AH 2400 - Seminar in Contemporary Art

Credits: 3

This seminar course focuses on issues, art movements, and criticism from Postmodern to the present. Students investigate Postmodern and contemporary art through the writings of artists and critics, lectures, and readings. Furthermore, students will become familiar with relevant art theory and methodology; learn to conduct research within the discipline of art history; and write knowledgeably on Postmodern and contemporary topics. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to articulate Postmodern and contemporary art issues—both critically and historically—in relation to larger social and political contexts.

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

Course Learning Outcomes:

Students demonstrate critical thinking skills, defined as the capacity to challenge assumptions, contextualize information, identify problems, conceptualize responses.
Students demonstrate writing skills, which encompasses thesis statement, organization, conclusion, grammar, syntax, and spelling, and adheres to CMS formatting.
Students recognize formal art historical divisions including a broad range of artists, works, and styles from western art from the Postmodern through the Contemporary period.
Students understand some of the tenets of art criticism, theory, and methodologies.
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.

Required Textbooks:
ONLINE: Art in Theory: 1900-2000 - ISBN: 9780631227083

ONLINE: Themes of Contemporary Art - ISBN: 9780199797073