Humanities Arts Cultural Stu 0226 - Art and Its Histories

This course explores how art and architecture have profoundly shaped visual experiences and shifting understandings of past and present. Featuring different case studies, our class includes work with original objects, site visits, and writings about art. Unifying themes include: (1) materials, techniques, and the patterns variously deployed to create space; (2) the design, function, and symbolism of images and monuments; (3) artistic production and its relation to individual and institutional patronage, religion, politics, and aesthetics; (4) issues turning on artists' fame versus anonymity, and uniqueness versus reproducibility; (5) cross-cultural exchanges. The five focus objects that will serve as points of departure for the interrelations of past & present over the course of the semester are--Kara Walker's Sphinx (A Subtlety or the Marvelous Sugar Baby) 2014; Maya Lin Vietnam Veterans Memorial 1981-83; Snøhetta Hamza Consortium, Bibliotheca Alexandria, Egypt (2002); Velazquez Las Meninas 1656; Tipu Sultan's Tiger automaton, 1790s.

Culture, Humanities, and Languages Writing and Research Multiple Cultural Perspectives Students are expected to spend an additional 6-8 hours per week on work and preparation outside of class time.