FOUNDATIONS OF CONTEMPORARY ART

ARTHIST 365

Traces out some of the radical changes in art produced after roughly 1950, or what might be called contemporary art. focuses on American and European art after the "decline" of Modernism. That entails becoming familiar with movements ranging from color field painting, to postmodern production, to performance, video, and installation. Additionally, attention will be paid to artists and artwork that are not adequately represented by the traditional categories of art history.

ARTHIST 409

Topics offered concern the rigorous study of the history and theory of contemporary art.

ART 100

Seek answers to the fundamental question "What is art?" from multiple perspectives such as historical, theoretical, critical, conceptual, formal, and experiential. Develop visual literacy, sophisticated observational skills and a formal language to assist in the interpretation of objects and experiences in the context of art. Through both theory and practice, develop an understanding of the ways artists arrive at the ideas that inform their creative processes. Includes a survey of developments in art media and looks broadly at art movements, trends and styles throughout history and in varied world cultures.

ARTHIST 481

Outline of major developments in global visual art from the 1960s to the present, with an emphasis on influential recent theorizations of contemporary art that have been developed by critics, art historians, and artists themselves. Topics include: the globalization of the art world, re-definitions of art after modernism, politics of contemporary art, issues of identity (race, gender, sexuality), technology and new media, the art market, and theoretical approaches to contemporary art.

ART 208

Examination of current artists' motivations, intentions, and processes and their relationship to general developments in contemporary art.