Jul 07, 2024  
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

AH 101 Introduction to Global Art History: Prehistory to 1300

(4 Credits)
Why did our prehistoric ancestors create paintings on cave walls? How did ancient rulers use art to consolidate their power, and how do their strategies compare to contemporary political propaganda? Why and how has the idea of beauty changed across cultures and historical periods? How has art been used to tell stories? These are just some of the many questions we will tackle in this course, which examines visual art produced around the world from the prehistoric period to 1300. The course proceeds chronologically and thematically, prompting us to compare how artists approached similar issues (such as ritual, rulership, beauty, and narrative) in the same period in different cultures and locations. Along the way, we will practice the analytical, theoretical, and research skills that art historians use to interpret the meaning and function of works of art based on their materials, style, content, and context. We will also turn a critical eye on the discipline of art history by exploring how institutions (such as museums and universities) and systems of power (such as colonialism, white supremacy, and patriarchy) have allowed some stories of art to be told while obscuring others. In addition to providing a solid foundation for future study in the field of art history, this course aims to develop your interpretive and critical thinking skills and the cultural perspective needed to navigate today’s increasingly global and media-saturated world.

Fall