Category: Art History and Visual Culture

This course introduces students to the artistic,histories and visual cultures central to the,Euro-American narrative of art from the,Renaissance to the Modern periods. Through case,studies and thematic investigations, we critically,explore works of art, design, and architecture.,Delving into the socio-political-religious,contexts, technological developments, and,intellectual movements that informed viewing,practices and production, we consider the,relationships between creative expression and,society.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

This course is an introduction to the visual,cultures of Africa and its Diasporas, through a,series of case studies in visual narration in a,wide variety of media and formats from Africa,,the Caribbean, the US, Brazil, and indeed,throughout the Black Atlantic. The case studies,range from altar-making to filmmaking, and from,sculpture to pageantries of carnival. The course,seeks to locate these individual,images-texts-objects in the larger narrative and,performance traditions, as well as the,socio-political and historical contexts, from,which they emerge. But the course also asks,where these forms are going, and how historical,memory works now, always in motion. What, then,,are the theoretical and practical implications,for establishing origins, authenticity, and the,future?

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

This course is an introduction to arts and visual,cultures of Asia from across the continent and,across millennia. Content covered will range in,style, medium, and concepts of visual aesthetics,from the frameworks of religion, philosophy,,metaphysics, economics, and power structures.,Items from historical and contemporary contexts,can include painted and sculpted artifacts as well,as architectural and public monuments,,encountering recurrent regional themes such as,scrolling thundercloud motifs, animal & floral,symbolism, weaponry, and precious stones, vibrant,hues of Persian blues, sacred texts & Buddhist,symbols, celestial icons of mythic origins, and,various narratives handed down through the,centuries. This course examines each work of art,in its particular cultural context, including its,patron, maker, and original consumers. The class,will reflect critically on changing ideas of what,constitutes ‘Asia’ as we investigate arts of the,rich, colorful, and strikingly diverse cultures,across the continent

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

This course examines the artistic and,architectural history of ancient and medieval,cultures, emphasizing their global,interconnectedness. The course focuses on specific,civilizations while fostering analytical thinking,across time and geography. Themes such as,cross-cultural exchange, the influence of,religious beliefs on artistic patronage, and the,role of political power in shaping art are,explored. Additionally, the course addresses the,significance of iconography and symbolism in,various cultural contexts. Students gain critical,vocabulary and analytical skills to interpret,artworks beyond the class, appreciating the,plurality of visual cultures from the ancient to,medieval eras.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

This course explores the history of art and,architecture across various cultures in the early,modern, modern, and contemporary periods,,highlighting global interconnectedness. Each,lecture focuses on specific cultures while,encouraging comparative analysis across time and,geography. Themes include cross-cultural exchange,,the influence of religion and political economy on,art, the significance of icons and symbolism, and,the shaping of identity through visual culture.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

This course focuses on printed art in America,from pre-1890 through the 1950’s. The influence,of illustrators on the attitudes and customs of,their times is the focus. Using a format of,study by decade, the course explores the making,of pictures to tell a story regardless of medium. ,A more theoretical approach is used in discussions,of the great teachers and of women in,illustration.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

This course examines the role of the visual in,theory and practice. The approach taken is both,structural and historical, presenting various,critical frameworks and then using them to,analyze specific examples of visual culture and ,their time periods including, but not limited to,,examples of cultural appropriation and the impact,of cultural diversity. The course considers the ,visual through multiple dimensions–aesthetics, ,economics, politics, sociology, etc. It also ,reflects on the development of visual culture ,studies as an interdisciplinary field. A range ,of visual media–painting, photography, design, ,digital, etc.–and their cultural environments ,are examined. Heavy emphasis is placed on the,student’s ability to absorb visual culture theory,and apply it to written assignments and other,research. This course may be used for Social,Science credit.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: WRT 102 (formerly DEN 102)

This course concentrates on significant movements,within the field of photography and accompanying,historical and political events that occurred,from the invention of photography in 1839 through,its many stages of development to the present,day. The course further reflects on how,photography continues to influence cultures,globally.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

The origins, history and technique of traditional,cel animation, visual effects, puppet and 3D,animation are explored, with an emphasis on the,creators and their innovations as well as,historical context. Important and minor films from,around the world are explored. A large,portion of the class will focus on the “golden”,era of animation, 1930-1956, from the pioneering,work of Winsor McCay to the new styles and,approaches pioneered by United Productions of,America and the National Film Board of Canada.,This class also includes a survey of work,worldwide. The class consists of film,showings, lectures and exploration into the,techniques used.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: