UNIVERSE OF FINE & PERFORMING ARTS
The Aesthetics of the Imperfect
This course explores the idea of beauty in objects, images and thought, which emerges as sensory and extrasensory perceptions of the hidden and can be experienced through the processes of interaction - with asperity (roughness or irregularity), simplicity, economy, austerity, illusion, modesty, symmetry, asymmetry, intimacy - and appreciation of the ingenuous characteristics of natural objects, spaces, events and situations, as essential requirements of existence. Embodied through an experiential understanding of various tenets essential to understand the ‘beautiful’ as inherently observed in non-western traditions, and abstract ideas, this course explores various philosophies, events and traditions that allude to the idea of objects and practices that can be traced even on Western aesthetics and have made a lasting impression on contemporary societies.
In observing philosophies and traditions from across the non-western world, students will identify and explore worldviews representing acceptance of simple objects and ideas, assemblages and the transience of objects and spaces as a sense of 'beauty' and recognize that "nothing is perfect”. This course formulates a universal appreciation for aesthetic qualities resplendent in objects, visuals or spaces that are artistically complete yet simple and often imperfect in nature. Following this line of thought, the course overviews popular perceptions regarding 'perfection and imperfection' and explores socio-cultural behaviour and personal involvement in the process of non-acceptance or acceptance of such objects and creating an appreciation for these.
The course provides students with an opportunity to experience underlying concepts through a combination of academic research, philosophical thought and studio-based creative processes. Students will engage in studio-based exercises and experiments leading to an experiential understanding of ideas using various mediums and simple techniques. The course outputs will be a set of visual images, compiled and collated as an illustrated manuscript bringing together each student's experience and understanding of aesthetics of imperfection through alternative approaches and a final exhibition.
Quantitative Methods in Economics
To be Updated
Introduction to Dance (Elementary)
To generate, sustain and build interest and confidence in body, in movement and dance, is the prime focus of this course. Students explore various movements through different exercises in the studio. In theory, students are introduced to the Indian Dance, which comprises of Classical dance, Folk, Tribal, Martial Arts and the Contemporary dance.
Introduction to Dance (Intermediate)
To enhance the understanding of Movement and Dance through practical, sessions and exercises in the studio is the main focus of this course. Students are also introduced to the concept of Improvisation and Choreography. In theory, students are introduced to Western dance which includes Ballet and Contemporary dance.
Principles of Dance movement
This course is designed to help the student learn to perceive dance and develop sensitivity to expressive devices in dance. Aspects of skill and proficiency, accompaniments, the occasion of performance and standards of excellence expected within a cultural milieu will be focused upon.
Fitness for Dance
Fitness training and conditioning are important in preventing injury and enhancing a dancer’s performance and efficiency, especially because of the demands of present-day choreography. Dancers are artistic athletes. Cardiovascular, strength training & flexibility workouts, these least resemble dance, however, the inclusion of such exercises has been shown to improve stamina, speed, balance and strength – important for dancers and particularly helpful with jumping.
Introduction to Contemporary Dance
Dance is more than just a combination of steps put together. It is the ability to express and explore the possibilities of the body. Aimed at a beginning student, this course in ‘Contemporary Dance’ introduces various aspects of the dance style which include body alignment, the concept of weight, contact improvisation & physical theatre. A solo and group choreography will be created and performed by students based on their classwork. This course also includes an introduction to jazz and modern dance.
Introduction to Contemporary Dance II
To be updated
Elements and Principles of Design
This course lays the foundation for the Design minor. The Elements and Principles are the parts and techniques that constitute a Design. Students are encouraged to observe and identify the elements and principles of design and try and understand their application and interpretations. Subsequently, based on the interpretations, understand their significance in various forms of design, in various countries, cultures whether in the product, architecture, fashion and graphic. Develop a fundamental understanding of the impact of design principles and elements, both – visually and psychologically.
Materials and Processes
This course helps students in experiencing the properties of different materials, to look at the world around with the material, and interact with them. It also enables one to understand the basic nature of tools and material and their interrelationship. The material is understood as particles, linear, planer, spatial as a part of design vocabulary.
Design limitations and specific advantages of natural and artificial material properties and processes are studied. Properties of natural and artificial materials like wood, bamboo, cane, fibre, cloth, and paper, rubber, foam and other cushions, ceramics, glass etc. and their use at craft and industrial levels is explored. Influence of materials and processes on product aesthetics such as plastic, wood and metals is also studied.
Information on various moulding processes as well as information on detailing for fabricated products in sheet metal, steel tubes, aluminium sheets are given if necessary. Exposure to a combination of natural and artificial materials for design enhancements is studied.
Introduction to Typography and Calligraphy
This is a foundation course in Typography and Calligraphy and focusses on thinking with Typography. It is divided into three sections: the Letter, the Text, and the Grid. The practical aspect of the course introduces students to three calligraphic tools. The theoretical framework broadly describes the characteristics of extinct Egyptian hieroglyphs, the Indian script Devanagari and the origin of Roman letters. It is a continuous graded course with individual attention given to enhancing aesthetic sensibilities of typography and calligraphy
Introductory Programming for Creators
To be Updated
Explorations with Lines and Shades
This course lays the foundation for the Design minor. Knowledge and skill of sketching and drawing is the foundation of any design discipline. This course offers intensive training in sketching and drawing as one of the means of visual representation. It helps one develop a keen sense of observation, interpretation and representation using various tools, techniques and mediums. The course also helps in experiencing space in terms of perspective; sharpens the ability to analyze and appreciate the visible or hidden structure of things.
Introduction to Visual Art
The course demonstrates the practical use of pencils, colour pencils, crayons, poster colours as well as watercolours. Techniques are explained and students are encouraged to create simple landscapes with watercolours and 2D paintings with textures for other mediums. The theory covers an overview of European as well as Indian cave paintings (Altamira and Lascaux from Spain and France respectively, Ajanta paintings from India). Early and High Renaissance paintings in Europe, miniature, folk art paintings in India, their characteristics and contributions to the field of visual art. The course briefly touches upon colour theory.
Fibre Arts
Fibre Arts is a hands-on experiential course that gives an overview of fibre art and seeks to create an appreciation and love for Fibre/Textile Arts, Crafts, Design, Handlooms and Artisanship. Moving beyond stereotypes associated with Fibre Art/Textile/Crafts as a “feminine” or “indigenous” activity, this course demystifies myths attached to Fibre Art as Textiles. Fibre Arts introduces students to the making of Fibre/Textile objects and material as a primary human activity used by humankind from time immemorial. Establishing its place in human development as an essential tool for survival, Fibre Arts takes students on a journey of exploration. Students explore methods, materials, techniques, traditions and allied activities associated with fibre and fibre-works from around the world, and celebrate these traditions to find their own style and method in designing a creative object. Reviewing the various methods and techniques of twining-entwining-interlacing-braiding-knitting-weaving-wrapping-constructing-building and more, this course creates an understanding of the basic nature of Fibre as a material and its capacity to manifest creativity.
Intermediate Visual Art
The course begins with an introduction to acrylic techniques and an overview. Creating a simple painting with the styles of artist Mondrian, Doesburg and Raza is encouraged. The theory introduced begins from 14th century Renaissance as a bench-mark to understand the contributions to visual art and the characteristics of the period and flows into the art periods Mannerism, Baroque and Rococo. This is followed by Pointillism, Impressionism, Expressionism, Abstract expressionism, Cubism and Dadaism. Two or three artists of each ‘ism’ and the peculiar traits of their paintings and the diversity of themes is studied. Students are encouraged to come up with their own styles or improvise on an existing painting of any 5 of these ‘isms’. The Bengal School of Art and the Progressive Art Movement in India are studied with the Indian context of topics, medium, methods of rendering and influences. Students are also given the freedom of creating 3 paintings in acrylic of their choice.
Principles of Music
The Course in principles of Music generally will help students to be aware of the musical happenings in Life and making them able to appreciate the same. The course also helps students to understand the relevance of Music in their lives! Students go through theory as well as practical, listening sessions, and attend/ watch musical performances.
Music and Culture
It is naive to believe that music begins and ends with human beings. To quote Science Now ‘Researchers have found that similar, albeit much simpler, cultural transmission takes place in animals, including fish, insects, meerkats, birds, monkeys, and apes’ We must be introduced to the music created by the entire animate world; how their music impact their lives for zoomusicology is a frontier and interesting field of study.
As such we remember strongly here that the world we live in is not subservient to us and we’re not here to subjugate Mother Nature because it is she who gives us our most precious art; music.
In keeping with this philosophy, we’re deliberately placing music in the theoretical space created by fields within and outside of Humanities and essentially broadening the idea of culture.
In this course, we shall not do an in-depth study of anthropology. At the same time, we shall see glimpses of ethnomusicology, cultural musicology, systematic musicology, historical musicology in addition to areas like zoomusicology, soundscapes in the constructed world and the natural world, Vedic Music among others. Most importantly Indic concepts and terminology germane with the ideas that deal with the above will form a cornerstone in comprehending music.
Guitar I
This course aims at developing basic technical facility in guitar playing, basic aural knowledge, basic music theory knowledge, rudimentary music history knowledge and overall music awareness and knowledge.
Introduction to Contemporary Music I
This course lays the foundation for the Music minor. Students are encouraged to observe the elements and principles of Music and try and understand their interpretations in contemporary music. Simultaneously, observe and study how the elements and principles of music are used in different compositions.
Introduction to Contemporary Music II
This course emphasizes advance learning and understanding of Folk music, semi-classical music and film music. Students are encouraged to observe the elements and principles of Music and try and understand and perform two out of the four compositions from the mentioned genres.
Introduction to Western Music
This course will survey some of the main genres and styles that make up the broad category of western music. Much attention will be given to direct listening and gaining basic knowledge of the musical features and characteristics of each genre/style and the socio-cultural context in which the music genre/style emerged. The course includes an introduction to western art music and some main genres of 20th century popular music from America and Britain.
Art and Photography
This course is an introduction to the basics of photography. The course covers all the fundamentals of Digital Photography including concepts in digital imaging, camera working, lenses and uses, understanding visual design of photographs. The course is designed to equip students to make an informed entry into the art of photography with a sense of creativity and well-understood objectives.
Introduction to Sculpture
Initiating students of Liberal education into creativity, the courses teaching sculpture demonstrate the importance of self-expression employing with a form, concept and the process. The student operates through the process of making art, learning material technique and skills, with recognizing the design elements to illustrate a unique form. The form is a translation of critical thinking.The course is arranged in two parts, the form and the concept.
Sculpture: Explorations in Materials
This module introduces the student to various materials and methods, like carving and modelling etc. In the process, the student finds the relation between Form, material and techniques.
Introduction to Print Making
The course describes the four ancient printmaking technique, referring to new set of skills, challenging and exciting the student. Today the printing has been replaced by sophisticated printing machines Operating from simple technique of potato printing, the course employs foam printing, collagraphy and woodcut printing . Identifying masters in printmaking from ancient to 19th century, supports the teachings of the course.
Screen Printing
To be updated
Expression in 3-D
The object of this course is to enhance self-expression involving 3-D forms. The course entails experimenting with the understanding of the basic elements like volume, space, line and texture and exploring different materials as expression.
Basics of Theatre Arts
This course will generally help students to identify their abilities to act and to introduce them to their creative side. The course also helps students to explore the three tools of acting: Body language, Voice & Speech through various individual and group exercises. The course will help students to overcome their inhibitions and develop their personality.
Introduction to Indian Drama and Theatre
This course is an introduction to the fundamental techniques of analysing drama and theatre-performance. It will enable students to study textual elements of a play and their relationships to each other as well as on critically studying social and political context of dramatic literature and its presentation in the form of a theatre performance. In this course, students will examine and explain the key elements of drama like stage directions, characterization, dialogue, plot and action by reference to a selection of plays, both classic and contemporary. In addition, students will be enabled to understand elements of theatre like direction, acting and performance spaces.
Voice Culture
Voice Culture deals with the techniques of right voice production in a theatre work. Voice quality is the result of a combined action of basic function of the vocal organs (vocal tract configuration) and developed components by scientific and systematic training and practice. It becomes even more important for performing artists, especially actors, to hone their skills in voice production. This course will introduce students to the science behind voice production, anatomy of human body, and the techniques and exercises that would help students to understand the different qualities of the voices and help them to identify their own voice to be used in a theatre work.
Voice, Speech & Diction
This course deals with the techniques of right voice production in a theatre work. Voice quality is the result of a combined action of basic function of the vocal organs (vocal tract configuration) and developed components by scientific and systematic training and practice. It becomes even more important for performing artists, especially actors, to hone their skills in voice production. This course will introduce students to the science behind voice production, anatomy of human body, and the techniques and exercises that would help students to understand the different qualities of the voices and help them to identify their own voice to be used in a theatre work.
Audio Video Basics
This is not a film making course.
The course is designed to teach students how to narrate a story through the audio visual medium. The student learns the different components of an audio visual, their significance, and the stages of its making. The course is very hands-on, involving a lot of self learning through practical projects done by students. Theory is taught only where essential for making the audio visual project (eg. Camera shots, use of sound tracks, editing etc). The entire course is taught using a mobile.