GenEd Arts
Theater 0807 – The Creative Spirit
Temple University Fall 2013
David O’Connor – Lead Instructor
215-760-5782 (cell)
Nancy Boykin -
Elizabeth Carlson –
David Girard –
Office Hours:Meeting by individual appointment.
Lecture: Tuesday 3:30- 4:50 PM in Tuttleman 105
Breakout Sections:
001:Thursday 3:30-4:50Barton 300Nancy BoykinCRN 5450
002:Thursday 3:30-1:50Barton 301David GirardCRN 19965
003:Thursday 3:30-4:50Barton 302Elizabeth CarlsonCRN 19966
004:Thursday 3:30-4:50Barton 303David O'ConnorCRN 19967
005: Friday 3:30-4:50Barton 300David O’ConnorCRN 5451
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Creativity is not just for artists. Creativity can be found in every area of our life, whether we are making art or making work or making dinner; making relationships, making families or making community; making discoveries or making a difference. In this course we will investigate Creativity – what it is and how it works – and look specifically at Creativity from the inside-out in a wide variety of Artistic disciplines. We will see art in Philadelphia, talk to artists about making work, define and discuss creativity and the creative process, practice making creative artistic work ourselves, and explore the broader application of creativity in our daily lives.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The Creative Spirit is a Gen/Ed Arts course and as such is geared to develop your understanding of the arts.
•Experience and respond to a work of art or creative process;
•Recognize or interpret a work of art or creative process in its social, historical and cultural context;
•Describe or evaluate a work of art or creative process using appropriate terminology;
•Appreciate the value of art and creativity in our lives and in society.
COURSE COMPONENTS
LECTURE SESSIONS:
In lecture, the class will explore the fundamental concepts of Creativity – going “Inside Creativity” – an examination of the basic elements of creativity: what it is, how it happens, what distinguishes creativity from novelty; the fundaments of the process; what we can do to encourage innovation. We will talk with artists who are at work in their domains, currently creating new work. We will probe into what makes them create, how they create, and what steps they take to actively improve their creativity. Finally, we will propose steps we can take to lead a more Creative life.
PHILADELPHIA EXPERIENCES (PEX):
The semester will also include several Forensic Field Experiences in Philadelphia. Students will venture out into the city of Philadelphia (PEX) and engage in primary encounters with art and artists in the field, interview them and analyze your experiences in blog postings. (See Blackboard for list of PEX Experiences)
BREAKOUT SESSIONS:
Meeting once a week outside of lecture, Breakouts will center primarily on exercises and assignments focused on engaging your personal creativity in telling your own stories. You will create a Personal Statement to present to your breakout, and the breakout sessions will culminate with a course-wide Breakout Group Performance at the end of the semester.
MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS
In-Class Participation, Exercises and Presentations: Breakout groups are led, observed and monitored by a faculty section leader. Exercises and assignments will include projects that require homework and substantial preparation requiring the student to engage fully in the creative process hands-on both as an individual and as part of a group effort.
Lecture Attendance and Quizes:Attendance at lecture and weekly quizzes to demonstrate comprehension of lectures and reading material.
Philadelphia Experience Blogs:Create your own public blog and post a response to each Philadelphia Experience, and submit your posts on Blackboard.
Personal Statement:Your midterm assignment in your breakout group. You will present a one-minute piece of your own creation, with a subject and form of your own choosing.
Final Breakout Group Presentation:Each Breakout Group will undertake the creation and production of a signature performance piece, performed anywhere on Temple's main campus, that incorporates contributions made by each member of the team; the form and content and mode of presentation will be evolved in a series of workshops lead by your breakout leader during your breakout sessions.
Museum Paper:After experiencing the Philadelphia Museum of Art, you will select a piece of art that grabbed you on a gut level, and then write a 750-1500 word research paper on the life and times of the artist who created it, and how this artist was creative.
Final Course Paper:a 750-1500 word paper reflecting on your experience creating the final group piece, and on the work of two other groups in the course.
REQUIRED TEXTS, MATERIALS, AND OTHER COSTS
TEXT:Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Inventionby Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Additional assigned readings, web videos and podcasts will be posted on Blackboard periodically during the semester.
It is recommended for you to keep a separate journal for this course.
You will be responsible for admission costs to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (up to $12), and to the Temple Theater production we see ($5), and your ticket to the Phialdelphia Fringe festival.
You will also be responsible for transportation to and from each Philadelphia experience.
Your course fee covers the cost of admissions to PAY UP, World Cafe Live and Kun-Yang Lin.
COURSE POLICIES
Grade Breakdown:
Breakouts20%(10 points each breakout)
Lecture Quizzes20%(10 points each lecture quiz)
PEX Blogs20%(20 Points for each experience)
Personal Statement10%(presented to the breakout group)
Breakout Project10%(presented to the whole class)
First Paper10%(Museum paper)
Final Paper10%(Interview profile paper)
Breakout Grading:
For each breakout class, you will be assigned up to 10 points for participation.A 10 will be someone who is on time, ready to work, with all assignments completed in a way that demonstrates preparation and attention to the requirements of the assignment, and who participates meaningfully in discussion and feedback.For full credit, you must always make your best effort, and take a risk each class.
4 Points for Preparation
4 Points for Participation
1 Point for Giving Your Best Effort
1 Point for Taking a Risk
There is no opportunity to make up in-class assignments.
Lecture Quiz Grading:
There will be a quiz each lecture that will cover that week’s reading, and previous lectures.
Each quiz will be worth 10 points, half for attendance, half for contents of the quiz.
Philadelphia Experience (PEX) Attendance:
Attendance at Philadelphia experiences is required.Treat it as class time.
In your blog posting, include an artifact or image demonstrating your attendance.
You will create a public blog for the course. (tumblr, wordpress, blogspot)
After each PEX, you will respond with a blog posting where you come up with an original idea in response to the event.
Support your idea. Link to other ideas you are borrowing from.
Include an image or video that relates to your post.
You will also read and evaluate the blogs of 4 other students.
The blogs will be graded by your instructor with the following rubric:
Blog Grading Rubric - 20 points total
5 points for an Original Idea - An original, interesting , clear and relevant idea that is connected to an event in a meaningful and effective way.
5 points for Adequate Support - The idea is well argued, using support with examples from the experience, references to other writing or media that supports the idea, or set the idea in an interesting light.
5 points for Word Economy - every word is essential. the necessary words are present. Needless words are eliminated. The post is well editedand iscomplete.
5 points for an image or video that relates to, supports and adds interest to your post.
Attendance:
Prompt and regular attendance is expected.
You will receive a 0 for the day’s work if you are not in attendance.
Unexcused absence, arriving late or leaving early demonstrates disrespect for the work and your fellow classmates, and will also result in a deduction for that day’s work.
Please note that in order for an absence to be excused, you must provide a doctor’s note, a program or other document from a funeral, or notify your instructor ahead of time of a religious commitment.
Because life happens, you are allowed the following unexcused absences without penalty
one unexcused absence from breakout
one unexcused absence from lecture
one unexcused absence from a Philadelphia experience
No Late Assignments Accepted:
Project and assignment deadlines are final and no late work will be accepted.
In extreme circumstances, a student may apply to their section leader for an extension, but this arrangement must be made BEFORE the assigned due date.
Peer Evaluation:
Most assignments in the class will be peer evaluated. You will write a blog for each PEX, and also evaluate 4 blogs. You will evaluate each other's museum paper. You will evaluate each other's participation and preparation in Breakout. Evaluating each other's work is central to the pedagogy of this class.
Access to A Computer:
You must have access to a computer to complete this course.All documents, assignments and announcements related to the work of this class will be made available to you on Blackboard.You must be able to check your email daily to stay up to date.Changes occur frequently in this course.
You are responsible for all the content communicated to you through email.
Cultivating the Citizen Artist
The Temple University Department of Theater strives to instill in our students an ethical aspiration to become true Citizen Artists; highly trained, creative and deeply informed individuals committed to making a difference in the future of our human community through applied artistry; citizens who support and promote the use of artistic expression as a valued tool for creating and sustaining a culture of enlightened and compassionate citizenship and civility.
Freedom to teach and Freedom to learn:
These are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities, (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed through the following link:
Disabilities:
Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact your instructors privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible.Contact Disability Resources and Services at (215) 204-1280 in 100 Ritter annex to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.