Overview

This course is open to all School of Art students and non-art majors of at least junior standing. The course comprises three components:

1) Two pretravel videoconferences to prepare participants and help them develop a mindset for interglobal collaboration, partnership, and intercultural communication;

2) A 12-day study-travel component to expand participants’ horizons and enrich their understanding of the dynamics of Chinese cultural landscape through examination of historical relics, exposure to cultural artifacts at heritage sites, and collaboration with local college students to develop in-situ research or plan for an art installation;

3) A post-travel exhibition to showcase how participants anchored meanings and embodied the complexity of their study-abroad experience through visual narratives and artistic representation and to demonstrate a contextualized understanding of Chinese art forms, cultural symbols, and architectural and communal spaces.

Class meeting time during 2012 spring semester:

WEEK 1 Meet at Kent campus: Introduction, group and project assignments

WEEK 3 Videoconference between Kent and Stark campus: Trip preparation

WEEK 5 Meet at Kent campus: Rehearsal for videoconference with China

WEEK 9 Meet at Kent campus: Videoconference with China

WEEK 11 Study-travel during Spring Break for 12 days

WEEK 14 Set up Exhibition at the Music and Listening Center at Kent campus

Study-Travel Duration: 12 days from March 16 (Fri) to March 27 (Tues)

Estimated cost per participant: US$ 1050.00 – $1250.00* Cost includes double- to triple-occupancy lodging, tour activities, ground transportation, meals, and travel expenses within China but exclude course fees and airfare.

*This is a close estimate of the travel cost, but the exact cost of the trip is difficult to determine at this point because it will ultimately depend on the number of participants enrolled in the course, airfare with tax, and the exchange rate.

Approximate price of air ticket (with tax): US$ 1200.00 – $1500.00** Fair will depend on when the ticket is purchase and from which airline company/travel agency.

This course will be offered in conjunction with ARTF 44095 Special Topics in Painting at Stark campus (Instructor: Jack McWhorter). School of Art majors may enroll in both courses and earn a total of 6 credits.

For more information and itinerary, contact Koon at kkan@kent.edu or Jack at jmcwhorter@kent.edu