Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - CA 357W D100

Context II (3)

Class Number: 6479

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    GOLDCORP

  • Prerequisites:

    CA 257W.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The second of two courses in the Context cluster. Work will include reading, writing and experiments in live performance creation. With a grounding in performance studies, this course offers a variety of frameworks and approaches to the histories and theories of the avant-garde. live art, and theatre. With a new topic each term, students develop skills for analyzing, researching, and writing about contemporary performance. Writing/Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

Theories of Flesh

This course examines the use of the body as material in art beginning in the mid-20th century. This course does not provide a historical survey of Body Art (or Performance Art). Rather, we will use the performing body in art as an organizing principle in our investigation of main currents and thoughts on both postmodern subjectivities and artistic experiments from the neo-avant garde to the contemporary. While investigating work by artists including Jackson Pollock, Valie Export, Carloee Schneemann, Chris Burden, Cindy Sherman, A.A Bronson, Cassils, and Vaginal Davis, we will cover a range of critical concepts including: performativity, intersubjectivity, disidentifications, locational identity, representation, and support.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

+ To engage critically with theories of postmodern subjectivity while tracking specific lineages of body art and performance. 

+ To grasp key concepts and concerns of the neo-avant garde in relation to the use and appearance of the performing body in art. 

+ To experiment with modes of historical interpretation which engage, rather than capture, past events.

+ To relate course materials and conversations to personal research questions and interests.

Grading

  • Class Participation 40%
  • Response Papers 20%
  • Class Presentation 10%
  • Final Paper 30%

REQUIREMENTS:

Reading Assignments: 40% of final grade 

Weekly reading assignments should be read in full before the start of each class. Students are asked to bring in 2-3 prepared questions for class discussion. Critical engagement with reading assignments will be calculated as class participation. 


Class Presentation: 10% of final grade

Students are asked to prepare a 10 minute class presentation based on the readings assigned for that class period. A 2 page hardcopy of the presentation is to be emailed to the instructor the night before the presentation. Presentations should briefly summarize aspects of the text (or texts) but primarily reflect the students critical engagement with the text and should open up conversations around key ideas, concepts, and methodologies introduced.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Course Materials:

Assigned readings provided by instructor / available online. 


Required Texts: 

Readings are provided by instructor or available online. See course schedule, by date, for reading assignments.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.