Visual Arts

Introduction to Drawing and Painting

The Introduction to Drawing and Painting course is an elective program designed to develop the maturing abilities of high school students in creating art expressions. Learning experiences offered in this course will prepare interested and able students to pursue advanced courses in more specialized fields. Visual problems challenge students to use knowledge of art elements and design principles to create art works that reflect understandings of past and present cultures while developing a personal aesthetic sense. The areas of emphasis in this course include Drawing, Painting, and Printmaking.

Studio 1, 2, 3, 4

Studio is an elective course designed to build upon and extend the Introduction and Painting course and challenge students who continue to refine their skills in fine arts media and problem solving. This course integrates the study of aesthetics, history and culture, and creative production through a series of student problems. Students will be required to maintain a visual journal and build a comprehensive portfolio of breadth, quality and concentration. Students who elect the Studio courses are choosing a more intense, in depth exploration of the visual arts.

AP Art History

A college-level survey of the tradition of Western art and architecture from the prehistoric era to the present. The first semester examines the material culture of ent (what?) Near East, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Byzantium, the Islamic world, and Early Modern Europe. The second semester concentrates on the artistic movements involved in the Renaissance and Baroque, Neoclassicism and Romanticism, Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, Modernism, Post-modernism, and current trends. This is an Advanced Placement course; students will take the AP Art History test in the spring.

Ceramics (Spring)

Hand building pottery, slab, coil, firing and glazing, print media, woodcuts and silk screen will be explored.

Independent Studio

This is a graded, major course where the student designs his or her own schedule for independent use of the studio. In most cases, art assignments cannot be completed during ordinary class time alone; independent work must be done. This course gives the student credit for the extra hours normally spent in the painting studio.

TV Production

This course is designed to offer students the opportunity to become proficient in the use of television studio equipment and off-line computer editing equipment, and to increase student understanding and appreciation of television production. Students will develop the skills needed to produce their own video projects. Students will also learn why critical television watching is important, in their roles as viewers and producers. The final grade will be determined by a combination of written quizzes and tests, performance at various crew positions while producing JCTV News, and successful completion of two projects, from pre-production and shooting through post-production. By the end of the TV Production course, students will be able to perform as Director, Camera Operator, Audio Tech, Character Generator Operator, Floor Director, Anchor, Sports Reporter, Video Tape Operator, Video Switcher, and Editor on small-scale video productions. A screening process is necessary for selection into this course.

Advanced TV Production

The course offers a unique opportunity for students who have completed the TV Production course to continue their studies. Students will apply acquired skills to produce independent video projects. These projects may include (but are not limited to) promos for JC clubs and organizations, news coverage of events in the JC community, trailers for upcoming JC theatre productions, and highlight films of JC sports teams. Students will use their writing, shooting, and editing skills to produce videos in the manner of real-world production companies, starting with the pre-production phase, continuing through the shooting stage, and culminating in the post-production process. Students may also catalog and archive footage for viewing by, and distribution to, JC alumni. This course is offered only to seniors and juniors who have successfully completed the basic TV Production course, and who have been selected by the instructor for inclusion in the class.

Photography

Photography is an introductory course designed to acquaint the student with operation and care of a 35mm camera, film development, darkroom printing, elements of composition and the history of photography. Each student must have a camera with manual controls and must purchase a textbook, photographic paper, and miscellaneous lab supplies.

Final Project 2005 Information

Digital Imaging

This course uses Adobe Photoshop to build on the skills of composition, film development and darkroom enlarging of black and white photographs in Photography. Course content will focus on creative photographic techniques including special effects, portraits, time exposures, and still life. Digital imaging will be introduced for importing, adjusting and outputting digital photographic images to create expressive photographic statements.

Graphic Art

Proposed for 2006–2007

Literary/ Communication Arts

Creative Writing

Creative Writing is designed to provide students with an opportunity to discover and refine their poetic and prose voices. Students in the class will examine and compose various forms of poetry such as free verse, lyric, narrative and prose poetry and poems that contain specific structures. Students are also given the opportunity to examine and compose narratives, short stories, dialogues and other prose formats. Each student will create a book of his/her work and participate in a literary tea that showcases student writing in lieu of a semester exam. Students are provided with publication opportunities and the occasion to have their work read by outside readers in the field of writing.

Journalism

The journalism elective is designed for those students who have a serious interest in writing for the newspaper. The basic principles of journalism are studies with units in editorial, news, reviews, feature, interview, and sports writing. The class investigates the process of running a student newspaper. Layout, design, and advertising are covered briefly. Some opportunity for writing for the Patriot is given as students become proficient. Typing skills are useful. Students are introduced to the use of the desktop publishing computer equipment and software.

Speech

Speech is designed to provide students with the opportunity to participate in both formal and informal speaking activities involving informative, demonstration, persuasive, entertainment, and special occasion formats, to examine the components of effective listening and speaking, to explore both interpersonal and intra-personal communication, and to practice their growing communication skills. Each student will present a final speech and participate in a literary tea showcasing student communication in lieu of a semester exam.

Web Design (see projects)

This course focuses on creating user friendly, attractive and useful web sites. We will use HTML coding and computer screens to create our art.

Yearbook Journalism

Students will produce the annual publication under guidance and instruction of the moderator. One credit in fine arts will be given to those students who have successfully produced the yearbook, met all deadlines, acquired the necessary training and skills, participated in staff meetings, and exhibited a spirit of cooperation, encouragement, and support to their fellow staff members. Students will use time in the yearbook classes, publications homeroom, after school hours, free mods, and some weekends in order to produce the yearbook for production.

Forensics

This course is designed to improve the skills of writing and speaking persuasively, to develop research skills, to enhance communication skills, to learn the analysis of an argument, and to observe parliamentary rules and procedures.