Dr. Michael Delahoyde
Washington State University

Questions will be drawn from the material covered since the last exam: that's Beckett, Kitchen Sink Art, Varèse, on through to the end of all other materials since.

I. IDENTIFICATIONS. [Total 26 points.]

Maybe identify who is A... or the composer of the music of Koyaanisqatsi -- that kind of question. These questions will be inflicted individually during the first part of the scheduled class period: Friday, April 25th.

II. QUOTATIONS. [Total 50 points; 5 points each.]

A combination of identification and significance questions will follow quotations from the literature, art images, music excerpts, and the other relevant materials selected for their representativeness of our discussions on key points ever since the previous exam. For this section, you may use books and notes (but not laptops or electronics).

III. TAKE-HOME ESSAY. [Total 24 points.]

Answer the following question with brilliant critical thinking, originality, and superb writing skills. The essay should be a virtuoso piece of glory manifested in impressive eloquence, with facile reference to specifics from the materials, properly documented, to the tune of about two (2) pages, double-spaced.

• Washington State University boasts many public art works distributed about the Pullman campus, most created near the end of the 20th century, some earlier, and some more recently. Images of several of these appear on WebCT in a space at the bottom of the index called "Endgame." One is on the cliff behind Holland Library, past the "Nipple of Knowledge." Another is an outdoor sculpture located on the hillside between Thompson Hall and the Honors building. Vet Science hosts a couple others. And there are more. You first need to select and, ideally, visit one of these public art works.

  In a two-page double-spaced essay, discuss your chosen art work in terms of 20th-century art movements. What is this piece and what does it seem to be saying? Is it site-specific, commenting on the academic discipline associated with the nearest building? Contextualizing the piece with reference to more than one art school or movement may be appropriate.

  Lastly, and this is the tricky part, try to associate the piece with other arts and humanities encountered in the course. Specifically, connect the message or the style of the piece with related trends in music and literature. Realize that the easiest, cheesiest way to accomplish this would be to declare the piece minimalist and drop a couple names like Philip Glass and Robbe-Grillet. The more successful essays will prove cleverer. This component does, it seems to me, require some creative and subtle critical thinking.

  You are welcome, even encouraged, to cast this last writing as a personal essay. One of the objectives of this course has been "To increase intellectual maturation and clarification of our own values through examination of ideas and attitudes in literary/cultural contexts and through articulation of these." So what have you learned about yourself in relation to the arts and humanities of the 20th century?

The essay may be turned in on the Friday to accompany the other in-class components, and you'll be completely done; however, you may turn it in at 355 Avery Hall (under the door if I'm not in), or e-mail it to me (and be sure to get a confirmation of receipt back from me), any time before 11:00 am, Tuesday, April 29th. One second after 11:00 am, though, and tough luck, Winky, no matter what.

BIG DAY: FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2007; 1:10 PM.