Spring 2021 Art & Art History Courses

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100 Level Courses

 

AAH-116 Survey of Art I (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: ONLINE COURSE. Fully online.
In this introductory survey, students explore the art and architecture of Europe and the Middle East from prehistory to 1200. They learn to identify key visual strategies, analyze the ways in which art reflects and actively shapes society, and discuss the relevance of the past to our contemporary world. Students are evaluated for class participation, oral presentations (group and solo), and written papers. A foundational course for Art and Art History majors and minors, AAH 116 also carries ARTS distribution credit and fulfills the pre-requisite for certain study abroad programs. In Fall 2020, the instructor will facilitate interactive lectures, guest presentations, and small group discussions in real-time during weekly class meetings on Zoom. Pre-recorded podcasts, narrated PowerPoints, articles, and interactive reading tools on Sakai will enhance student learning. Students can schedule personalized meetings with the instructor and collaborate with their peers throughout the semester.
NO PASS/FAIL OPTION
Requisites: None

 

AAH-117 Survey of Art II (1 Credits)

SPR 2021: ONLINE COURSE
This fully online course explores Renaissance to Contemporary artistic developments in Europe and America, seen against their historical backgrounds. In addition to other learning goals, the course helps students develop an understanding of the ways in which artworks and monuments can be 'read' as documents of their cultures and historical periods, through the study of visual systems that convey information and meaning. As a foundation course for the art history curriculum, and a course that fulfills the ARTS graduation requirement, AAH 117 is an elective for the minor in European Studies and relevant preparation for many abroad programs. This course will be taught through weekly Zoom sessions, prerecorded lectures, PowerPoints, and through the course assignments (discussion forums, weekly question sets and guided journal projects). All course materials will be posted in Sakai.
Fullfills HU distribution ( 2013 curriculum )
Requisites: None

 

AAH-131 Drawing 1 (1 Credits)

SPR 2021: OFFERED AS ON CAMPUS IN PERSON OR ONLINE COURSE. AAH 131
1 ON CAMPUS AAH 131 2 ONL-SYN AAH 131 3 ON CAMPUS AAH 131 4 ON CAMPUS AAH 131
02, ONLINE-SYNCHRONOUS
Drawing 1 functions as an introduction to the processes, materials, and concepts of drawing as foundation for all of the visual arts. This course emphasizes the development of perceptual, analytical, and structural drawing skills while simultaneously working with the development of contemporary conceptual concerns. Students will develop an awareness of the formal process of drawing including composition, hand/eye coordination, negative and positive space/shapes, value through light and shadow, foreshortening, perspective, and all elements and principles of design. The ultimate goal of this course is to delve into an exciting drawing experience by working quickly, yet at the same time developing an intense level of focus toward our works of art. We will work with charcoal/chalk pastel, make a mess, experiment, and propel ourselves directly into a professional art making process. This class has been modified for a fully online semester. This course is the prerequisite for all upper level studio art courses. Potential majors and minors should take Drawing I as early as possible in their academic careers. The emphasis is on the development of perceptual, compositional, and critical drawing skills. Direct observation of still-life and figurative subjects lead to more abstract modes of expression. Various media are used.
Registration limited. Fulfills ARTS Distribution (2013 curriculum).
Requisites: None

 

200 Level Courses

 

AAH-203 Art of Northern Renaissance (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: ONLINE COURSE/SYNCHRONOUS
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.Offered on rotation. Also offered through European Studies.
Fulfills ARTS Distribution (2013 curriculum).
Requisites: None

 

AAH-207 19th Century European Art (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: ONLINE/SYNCHRONOUS
This course deals with art in the context of the tumultuous political and social history of 19th-century Europe. Beginning with the French Revolution in the late 18th century, we will examine the ways in which art participated in the revolutionary, colonial, technological, economic, and gendered discourses of the era, covering well-known and often controversial works by such artists as David, Blake, Goya, Courbet, Manet, Cassatt, Degas, Rodin, Van Gogh and Munch.
Prerequisite: AAH 116 or 117. Fulfills ARTS Distribution (2013 curriculum).
Requisites:
Pre-req: AAH-116 OR AAH-117 OR FA-116 OR FA-117 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.

 

AAH-229 Painting I (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: ON CAMPUS IN PERSON COURSE
This course is an introduction to the techniques and concepts of painting. Students will develop foundational skills of painting such as value and color, use of oil mediums, paint application, and composition. The course begins with an exploration of painterly techniques for students to gain confidence with the medium, then progresses to a study of color, and ends with an individualized painting project. Issues of content and the role of painting in contemporary art will be also discussed. The course will be taught in a hybrid method, with both in-person studio work and remote instruction. The emphasis is on developing an understanding of pictorial space in painting and use of basic elements such as color, value, form, composition and surface. Through structured projects, students learn fundamental painting techniques, make the transition from drawing into painting, and understand the process of visual perception. Presentations of historical and contemporary artists complement the studio practice. Students are expected to invest significant work time outside of class, attend exhibitions, actively participate in discussions and critiques, and devise and execute their own final project.
Prerequisite: AAH 131. Registration limited. Fulfills ARTS Distribution (2013 curriculum).
Requisites:
Pre-req: AAH-121 OR AAH-131 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.

 

AAH-230 Painting II (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: IN PERSON/ON CAMPUS COURSE
Students continue to develop their understanding of the elements of painting while engaging a more complex set of problems and concepts. Studio practice is contextualized through discussions on issues in aesthetics, art historical antecedents and contemporary approaches to art. Requirements include a presentation on an artist, reading scholarly essays and artists' writings, response papers, exhibitions reviews, participation in discussions and critiques, and a visual journal. Students are expected to invest significant work outside the class.
Prerequisites: AAH 131, 229. Registration limited. Fulfills ARTS Distribution (2013 curriculum).
Requisites:
Pre-req 1: AAH-121 OR AAH-131 Pre-req 2: AAH-229 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.

 

AAH-249 Ceramics I (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: IN PERSON ON CAMPUS COURSE
A course for expressing one's ideas through the most basic and malleable material - clay. Students learn a wide range of contemporary practices used by ceramic artists and designers working today, how to find their own creative voices, and how to analyze ceramic works of art from their own positionalities. Processes covered include: traditional hand-building techniques include: pinch, slab, coil, solid and hollow modeling as well as wheel throwing and creating multiples through mold-making and slip and press-casting. While a wide range of processes is introduced, the emphasis of this course will remain on the ideas communicated through the forms that students create. The course also investigates the historical and theoretical aspects of contemporary ceramic vessels, sculpture and decorative works as well as the shifting concepts of "fine art" v. "craft". Brainstorming and critique are common, and will follow the Harkness Method of student-centered discussion and inquiry to help students learn to think critically, listen analytically, and interact respectfully. Depending upon student interest and experience, this course may be taken as AAH 250 by instructor permission only.
Fulfills ARTS Distribution (2013 curriculum).
Requisites:
Pre-req: AAH-131 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.

 

AAH-259 Photography I (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: ON CAMPUS IN PERSON COURSE
This class will meet in-person, with one to two weekly small group meetings and occasional full class group critiques. Some content, such as lectures and demonstrations, will be delivered asynchronously online. Photo I is an introduction to the theory, techniques and process of black and white film photography. This course will emphasize photography's potential for creative problem solving and self-expression in an art context. This class will consist of slide lectures, presentations, and screenings featuring contemporary artists, camera and lighting demonstrations, in-class exercises, discussions and most importantly, critiques of your work. Students are expected to provide their own SLR camera.
Prerequisite: AAH 131. Registration limited. Fulfills ARTS Distribution (2013 curriculum).
Requisites:
Pre-req:AAH-131 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.

 

AAH-262 Video Art (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: IN PERSON/ON CAMPUS COURSE Video Art.
In this course, students will gain foundational skills of four-dimensional (moving) imaging software and to create animated and video based art works. Students will study a range of artists who use video, animation, installation and interactivity in their work, and experiment with the creation of these types of work. By the end of the semester students should have knowledge of industrial standards in editing and effect software, as well as having the ability create art with advanced video functionality.
Prerequisite: AAH 131.
Requisites:
Pre-req: AAH-131 or FILM-211 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.

 

AAH-269 Digital Media and Culture I (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: ONLINE COURSE
Fulfills ARTS Distribution (2013 curriculum). In this combination studio/seminar course we will explore the major theoretical issues surrounding digital technologies and their impact on various aspects of contemporary culture including: aesthetics and perception, creative production, morality, entertainment, identity, consumerism, social control and constructs of intimacy and deviance. Studio projects will investigate the creative potentials of pod casting, digital video, cell phones, eBay, online dating sites, SecondLife.com, digital imaging, animation and hypertext. It is helpful if you have some comfort using digital technology, and particularly helpful if you have used digital imaging software, but it is not mandatory.
Requisites:
Pre-req: AAH-121 or AAH-131 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.

 

AAH-284 Book Arts (1 Credits)

Artist's books are works of art that are made real in the form of a book. This course examines the interplay between words and images as well as the sequential movement from page to page that this form offers. Students explore how both original and appropriated texts and images are juxtaposed to create meaning. A variety of binding techniques and formats will be presented. Creative writing and image development will be emphasized, with revision and multiple drafts required for projects.
Fulfills ARTS Distribution and QLR requirement (2013 curriculum).
Requisites: None

 

300 Level Courses

 

AAH-329 Painting III (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: ON CAMPUS/IN PERSON OR ONLINE COURSE AAH 329
01: ON CAMPUS/IN PERSON AAH 329
02: ONLINE/PERMISSION ONLY
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: AAH 131, 229, 230. Registration limited. Fulfills ARTS Distribution (2013 curriculum).
Requisites:
Pre-req 1: AAH-131 Pre-req 2: AAH-229 Pre-req 3: AAH-230 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.

 

AAH-330 Painting IV (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: ON CAMPUS/IN PERSON OR ONLINE COURSE AAH 330
01: ON CAMPUS/IN PERSON AAH 330
02: ONLINE/PERMISSION ONLY
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: AAH 131, 229, 230, 329. Registration limited. Fulfills ARTS Distribution (2013 curriculum).
Requisites:
Pre-req 1: AAH-131 Pre-req 2: AAH-229 Pre-req 3: AAH-230 Pre-req 4: AAH-330 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.

 

AAH-369 Digital Media & Culture II (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: ONLINE COURSE
A continuation of Digital Media and Culture I. New and more complex software will be introduced. Students will be expected to spend time developing innovative and complex ideas and forms and advancing their vision(s) via digital media processes. This is a combination studio/seminar course and includes videos, readings and reflections, and written analyses. New visions of authorship will be encouraged as will continual encouragement to consider how one's work could function in a socially transformative way. Depending upon student interest and experience, this course may be offered in conjunction with AAH 269 by instructor permission only.
Prerequisites: AAH 131, 269. Registration limited. Fulfills ARTS Distribution (2013 curriculum).
Requisites:
Pre-req 1: AAH-131 Pre-req 2: AAH-269 OR FILM-269 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.

 

AAH-390 Special Project Art II (1 Credits)

Individual study for studio majors or especially qualified students. Prerequisite: consent of the supervising professor and department chair. Written proposals are required the semester before intended project.
Requisites: None

 

400 Level Courses

 

AAH-4009 Queer Theory & Representation (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: ONLINE COURSE
This 400-level course examines the radical rethinking of gender and sexuality known as queer theory. We will begin with an examination of its key foundational texts, asking fundamental questions about the nature of gender and sexuality, including the extent to which they may be considered "natural" in the first place. We will use these insights, in turn, to explore such topics as gender performativity, trans identity, various forms of intersectionality, and "homonormativity" in relation to a range of provocative artistic, journalistic, and political representations.
Requisites:
Pre-req: AAH-117 or AAH-116 or AAH-211 or AFAM-211 or GNDR-103 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.

 

AAH-4013 Animals in Buddhist Art (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: ONLINE COURSE
A foundational principle of Buddhism is that all living beings are interdependent and Buddhist narrative traditions frequently incorporate non-human animal characters. In this discussion and research-based seminar course, students will examine the representation of non-human animals (including birds) across major Buddhist art traditions and in Buddhist-inspired contemporary art practices. Which species are most represented or left out altogether? What role do non-human animals play in stories and how do they relate to humans? How do we reflect critically on our positionality as humans studying other animals? Synchronous class meetings will consist of student-led discussion of assigned readings and online image collections, including the collection of Tibetan Buddhist art in the Richard F. Brush Art Gallery. Each student will also conduct a semester-long, guided research project on a topic of their choice. This will involve writing a proposal and drafts, regular progress reports, peer review, and one-on-one consultations with the instructor. At the end of the semester, students will present their research in the form of a traditional paper, or website, or scholarly poster. The course is open to advanced Art & Art History and Asian Studies students who have completed coursework in Buddhist art, philosophy, or religion, or taken the Buddhism, Mindfulness and Neuroscience course.
Pre-req: any one of the following: AAH 217, ASIA-217, ASIA-223, PHIL-223, ASIA-262, REL-222,REL-299,BIOL-299 or by permission of instructor
Requisites:
Pre-req: any one of the following: AAH 217, ASIA-217, ASIA-223, PHIL-223, ASIA-262, REL-222,REL-299,BIOL-299 or by permission of instructor - Must be completed prior to taking this course.

 

AAH-460 SYE Sr Seminar in Vis Arts (1 Credits)

SPRING 2021: ON CAMPUS/IN PERSON OR ONLINE COURSE AAH 460
01: ON CAMPUS AAH 460
02: ONLINE
This course is required of all art and art history majors pursuing a concentration in studio art. This course is designed to provide a basis for continuing one's creativity in a professional and effective manner following graduation. Additionally, it is intended to give students a greater understanding of exhibition/gallery practices and to enlighten the student in the areas of independent art production: specifically the professional and personal challenges/rewards that lie therein. This course is comprised of readings, written assignments, studio work, and an exhibition. Offered every spring semester.
Fulfills ARTS Distribution (2013 curriculum).
Requisites: None