COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Arts 1850 is an illustrated lecture course with an emphasis on reading writing, and classroom discussion. The course offers a survey of the indigenous arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas with a view of broadening horizons, fostering cross-cultural awareness, and honing critical thinking skills.
This course examines the visual qualities of the art of these cultures as well as the function of the art produced. Students consider the art production of the cultures not only as reflective of the values of their people but as crucial in maintaining social order and cohesiveness through aesthetic systems.
Students will study the relationships between art and the historical, religious, and cultural context in which it was created, as well as how the art is relevant to contemporary topics and issues. Students will also learn about materials, techniques, and will be required to demonstrate their knowledge of artists, artworks, architecture, history, religion, culture, and vocabulary.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
- Students effectively analyze diversity, global political, historical, cultural and forces of the timeline within the context of the course.
- Students demonstrate effective problem solving and critical thinking skills through interpreting presenting or evaluating ideas. They should be able to identify key works of art and architecture through fact-based information, as well as be able to identify the role of these works in the larger social and stylistic context.
- Students effectively explain the importance of fine arts in the human experience.
- Students produce well-organized communications that exhibit logical thinking and organization. They should also have an idea of the different approaches that art historians use to study, analyze, and discuss works of art and architecture.
- By the end of the course, students should be familiar with some of the common testing methods used in art history courses (image identification, compare/contrast, etc.), to help prepare them for any upper level art history courses they choose to take in the future.
