Art
Readings: Living with Art (Chapters 2 and 3)

WEEK 2:
Outcome 6: Demonstrate awareness and appreciation of diversity, and
development of a world view informed by a multicultural global
perspective.
2.1
Movie Hidden Treasures of Australian Art (1 hr 15mins)
Student will be able to identify purposes of ethnic art among
the Torres Strait Islanders.
2.2
Discussion of elements and principles of art and design.
Readings: Living with Art (Chapters 4 and 5)

WEEK 3:
Outcome I. Competence in critical thinking, creative skills, use of
technology, and communication skills
3.1
Media and Methods of making Art
Readings: Living with Art (Chapters 6 to 13)
3.2 Assignment 1:
Photography assignment
Take pictures within USIU compound that are good visual
representations of the following ELEMENTS of Art. Creatively
layout the images on an A4 paper.
1. Line
2. Shape
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3. Space
4. Form
5. Texture
6. Value
7. Color
GRADING
TOTAL MARKS 10 Marks
Each image 1 Mark
Layout 3 Marks
WEEK 4:
Outcome 6: Demonstrate awareness and appreciation of diversity, and
development of a world view informed by a multicultural global
perspective.
4.1
Introduction to art periods
Group work discussions in class
Activity: Preparation of class presentations

4.2 Assignment 2:
The students will give a presentation in class on a selected topic. The
duration of the presentation is a maximum of 30mins. Each group
should also have a 15-20 page research paper handed to the lecturer
after the presentation. Remember your class presentation is a
summarized version of the term paper, which should also be presented
to the lecturer in soft copy.
Introduction
Origins (where, why and how it begun)
Time in history (years)
Art forms that existed
List the art forms and describe them in terms of material used, style
etc

Major Artists
Name the major artists of this period and give a short biography
List of references
4

Being an academic presentation, you should be able to present

sources of your information.

NOTE
Design your presentation to suit the period under discussion. Use the
right colours, typeface, graphics and images to make your
presentation stand out.
Criteria for Awarding Marks
1. Presentation skills
Students should be able to show mastery of the period under
discussion by being articulate, confident and audible.
4 Marks
2. Layout of PowerPoint presentation
Correct use of colours, typeface, graphics and images
2 Marks
3. Term paper
Should be well typed out in a sequential manner and bound well.
4marks
WEEK 5:
Outcome 4. Demonstrate preparedness for career and lifelong learning in
their chosen disciplines as well as understanding of and appreciation for
the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge.
5.1
Prehistoric Art - Group 1
Readings: Living with Art ( pgs. 348-353)
Ancient Egyptian Art - Group 2
Readings: Living with Art ( pgs. 354-359)
5.2

Ancient Greek and Roman Art - Group 3

Readings: Living with Art ( pgs. 365-379)
The Renaissance and Baroque - Group 4
Readings: Living with Art ( pgs. 395-423)

WEEK 6:
Outcome 4. Demonstrate preparedness for career and lifelong learning in
their chosen disciplines as well as understanding of and appreciation for
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the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge.

6.1
Realism and Impressionism - Group 5
Readings: Living with Art ( pgs. 425-447)
Fauvism and Expressionism - Group 6
Readings: Living with Art ( pgs. 458-463, 470-476)
6.2

Cubism and De Stilj - Group 7

Readings: Living with Art ( pgs. 466-469)
Dada and Surrealism - Group 8
Readings: Living with Art

WEEK 7:
Outcome 2 and 5. Demonstrate effective, efficient and ethical leadership.
Demonstrate the use of qualitative and quantitative research skills in
humanities, social sciences and natural science.
7.1 MID QUARTER EXAMINATION

WEEK 8:
Outcome 4. Demonstrate preparedness for career and lifelong learning in
their chosen disciplines as well as understanding of and appreciation for
the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge.
8.1
Art Criticism
8.2
Trip to art workshop/Gallery.
Assignment 3:
Quiz to be done during the trip ( MARKS 15)

WEEK 9:
Outcome 5. Demonstrate the use of qualitative and quantitative research
skills in humanities, social sciences and natural science.
9.2
Arts of Africa - Group 9
Readings: Living with Art ( pgs. 531-535)

9.2

Arts of Asia - Group 10

Readings: Living with Art ( pgs. 504-521)
Movie Hidden Treasures of African Art (1hr)

WEEK 10:
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Outcome 5. Demonstrate the use of qualitative and quantitative research

skills in humanities, social sciences and natural science.
10.1 Pop Art and Street Art - Group 11
Readings: Living with Art ( pgs. 486-487)
10.2 Movie Exit through the gift shop (1hr 15mins)
WEEK 11:
Outcome 3. Service to the community: Acquire practical working
experience through participation and contribution to community and
societal causes
11.1 Islamic Art - Group 12
Readings: Oxford Journals : Journal of Islamic Studies
Christian art - Group 13
Readings: Living with Art ( chapter 6)
Assignment 4 Class project
11.2 Translate ideas from historical art movements.
This assignment is meant to provide students with the
opportunity to learn directly from the drawings of an influential
artist from art history movements that we have covered in class.
Step 1
Select an artist that inspires you. (This artist must be from any of
the art periods covered in class). This inspiration can take
different forms; it could be caused by the artists technical
prowess, the content of his or her drawings, or the ideas that
motivated the artists work.
Step 2
Put this artist in time today and make a drawing on an A4 Paper
size that you believe the artist would draw if he/she were alive
today. You will choose the subject matter of these drawings
based on what you have learnt about that artist.
Step 3
Back up your drawing with a short write up of maximum one
page. You must indicate the name of the artist who inspired your

drawing and discuss your drawing, showing an indepth

understanding of your artist.
Grading Criteria
Drawing
Write up
Relationship between drawing and write up

10 Marks
5 Marks
5Marks

WEEK 12:
Outcome 1:Competence in critical thinking, creative skills, use of
technology, and communication skills
12.1 Art in Kenya
The role of art and design in the development of the Kenyan
economy
12.2
Emerging issues and their effects on the visual arts

WEEK 13:
Outcome 4. Demonstrate preparedness for career and lifelong learning in
their chosen disciplines as well as understanding of and appreciation for
the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge.
13.1 Movie Seven Wonders of the New World (1hr 15mins)
13.2 Conclusions and reflections

WEEK 14
Revision
End semester Examinations

5. TEACHING APPROACHES

Lectures
PowerPoint presentations of artworks
Movies of the Visual Arts
Group work presentations and Discussions
Practical exercises
Assignments, Quiz and examinations
6. KEY INSTITUTIONAL ACADEMIC POLICIES
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Students should note the following are key policies as outlined in the
University Catalogue and Students Handbook
Academic dishonesty
a. Any intentional giving or use of external assistance during an
examination without the express permission of the faculty member
giving the examination.
b. Fabrication: any falsification or invention of data, citation or other
authority in an academic exercise
c. Plagiarism: any passing off of anothers ideas, words, or work as
ones own
d. Previously Submitted Work: presenting work prepared for and
submitted to another course
Class Attendance
Students are expected to attend all classes. Upon being absent from
eight classes in a 3 unit course, the instructor will give a student an
F grade for that course.
Examination Regulations
I.

Invigilation
The supervisor should take the following steps prior to the
commencement of he examination:
Ensure that there are no materials on the board, walls, floor or
furniture that might facilitate cheats.
Ensure that the seating plan does allow sufficient distance
between candidates.
2. Candidates will be allowed into the examination room no
earlier than 5 minutes before the commencement of the
examination.
3. Only candidates with valid USIU student identity cards will be
admitted into the examination room. A candidate is required
to wear his or her identity tag throughout the duration of the
examination. The invigilator should check the cards to ensure
that they are authentic and that nothing is scribbled on them.
4. As candidates enter the examination room they must
surrender the following before them take up their seats:

Bags
Overcoats
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Caps/hats
Books
Notes
Papers
Cellphones
Calculators
Scientific watches
Portable audios and
any other objects that might be used for cheating

5. Calculators, log tables and geometrical sets shall not be

allowed unless otherwise directed by the instructor.
6. The invigilator reserves the right to confiscate any
unauthorized materials.
7. No candidate will be allowed into the examination room 20
minutes after the commencement of the examination.
8. No candidate will be permitted to leave the examination room
while the examination is in progress except in cases of
emergency. Such emergencies will not include bathroom visits.
9. Invigilators must ensure that absolute silence is observed in the
examination room.
10.
At least 5 minutes prior to the commencement of the
examination invigilators will:

Take a roll call using the official class list.

Send away any student whose name is not on the
official class list.
Ask the candidates to surrender any unauthorized
material.
Draw the attention of the candidates to the
consequences of cheating in an exam
Draw the attention of the candidates to the instructions
on the front cover of the answer books and in the
question papers.

11.
Once the question paper is issued an invigilator must be
alert and in attendance until the scripts are collected.
Below are some of the cheating methods in order of
popularity:

Swapping and substitution of answer sheets or booklets

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Swapping question papers

'microchips' or condensed/minimized notes smuggled

using devices such as ball pens, pencil pouches, shoes,
ties, shirt/blouse sleeves, limbs, especially palms, arms
and thighs, chairs, calculators (especially sliding), cell
phones, spectacle cases, walls and roof, walkman etc

a glance at other candidates answers.

Feigned bathroom 'emergencies'

Candidate substitution

Whispers and gestures.

12.
There must be at least one invigilator for every 40 students
in an examination room.
13.

To thwart cheats, the invigilators should:

Monitor the candidates continuously.

Never bring reading material or own work to the

examination room.

Never return assignments, quizzes or term papers

during the exam.

Walk around the room from time to time, inspecting

pencil sets and other items that could be used to hide
'microchips'. Invigilation from the back is particularly
effective in a room with many candidates and having 2
or more invigilators.

14.
If an invigilator directly observes or otherwise determines
(based on other evidence) that an act of cheating or
misconduct has been committed or attempted s/he should take
the following steps:

Caution the candidate(s) involved that they are

suspected of cheating.
Confiscate or take note of the suspected material but
allow the candidate to continue with the examination.
Make a description of the suspected misconduct with
specific date, time and circumstances and witnesses.
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Send the report to the Dean with a recommendation as

to whether the suspected misconduct is a serious
violation or an infraction under USIU academic code of
conduct.

2. Missing Examinations
In the past some students have failed to present themselves for
scheduled examinations without good cause.
All students must ensure that they familiarise themselves with the
examination timetable so as to report for each examination at the
appointed time and place.

3. There are no Makeups for Missed or Failed Exams.

However, in the event of serious illness, bereavement or accident the
victim should report the matter to the appropriate Dean and instructor
as promptly as possible. Only those cases reported immediately and
supported with evidence will be considered.

7. COURSE TEXT & OTHER READINGS

Gilbert, R. (1998). Living with art. (5th ed.). New York : McGraw-Hill.
E-Books and E-Journals
Moon C.H. (Ed.) (2011). Materials and media in art therapy: Critical
understandings of diverse artistic vocabularies. Online publication
Beatty J.W. The Modern Art Movement. The North American Review, Vol. 219,
No. 819 (Feb., 1924), pp. 251-264

8. COURSE EVALUATION
Attendance and participation
5%
Assignments & Quizzes
25 %
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Term paper/practical project 10

45%
Group presentation & Report
10 %
Mid-Semester Exam
20 %
Final Exam
30%
Total
100%

9. USIU GRADING SYSTEM

A

90 100

70 73

A-

87 - 89

C-

67 69

B+

84 - 86

D+

64 - 66

80 - 83

62 - 63

B-

77 - 79

D-

60 - 61

C+

74 - 76

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