Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Use intermediate-level understanding of Carolingian and Uncial calligraphy as a lens through which to observe and critically evaluate hand lettering as a fine and graphic art.
• Evaluate with deeper critical understanding the art of handwritten letters.
• Communicate in critical conversations about the aesthetics of calligraphy and the cultural, social, technological and historical contexts in which the Carolingian and Uncial scripts were developed.
• Solve aesthetic and material problems to create developed works of calligraphy that demonstrate an intermediate level of skill in the Carolingian and Uncial scripts using appropriate tools and techniques relating to standards and practices of calligraphy.

• Discuss the formal, conceptual, historic and technical aspects of Carolingian and Uncial calligraphy using appropriate intermediate-level vocabulary.

• Create developed works of calligraphy using Carolingian and Uncial letterforms with an awareness of the inherent characteristics of these forms.
• Generate ideas/concepts with an awareness of the intended content of the work produced.
• Develop an intermediate skill set centered on working towards technical proficiency in Carolingian and Uncial letterforms.
• Utilize intermediate vocabulary specific to calligraphy when participating in class critiques and discussions.
• Assess and self-critique personal work to strategize creative solutions.
• Develop personal work with an awareness of historical and contemporary artists working in Carolingian, Uncial, and other letterforms.

• Develop conceptual ideas relating to Carolingian and Uncial letterforms through the practice of creative research and preparatory studies.
• Create several original artworks demonstrating intermediate technical proficiency in Uncial and Carolingian calligraphy

• The above are assessed on the basis of clarity of visual or written thought and ability to demonstrate intermediate understanding of how calligraphy within this tradition creates meaning.
• Write short paper(s) on Carolingian and Uncial script addressing relationship of form to content, history and development, self-assessment of work, self-reflection and critical responses.
• Participate in, and contribute to, class discussions and studio work sessions.

Themes:

• The value of craft in art-making.
• The relationship between idea and design using text and handwritten letters.

Concepts:

• Two-dimensional design concepts as they relate to fine art, graphic design and book design.

• Text and visual expression

• Audience

• Typeface design, and its roots in and relationship to historical development of the Latin Uncial script (400-600 AD) and Carolingian script (800 AD) and their use in manuscripts from the Dark Ages through the early Middle Ages and Renaissance

Issues

• The influence of both cultural and technological factors on the development of hand written letterforms.
•  Personal expression vs. tradition

       Skills:

• Application of calligraphic ideas relating to Carolingian and Uncial scripts with awareness of historical and cultural contexts.
• Critical analysis of Carolingian and Uncial letterforms using intermediate vocabulary. 

• Intermediate technical skill in writing Carolingian and Uncial letterforms using appropriate materials and techniques.

• Assemble an appropriately designed, well-crafted final project using Carolingian and/or Uncial calligraphy demonstrating an intermediate skill level.