Art & the History of Art 317 - Imaginary Beings

Ghosts, angels, monsters, fairies, the presence of imaginary beings has a central role in human thought and art. In this course, through a series of hands-on projects, we will explore ways to make the invisible and imaginary visually present as art. Through work in drawing, painting, sculpture, and puppetry, students will develop strategies for working from the imagination; hybrid forms and collaboration will be encouraged. This course will include an examination of the world of imaginary beings, their representation and attributes, and survey their history in art from the paleolithic to the present. Critical, creative, and historical readings will be discussed and related to studio art projects.

Fall 2026: Senior Lecturer Culhane.

How to handle overenrollment: Priority granted to ARHA majors

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Studio art projects, class discussions, oral presentations, visual analysis, close reading of text, individual research.