7) Critical analysis and thinking

About this class

This course will enable art students and students interested in art to develop analysis and critical views of art. The course will be structured on evaluating artworks, periods, and styles. It is for students who want to be able to reflect on their own works, as well as those of others, and to underpin theory. It will help develop ideas and being able to talk, write about, and evaluate artworks.

Class Outline

1. Introduction: What is critical thinking? Reasoning: Why develop critical thinking skills? Students will be shown the Mezquita in the Alhambra and look at the interfaith dialogue and synergy of art.
2. How well do you think? Develop your thinking skills: Students will do an art activity using pencil and a given theme. They will then explore the reasoning behind creating.
3. What’s their point? Identifying arguments: Looking at arguments and the works of selected artists.
4. Is it an argument? Argument and non-argument: Analysis of a few arguments and then a write-up of an argument.
5. Reading between the lines: Recognizing underlying assumptions and implicit arguments. Looking at the works of some critics and their reasoning, looking at a variety of artworks, and selecting works to review.
6. What makes art? Identify what categorizes art and craft, the difference, and whether there is a difference.
7. Critical reading and note-making: Critical selection, interpretation, and noting of source material.
8. Presentations of an artwork and critical analysis of the piece.

Materials needed

Please note: VCUQatar reserves the right to cancel classes for which not enough participants are registered. Already paid fees will be refunded.

Please do not purchase materials until VCUQatar has sent final course confirmation.

Items to buy for this class

Participants are required to buy their own materials beforehand and bring them to every class.

• a lined paper pad and a pen
• a pencil
• an A4 white paper sketch book

On occasions, there may be some more materials to be bought and brought in if and when advised by the instructor.

Where to buy your materials

Most of the materials are available from any art supply shop, for example:

• Cass Art (Fire station): Community Classes students get a 15% discount upon presenting the registration ticket
• Jarir Bookstore: on Rayyan Road or Salwa Road
• Color Note: on Al Nasser Street
• Ibn Al Qayyim: at Markhiya Roundabout
• Al Rawnaq

Schedule

Start: Mon, 16 Oct, 2017
End: Wed, 8 Nov, 2017
Lessons: 8
Days: Mondays & Wednesdays
Time: 5:15 pm – 7:15 pm
Location: VCUQatar, Room 255
Cost: QAR 850

Register

To register for this course, access the form.