Fine Arts Courses

Semester specific course desciptions

Art History

116. Survey of Art history Part I.
A survey of the historical development of art forms from Paleolithic times to the late Middle Ages. Emphasis is placed upon the relationship between the formal aspects of art and the political and social history of a culture. Fulfills the distribution requirement in humanities.

117.Survey of Art History, Part II
A survey of the historical development of art forms from the Renaissance to the present. Emphasis is placed upon the relationship between the formal aspects of art and the political and social history of a culture. Fulfills the distribution requirement in humanities. Also offered through European Studies.

202. Art of the Italian Renaissance.
An exploration of painting, sculpture and architecture in Italy from the late Gothic period through the High Renaissance and Mannerism. The course surveys the changing forms, themes and imagery of Renaissance art, within the larger cultural and political worlds of Florence, Siena, Rome, Urbino, Mantua and Venice. The course also introduces various ways of interpreting Renaissance imagery, through the study of religious iconography, humanism and academically based artistic theory; and through approaches ranging from the social history of art to gender-based interpretations. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 116 or 117 or permission of the instructor. Offered on rotation. Also offered through European Studies.

203. Art of the Northern Renaissance.
A study of painting and sculpture in northern and central Europe from the late 13th to the late 16th centuries. This course focuses on such artists as Jan van Eyck and Albrecht Dürer, as well as such themes as the evolving representation of nature, witchcraft and other gendered imagery in art, and the early history of printmaking. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 116 or 117 or permission of the instructor. Offered on rotation. Also offered through European Studies.

204. Baroque and Rococo Art.
A study of painting, sculpture and architecture in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. This course explores such artists as Velázquez, Bernini, Artemisia Gentileschi and Rembrandt, evocative images of nature and mystical experience, and major architectural and decorative programs. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 116 or 117 or permission of the instructor. Offered on rotation. Also offered through European Studies.

206. Art of the Middle Ages.
A study of European art history from the collapse of the Roman Empire to the 14th century. Individual sessions explore the history of symbols, saints’ cults, pilgrimages and popular piety, monasticism, medieval music, and the work of medieval stone masons, manuscript illuminators, metalworkers and sculptors. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 116 or 117 or permission of the instructor. Offered on rotation. Also offered through European Studies.

210. American Art.
A survey of American art from the 17th century to the eve of World War I. The emphasis is on painting, although other media are included. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 117 or permission of the instructor. Offered on rotation.

215. West African Arts.
This course deals for the most part with the traditional arts of West Africa. It explores the wide range of West African art forms, materials and functions as well as questions of production, ownership, utility, evaluation and change. Fulfills the diversity and humanities distribution requirements. Also offered through African Studies.

217. Buddhist Art and Ritual.
This course explores the historical and contemporary practices of Buddhist art and ritual in multiple geographical, social and cultural contexts. Examples of monuments, sculptures, paintings and ritual objects made for use by practicing Buddhists across Asia are studied to address questions of patronage and identity in various time periods. A large part of the course focuses on analyzing the contemporary reception and reshaping of traditional Buddhist ideas and art forms by diverse audiences around the world. The course also considers the changing context for Buddhist art and practice in Asia in an era of globalization. Fulfills the diversity and humanities distribution requirements. Also offered through Asian Studies and Peace Studies.

218. Arts of South Asia
This course provides a thematic and historical introduction to the visual arts of South Asia. By examining sculpture, architecture, painting and film from the region, the course introduces students to the multiple cultural strands that contribute to the histories of countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal and India. Our study extends to art made by and for communities of South Asian origin in North America today. Special emphasis is on issues of cross-cultural contacts, ethnicity and gender. Finally, we look critically at the current debates surrounding methods of studying, collecting and displaying South Asian art. Fulfills the diversity and humanities distribution requirements. Also offered through Asian Studies.

246. Art and Politics in Nigeria.
This course examines the relationship between art and sociopolitical conditions and events in Nigeria since 1960, as reflected in the works of selected major cultural producers. Key figures in literature, music and fine arts are studied and, through their works and personal histories, the role of the artist in society is examined. Fulfills the diversity distribution requirement. Also offered through African Studies.

247,248. Special Topics in Art.
Topics relate to the history, practice or theory of art. Open to all students, but depending on the topic prerequisites may be required. Specific topics are announced in the Class Schedule each semester, when offered.

252. History of Modern European Art.
A critical historical investigation of art production in Western Europe from 1850 to 1945. Special emphasis is given to the strategy and tactics of the avant-garde, the revolutionary potential of art, the public reception of modernist art, the politics of the art market, the problem of abstraction and issues of gender. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 117. Also offered through European Studies

254. A History of Contemporary Art.
The aim of this course is to provide a historical basis for an understanding of the current ideologies of art. Beginning with the emergence of an avant-garde in the United States in the 1940s, the course investigates how artists and their publics attempted to redefine the role of art in the West. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 117.

256. Art and Nature.
An overview of nature as a subject of artistic representation, in ancient Mediterranean and Mesopotamian cultures, and in the West from the Renaissance to the present. This course explores the ways in which depictions of nature have both reflected and shaped constructs of the natural world, by reference to religions, philosophies and moral values. Works of art to be examined include obvious examples of nature in art, such as landscape painting, and less obvious ones, such as villas and portraits, as well as earthworks and other environmental art created by contemporary artists. This course requires no previous experience of art history. Also offered through Outdoor Studies.

325. The Museum as Cultural Crossroads.
An exploration of the museum as a largely Western creation and as a lens through which the Western world views other cultures. Class sessions focus on the history of collecting, the origins of great Western museums, the transport of cultural properties in the era of colonialism and the role of museums in communicating cultural difference. Offered on rotation. Also offered through Global Studies.

389, 390. Special Projects in ArtHistory, I and II.
Individual study for fine arts majors or especially qualified students. Prerequisite: consent of the supervising professor and department chair. Hours to be arranged.

451, 452. Seminar in Art.
Topics relate to the history, practice and theory of art. Primarily for qualified majors; however, students who are interested but who have backgrounds in areas other than art are welcome. Seminar topics and prerequisites are announced in the Class Schedule each semester.

489, 490. SYE: Independent Study.
An independent study for senior fine arts majors that builds upon the student’s prior work in art history or studio art and is directed toward developing superior skills in research and writing or studio work. Prerequisites: permission of the instructor and department chair (must be obtained the semester preceding the course).

495, 496. Senior Project: Honors in Fine Arts.
Details of the program are available from the department chair. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor and department chair.

Studio Courses
All studio courses are one-unit courses and meet six hours per week.

121. Introduction to Studio Art.
An introductory course that raises fundamental questions about the nature of artistic activity. Students should expect to be engaged in both the process of making art and discussion related to the theoretical basis of such activity. Open to all undergraduates; required of fine arts majors. Fine Arts 121 is prerequisite to all other studio courses, and it is suggested that this course be taken during the first year or sophomore year. Fulfills the distribution requirement in arts and forms of expression.

229. Introduction to Painting.
The emphasis is on gaining understanding of pictorial space in painting and use of basic elements such as color, value, form, composition and surface. Through various exercises and formal/thematic projects, students learn how to work with paint, make transition from drawing into painting, and understand the process of transforming visual perception and ideas into an image/object. Regular presentations of relevant historical and contemporary paintings complement the studio practice. Students are expected to maintain a visual journal, invest work outside the class, write response papers to readings and exhibitions, actively participate in discussions and critiques, and devise and execute their own final project. Prerequisites: Fine Arts 121, 231 and/or permission of the instructor. Registration limited.

230. Intermediate Painting.
The emphasis is on generating extended statements through a small but coherent body of work. Students are expected to continue to develop their understanding of the basic elements of painting while tackling a more complex set of problems and propositions. Projects investigate painting’s relationship with the body, photography, film, narrative, mapping and conceptual art. Studio practice is contextualized through slide lectures on issues in aesthetics, art historical antecedents and contemporary society. Requirements include a presentation on an artist, reading scholarly essays and artists’ writings, response papers, reviews on exhibitions, participation in discussions and critiques, and a visual journal. Students are expected to invest significant work outside the class. Prerequisites: Fine Arts 121, 229, 231 and/or permission of the instructor. Registration limited.

231. Drawing I.
The emphasis is on the development of perceptual, organizational and critical drawing skills. Direct observation of still-life and figurative subjects lead to more abstract modes of expression. Various media are used. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 121 or permission of the instructor. Registration limited.

232. Drawing II.
This course continues to emphasize developing observational skills but focuses more on conceptual issues and ideas of expression. Various media are used. Prerequisites: Fine Arts 121 and 231 or permission of the instructor. Registration limited.

235. Abstract Drawing: Uli and Other Forms
The principal objective of this course is to expose students to some abstract drawing traditions of the world and, through studio practices structured around these traditions, enable students to explore the potential of abstract drawing as a viable and independent means of expression. Using the Uli drawing/painting tradition of Nigeria as a point of departure, the course covers European calligraphy; Chinese, Japanese and Arabic calligraphy and painting; and the graphic works of modern artists like Paul Klee, Joan Miro, Ben Shahn, Ibrahim el Salahi and Uche Okeke. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 121. Fulfills the diversity distribution credit. Also offered through African Studies and Global Studies.

239. Sculpture and Extended Media I.
This is a course for expressing one’s ideas in three dimensions and through a variety of media. Students receive an introduction to the basic techniques, materials and terminology of 3D design, sculpture and contemporary art in general. Assignments in modeling, mixed media, installation and collaboration are included. Materials include clay, plaster, wood and metal as well as found, mixed and experimental media. In order to give students a broader perspective on contemporary cultural production and thought, the course includes investigation of historical and theoretical aspects of contemporary art. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 121 or permission of the instructor. Registration limited.

240. Sculpture and Extended Media II.
A continuation of Fine Arts 239. Students are expected to expand their ideas into more fully resolved and conceptually challenging works. Collaboration, casting, fabrication/building techniques using wood and metal, investigation of tactical media approaches and other materials as determined by the student’s interest and conceptual direction. Prerequisites: Fine Arts 121 and 239 and permission of the instructor.

241. Printmaking I.
An introduction to relief and intaglio processes, this course involves drawing, processing, proofing and producing prints. Students are also exposed to historical and contemporary ideas and images related to making prints. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 121 or permission of the instructor. Registration limited.

247, 248. Special Topics in Art.
Topics relate to the history, practice or theory of art. Open to all students; depending on the topic, prerequisites may be required. Specific topics are announced in the Class Schedule each semester.

249. Ceramics I.
This is a course for expressing one’s ideas through the most basic and malleable material — clay. Different hand-building techniques such as pinch, slab, coil, solid and hollow modeling are explored, along with the basics of ceramic and non-ceramic finishes. In order to give students a broader perspective of the material and its use, this course includes investigation of historical and theoretical aspects of contemporary ceramic and “fine” art. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 121.

250. Ceramics II.
A continuation of Ceramics I. Students are expected to expand their ideas into more fully resolved and conceptually challenging works. Fabrication/building techniques such as press molding, slip casting, installation work and mixing media are discussed. More advanced surfacing techniques such as ceramic decals, printing on clay, experimental finishes and glaze chemistry are explored. Prerequisites: Fine Arts 121 and 249 and permission of the instructor.

259. Photography I.
Photography and its use as a medium of documentary and creative expression. The use of cameras; developing, printing; design and composition in photography; and other aspects of photographic theory and history. Students are expected to provide their own SLR camera. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 121 or permission of the instructor. Registration limited.

260. Photography II.
Advanced work in special photographic techniques beyond black and white photography. Prerequisites: Fine Arts 121, 259 and permission of the instructor. Registration limited.

270. Collaboration Across the Arts.
The direction of this course is determined largely by the unique combination of students who participate. Students form groups of two or three to work on a collaborative project of their own design reflecting their collective interests. For example, a pair of students may create a multimedia work that draws connections between image and sound. We will critique, as a group, works in progress, and also study exemplary works, discuss relevant aesthetic issues, trace connections across media, and consider strategies for collaborative work. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Also offered as Music 270 and Performance and Communication Arts 270.

279. Creative Computer.
This course explores both technical and artistic aspects of the computer, with a focus on the intricacies of Adobe Photoshop and the application of this program to create digital art. Students learn how to retouch, make selections from images, form abstract imagery, use layers and masks, apply text, shoot digital images and create montages using personal photos. A final project involves a digital portfolio of the semester’s work. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 121 or permission of the instructor.

329. Advanced Painting.
The primary aim is to examine painting in the 21st century through both theory and practice. The course investigates painting’s historical antecedents as well as contemporary trends and currents. Students develop a coherent body of paintings that explores an individual direction and demonstrates knowledge of contemporary influences and historical precedents. Lectures, discussions, critiques and occasional visits to museums/galleries complement studio production. Students are required to do weekly readings and exhibition reviews, maintain a research journal and give an artist lecture at the end of the term. Prerequisites: Fine Arts 121, 231, 229, 230 and/or permission of the instructor. Registration limited.

331, 332. Advanced Drawing I and II.
Advanced work in drawing. Prerequisites: Fine Arts 231, 232 and permission of the instructor. Registration limited.

339, 340. Advanced Sculpture I and II.
Advanced work in sculpture. Prerequisites: Fine Arts 239, 240 and permission of the instructor. Registration limited.

341. Advanced Printmaking I.
A continuation of Printmaking I, with the introduction of lithography and collagraphs. Further emphasis is given to thematic development in one’s work. Prerequisite: Fine Arts 241. Registration limited.

349, 350. Advanced Ceramics I and II.
Advanced work in ceramics. Prerequisites: Fine Arts 249, 250 and permission of the instructor. Registration limited.

389, 390. Special Projects in Art I and II.
Individual study for fine arts majors or especially qualified students. Prerequisite: consent of the supervising professor and department chair. Hours to be arranged.

489, 490. SYE: Independent Study.
An independent study for senior fine arts majors that builds upon the student’s prior work in art history or studio art and is directed toward developing superior skills in research and writing or studio work. Prerequisites: permission of the instructor and department chair (must be obtained the semester preceding the course).

495. Senior Project. Honors in Fine Arts.
Details of the program are available from the department chair. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor and department chair.