Print

2023　Special Lecture: Art and Design

Font size  SML

Register update notification mail Add to favorite lecture list
Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
Tanaka Miyuki 
Class Format
Lecture    (Face-to-face)
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Tue5-6(W9-714)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.H217
Credits
1
Academic year
2023
Offered quarter
1Q
Syllabus updated
2023/4/19
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
English
Access Index

Course description and aims

Art and Design are often confused although those two disciplines have quite different roles and functions due to changes in the concepts of goods and services, the diversification of our lifestyles and values, and the development of media and technology. However, the aim of this lecture is not to distinguish and differentiate between art and design. Instead, it is important to reflect on how methods such as art and design can exert their power in response to complex social issues.

In this lecture, I'd like to examine the factors, methods, and effects that blur these boundaries through examples of intersections between art and design, while focusing on people who are often considered minorities and are vulnerable to the impact of social problems. By touching on various ideas that do not fit into a binary opposition such as good/bad or useful/not useful, I hope to take a closer look at the act of expressing and communicating beyond the framework of art and design, and to create an opportunity to consider diversity in lifestyles together.
Therefore, in this class, the teacher does not provide knowledge unilaterally to the students, but rather provides an opportunity for each student to look at diverse aspects of themselves, listen to other students' opinions, and learn from each other.

Student learning outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Explain the concept of Art and Design with their own words.
2) Learn different uses of Art and Design depending on purposes.
3) Obtain critical interpretation of expressions.
4) Acquire the competence to express and convey views and debate effectively.

Course taught by instructors with work experience

✔ Applicable How instructors' work experience benefits the course
Curator and producer. Having built her career planning exhibitions at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media [YCAM], and the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Tanaka shifted her career to focus on projects that went beyond exhibitions and performances. She started working on projects that defy categorization under the theme of “disability as a perspective that redefines the world.” Through projects dealing with expressions that have yet to be valued, she rethinks the way we view and perceive expressions together with the audience including people with disabilities. Some of her recent projects include “Watching Dance with Creative Audio Descriptions” (2017-ongoing), the Film “NIGHT CRUISING” (released in 2019), the exhibition “Rules?” (21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, 2021), the exhibition “Ways of Telling” (Tokyo Shibuya Koen-dori Gallery, 2021), “Speaking to the Senses: Visual Language for Theater” (KAAT Kanagawa Arts Theatre, 2020-), “Audio Game Center” (2017-ongoing). She has given lectures at conferences such as Learning From Disabilities (UCLA, 2015), ASIA PACIFIC NETWORK OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CENTRES 2015, DO-IT Japan at The University of Tokyo (2017-2018), Google: Rare Google
Rare “The Power of Difference”, etc.

Keywords

Art, Design, Communication

Competencies that will be developed

Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills ✔ Communication skills ✔ Critical thinking skills Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

After learning various projects based on the topic of each class, the students are encouraged to discuss the issues related. Each student is encouraged to actively share their own opinions in order to provide an opportunity for students to learn from each other. It is recommended to observe art/design expressions in everyday life and think what they attempt to communicate and why.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Introduction Think about your own vulnerable aspects by learning about how to view art and design from a minority perspective.
Class 2 Function and decoration Consider the clash between the function and decoration that art/design possess, and the impression that arises as each element increases.
Class 3 Observation and communication Understand the nature of observation in art/design and the process of setting up a problem and starting an idea.
Class 4 Ways to establish a relationship with others Understand the various ways in which art and design create diverse connections with the audience or users.
Class 5 Power of media Learn about the concept and influence of media in art and design, as well as explore expressions that incorporate technology.
Class 6 Art/Design to live better Think about the future and broaden our understanding of how art and design can contribute to society.
Class 7 Presentation Presentation and feedback on ideas incorporating art/design concepts devised based on the set assignment.

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

None required.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Textbooks are not used, but reference books are specified, materials are distributed each time (ex. "Design Meets Disability" by Graham Pullin).
I plan to use PowerPoint, videos, and audio among others.

Assessment criteria and methods

Weekly short writing assignments（30%）, Participation in discussions （30%）, Assignments（40%）

Related courses

  • LAH.H102 ： Art A
  • LAH.H202 ： Arts B, Esthetics B
  • LAH.H302 ： Arts C, Esthetics C

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

none

Page Top