What is this course about?
What it is about: This course is about creativity and action. Now that you know the traditional art (from Course 1), you will learn how to bring it into the modern world.
— You will learn the difference between simply copying an old design and «reinterpreting» it. Reinterpreting means you take the spirit, colors, or patterns of the old art and use them to create something completely new—like a modern graphic design, a new fashion piece, or a contemporary product.
— The goal: By the end of this course, you will have created a real, modern project that is deeply rooted in Afghan heritage but made for today’s world.
Target Audience:
— Graphic designers, fashion designers, and product designers.
— Contemporary artists who want to use their cultural roots in their work.
— Creative entrepreneurs and brand owners who want to give their products an Afghan identity.
— Students who want to mix old art with new ideas.
Prerequisites: (What do you need before starting?)— Passing Term 1:
You must have already completed the first course («Introduction to Visual Culture and Traditional Art of Afghanistan») so you have a good basic knowledge of the traditional art.— Creative Skill:
You need basic skills in an art or design field (like painting, computer design, sewing, architecture, etc.) so you can actually create a new project.
Expected Learning Outcomes:Knowledge:
Understand the difference between simply «copying» a traditional artwork and «reinterpreting» it (giving it a fresh, new life).
Skill:
Be able to take a traditional element (like a wooden joint, a traditional color, or a carpet pattern) and use it in a completely modern work (like a poster, a dress, or an app design).
Attitude:
Look at past heritage not as an old, dead object, but as a living source of inspiration for the future.
Control: (How do we check what you have learned?)— Mini-Projects:
You will be asked to pick a traditional pattern and redesign it in two different modern ways.
— Course Design Document Check:
The teacher will check if the document you wrote for this course (goals, audience, syllabus) makes sense and is logical.
— Peer Review:
Your early work will be shown to the class so your classmates can give feedback on whether your new work still keeps its traditional identity or not.
Final Course Result (What will you deliver at the end of the term?)A Practical Contemporary Project: A completely new and modern artwork or design that is inspired by traditional Afghan art.
Course Design Document: Because the main goal of Module 1 is learning how to design a course, you must write a complete document showing how you would design a course on «Using Heritage in Contemporary Art.»
