AH 3500 - Topics in the History of Nonwestern Art

Credits: 3

In the last of the sequence of required courses in the history of art, students concentrate on non-western topics and themes. Advanced studies are designed to allow students to focus intensively on themes, issues, methods, and theoretical frameworks that define non-western artistic traditions. Lectures, readings, and assignments emphasize research, writing, and oral presentations. Topics vary from one term to another. Sample topics include: Arts of China, Arts of Japan, Religion and Art in the non-western world, modern Latin American art, etc. Upon successful completion of this course, students possess a deeper understanding of art historical movements, methods, and theories from the non western world. Furthermore, students refine and deepen their research and writing skills—researching and writing knowledgeably on topics from the course.

Prerequisites: AH 1200 - Art History II: Renaissance to Post Impressionism

Course Learning Outcomes:

Students demonstrate writing skills, which encompasses thesis statement, organization, conclusion, grammar, syntax, spelling, and adheres to CMS formatting.
Apply art historical methodologies to scholarly research, writing, and the analysis of artwork.
Students recognize formal art historical divisions including artists, works, and styles from the selected topics.
Employ analytical processes to assess works of art by evaluating each author’s point of view, comparing and contrasting their theories on culture, and assessing their pertinence to artistic practice.
Students understand the types and styles of art produced in non-Western societies, the processes by which they are made, and the reasons for differences resulting from different environments and different resources available.
Students understand the histories of change in the arts resulting from the impact of Western contact, including colonization, religious conversion, and the introduction of new materials and technologies.
Students understand stereotypes associated with other cultures, enabling a greater appreciation and respect for the variety and range of art forms.

Required Textbooks:
Art History, 5th Edition - ISBN: 9780205873470

ONLINE: A Short Guide to Writing About Art, 11th Edition - ISBN: 9780205886999