Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the course students are able to:

  • identify central theoretical concepts in and around the performing and screen arts.
  • reflect on how these theoretical concepts are applied to artistic practice and visionary thinking.

Credits: 3

Schedule: 14.10.2024 - 08.11.2024

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Sofia Pantouvaki, Susanna Suurla

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

Responsible teacher: Susanna Suurla, susanna.suurla@aalto.fi



CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    The focus of this course is on how a range of theoretical approaches provide tools for analyzing personal thinking and design, and how such theoretical approaches create and increase contexts for the practice.

  • applies in this implementation

    Course content

    This implementation of the course combines lectures, reading and practical workshop assignments focusing on how a range of theoretical perspectives on human-material-environment relations can inform artistic practice.

    Lectures

    The lecture series introduces a variety of contemporary, theoretical perspectives on performance and screen arts design. The lectures are held by practitioners and theorist working with performing and screen arts. More detailed lecture info in the schedule.


    Artistic Workshop/Assignment for the course


    Pre-task: Select a material / working method that you are interested to explore and observe during the workshop. 

    Each student has a budget of 30€ for materials during the workshop, re-imbursement info will be given during the workshop.  

     

    The aim of the workshop is:

    1. to combine one’s own artistic practice with theoretical thinking and observational reflective practice 

    2. to observe and understand how theory can be used to inspire and inform one's own creative work.

    Workshop reading materials will be handed during the course. 

     

    Workshop content:  

    During the workshop the students are introduced to select set of theoretical perspectives, of which one article is chosen as the main reflective material. The aim is to focus on observing and exploring one’s own artistic processes through this theoretical background.

    ·       each student will examine and reflect upon their own creative processes through the provided theories and in relation to what artisitc practice/material they will explore during the workshop

    ·       This exploration can be almost anything: e.g.,  drawing, filming, writing, or different material or immaterial experiments or creating a (minor) piece of work/design as an end result.

    The emphasis of the workshop is not on the artistic results created during it, but on observing how materiality/process proceeds and analysing this through theory.

    At the end of the course each student gives a 5-10 minute presentation introducing their own artistic explorations and observations.

     

    Study methods:

    Lectures, reading, artistic practice, learning log and learning journal 

    Final assignment: 

    Learning journal compiled from notes, photos, learning log and reflective text combining reflection and analysis of own artistic practice and read theory.

     


     


Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Assessment is based on completed assignments and active participation, and ability to think artistic practices and theory in dialogue with each other.

  • applies in this implementation

    Assessment table for the evaluation of study attainments (ARTS), version 2

     

    Evaluated competence = Learning Journal only

    Grades

     

    Thinking

    Conceptualization, Argumentation, Independent thinking

    Doing/Making

    Creativity, Appropriateness (purpose), Meticulousness/Care

    Action

    Interaction, Responsibility, Communication

    5 (excellent)

     

    ·      The student demonstrates courageous, critical, and independent thinking.

     

    ·      Justifications for solutions are functional and comprehensive.

     

    ·      The student conceptualizes their learning in a versatile and in-depth manner.

    ·      Work is completed with care and attention to detail.

     

    ·      Implementation is creative, original, and purposeful.

     

    ·      The student has followed instructions and schedules independently.

    ·      The student's communication is professional, situation-appropriate, and understandable.

     

    ·      The student has exemplified responsibility for their work.

     

    ·      The student has acted professionally and constructively in interaction with peers and faculty.

    3 (good)

    ·      The student demonstrates independent thinking.

     

    ·      Justifications for solutions are functional.

     

    ·      The student conceptualizes their learning well.

    ·      Work is completed with care and attention to detail.

     

    ·      Implementation is purposeful.

     

    ·      The student has followed instructions and schedules.

    ·      The student's communication is situation-appropriate and understandable.

     

    ·      The student has shouldered responsibility for their work.

     

    ·      The student has acted constructively in interaction with peers and faculty.


    ·      


    0 (fail)

    ·      The student does not demonstrate independent thinking.

     

    ·      Solutions are not justified.

     

    ·      The student does not conceptualize their learning.

     

    ·      The student has presented another's thoughts as their own (plagiarism).

     

    ·      There are significant deficiencies or carelessness in the work.

     

    ·      Implementation is not purposeful.

     

    ·      The student has not followed instructions and schedules.

     

    ·      The student has presented another's work or parts of it as their own (plagiarism).

     

    ·      The student has not shouldered responsibility for their work.

     

    ·      The student's communication is not situation-appropriate or understandable.

     

    ·      The student has not acted constructively in interaction with peers and faculty.


Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Lectures, joint discussions and assignments, total workload: 

    • Contact teaching: lectures and joint discussions/feedback: 30 h
    • Independent work: reading, writing, final presentations:  20 h
    • Independent artistic work: 15 h
    • Student’s own processing: 16 h

     

    Attending the first day of the course is required.

    At least 80% participation in contact teaching is mandatory to complete the course. If, due to absences, the student does not achieve the learning outcomes defined in the course description, the remaining 20% may have to be compensated as determined by the responsible teachers of the course. All absences must be reported to the teachers in charge. The responsible teachers of the course will specify the necessary compensating assignments.

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Texts used in the course will be informed in advance to registered students if related to pre-assignments, and/or will be handed out during the contact sessions.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    3 Good Health and Well-being

    4 Quality Education

    5 Gender Equality

    10 Reduced Inequality

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Language: English

    Teaching Period: 2024-2025 Autumn I - II
    2025-2026 No teaching

    Registration:

    Registration for courses Sisu. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture, https//www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-at-aalto-arts

Details on the schedule
  • applies in this implementation

    Week 42

    Monday

    14.10.2024 

    9.15-12.00

     

    Kurosawa – 356

     

    9.15–12.00 Susanna Suurla

    (MA) Costume Designer, University Teacher and Doctoral Researcher

     

    Lecture: Course introduction & Tim Ingold’s theories on human environment relations

    Tuesday

    15.10.2024

    9.15-17.00 

     

    Kurosawa – 356

    9.15–12.00 Erika Schwarz

    (PhD) Visiting researcher, Professor of Scenography at Departamento de Artes Cênicas - IA - UNICAMP

     

    Lecture:  Costume in circle, among other inSURgent pedagogies

    Atelje 377

    13.00-15.00 Susanna Suurla

    1. workshop meeting:

    ·       students chosen materials or working methods (pre - task), intro to the reading materials, discussion of aims and plans for the course for each student.

    15.00-17.00

    Independent work: learning journal / reading

     

    Wednesday

    16.10.2024 

    9.15-17.00

    Kurosawa – 356

     

    9.15-12.00 Outi Lahtinen

    (PhD) Professor of Practice, Design for Performing Arts

     

    Lecture: Transformative Power/Performativity

    Atelje 377

    13.00-17.00

    Independent work: learning journal / reading

     

    THURSDAY 17.10. -  NO TEACHING (ELO MA Film Pitches)

    Friday

    18.10.2024 

    9.15–17.00

    Kurosawa – 356;

    Atelje 377

    9.15 – 17.00 Erika Schwarz

    Costume in Circle Workshop

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Week 45  all meetings in Atelje 377

    Monday

    4.11.2024 

    9.15–12.00

    Atelje 377

    9.15–12.00 Samee Haapa

    (MA) Artistic Director (The Center for Everything), Doctoral Researcher (Teak)

     

    Lecture: Norms, Values and Politics in Participation and Immersion 

    Tuesday

    5.11.2024 

    9.15–17.00

    Atelje 377

     

    9.15–12.00 Timjami Varamäki

    (MA) Costume Designer

     

    Lecture: Meaning of the body, performing arts and film

    13.00-15.00  2. Workshop meeting: Check-up - personal progress: discussions on themes discovered in own work, possible questions emerging from the artistic practice and/or theory.

    15.00-17.00

    Independent artistic work

    Wednesday

    6.11.2024 

    9.15–17.00

    Atelje 377

    9.15–17.00

    Independent artistic work

    Thursday

    7.11.2024 

    9.15–17.00

    Atelje 377

    9.15–12.00 (3 h)

    3. Workshop meeting: discussions on themes discovered from theoretical perspectives and plans for presenting own work.

    13.00-17.00

    Independent work

    Friday

    8.11.2024 

    9.15–17.00

    Atelje 377

    9.15–12.00

    Independent work

    13.00-17.00 (4h)

    4. workshop meeting:

    Student presentations and feedback discussion