When we meet during our schedule Zoom sessions, student groups will present and lead discussion on a specific artwork from the past few lectures. The presentation schedule, with all art objects pre-selected, is provided below. Groups will consist of two students each.

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Purpose and Approach

While your presentation will focus on a specific artwork, consider it a point of departure. Conduct a deep dive on your object by addressing questions such as:

• What does it look like?

• How was it made?

• What ideas or themes drive it?

• What is its social and political context?

• Who is the artist, and what is their background (though don’t get bogged down by long biographical information)?

• What movement does it belong to, and what are its defining characteristics?

You are encouraged to explore anything else that you find interesting, including your personal reactions. Additionally, treat your artwork as a “hyperlink” to other works, artists, ideas, and themes that can broaden the scope and enrich discussion. You may incorporate contemporary issues, but only after establishing the historical context. Be imaginative in your approach to presentation and discussion leadership.

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Preparation and Resources

• Groups should base their presentations on the lectures and textbook readings. Do not use random online sources. The readings and lectures give us more than enough to go on for discussion.

• If discussion leaders want to do more background reading to prepare, feel free to email me in advance and I will be happy to make suggestions and provide additional sources.

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Goals of Presentations

Presentations and discussion leadership activities should aim to:

1. Reinforce key concepts from the lectures and readings.

2. Be critical and analytical by presenting arguments or posing questions that go beyond the lectures or readings.

3. Engage the class in discussion—ask questions early, leave space for dialogue, and present your materials conversationally.

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Logistics and Expectations

• Planning: Meet with your partner in advance to plan your presentation, including division of speaking roles and sequence. Ensure work is distributed evenly and that both partners are actively engaged.

• Presentation Materials: Create a PowerPoint or KeyNote to be projected during your discussion leading. Do not use Google Slides or other platforms that need logging in. Instead, you can either email me your slides the day before your presentation and I will bring them in on my USB, or you can have your slides ready to go on your own USB. All images must be captioned. Prioritize visuals over text, keeping slide content minimal, and avoid reading directly from notes or especially your phone.

• Timing: Presentations and discussion leadership should last approximately 20–25 minutes, including both presentation and class discussion. Discussion leaders should come a few minutes early to class so that we can troubleshoot any computer/file issues that may arise.

• Style: Presentations should be informed, analytical, and critical, but also engaging, fun, and conversational. Do not worry—effort and interest are strongly valued in grading. Groups who demonstrate these qualities are likely to earn top marks.

Here some further tips to guide you: DISCUSSION LEADING ADVICE

Weight: 20% of over all class grade

We currently have 16 students in the class, which means 8 groups of two. Once partners are chosen the schedule will be filled in the same order as on the syllabus:

June 16: Partnered Presentations I (zoom@2:00pm)

Jonathan & Marc  on Kandinsky, With Three Riders, 1911 (in chapter “1908”)

June 30: Partnered Presentations II (zoom@2:00pm)

Ahtziri & Reginal on Magritte, The Treachery of Images, 1929 (in chapter “1927a”)

Maosong & Easton on Dali, The Persistence of Memory, 1931 (in chapter “1924”)

Jose & Tiffany on Dix, The War series (etchings), 1924 (as mentioned in chapter “1925b)

July 21: Partnered Presentations III (zoom@2:00pm)

XinHong  & Xinyi on Rivera, unfinished RCA mural, 1933 (in chapter “1933”)

Michael & Daisy on Sheeler, American Landscape, 1931 (in chapter “1927c”)

Krystian & Biarly  on Picasso, Guernica, 1937 (in chapters “1937a” and “1937c”)

Please post a comment with your preference of presentation day  (list your top three choices that are still available – first come, first served)