Course Syllabus

ARTH 2720 Art History Survey II

Course Description

This course surveys Western art and architecture from the Proto-Renaissance through 21st Century. Focusing on important concepts and historical events within each culture, the chronological course examines art through artistic, political, religious, and social lenses. Required of all art majors.

Justification

This course is part two of a standard two-part art history series required during the second year of art study. It is required for all art majors who are on track toward the Associate of Fine Arts degree and it articulates to all higher education institutions in the state of Utah.

General Education Outcomes

1. A student who completes the GE curriculum can address complex problems by integrating the knowledge and methodologies of multiple disciplines.  This course focuses on the artistic output of Eurocentric cultures and 20th Century art movements in the United States. Students will develop critical skills of artistic interpretation, both objectively and subjectively. This course primarily focuses on enabling students to respond objectively to art by recognizing connections between an artwork’s creation and its historical context. It also includes more individual approaches like the Feldman method of art analysis and interpretation ultimately enhancing the student’s ability in any arena of art criticism. This will be demonstrated in exams and assignments.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Historical Context: In this course, students study creative works by considering the visual structures, mediums, and processes of creation, as well as the political, religious, ideological and social concerns of the historical milieu. Specific emphasis is placed on the impact of key historical events, philosophies and ideologies, political systems, and religious beliefs on the artistic output of the past.
2. Critical Analysis: This course stresses understanding artworks of past Western cultures by recognizing how historical context affects their use, form, style, message, and reception.

Course Content

Methods of study for this course include lecture, multi-media presentation, and discussion to examine the major monuments, works of art, and artists’ contributions to Western Civilization. Completing the reading assignment prior to each lecture in order to become familiar with the art works and pertinent historical context is crucial for student success. It also includes research and writing assignments designed to promote the ability to critically examine and present topics within the field of art history. This course will chronologically cover the following art historical periods:

Proto-Renaissance in Italy
Renaissance in Italy – Early Renaissance – High Renaissance
Renaissance in Northern Europe
Mannerism
Northern European 16th-Century Art
Southern Baroque Art
Northern Baroque Art
Rococo
Neoclassicism
Romanticism
Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism
Modernism in Europe and America 1900-1945 – Expressionism – Cubism – Futurism –
Dada – Suprematism - Surrealism – De Stijl – U.S. Regionalism
Modernism and Postmodernism in Europe and America 1945-1980 – Postwar
Expressionism - Abstract Expressionism - Minimalism - Pop Art - Conceptual Art – Environmental Art – Superrealism – Feminist Art
Contemporary Art