ARTS 261 Survey of Western Art: Renaissance to Present Day

Previously ARTT 283. This course provides a survey of visual arts in the Western tradition from the Renaissance to the present day. Students will learn how to analyze and interpret works of art and architecture created over the past seven centuries. The course will examine artworks in their historical contexts, in order to demonstrate how changes in the visual arts are related to political, social, and economic developments. Students will also be encouraged to make connections between the art of the past and contemporary visual culture.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

ENGL 121

Hours Weekly

3

Course Objectives

1. Define and correctly employ the specialized vocabulary used by art historians.
2. Identify major art historical developments, dates, and period names from the 15th through 21st centuries.
3. Recognize and compare styles associated with individual artists, and/or movements, periods, or regions.
4. Distinguish between different modes of representation, such as naturalism, realism, idealism, expressionism, and abstraction, and explain their historical significance.
5. Recognize and explain the meaning of specific iconographic motifs, such as Christian, mythological, or allegorical subjects.
6. Describe the varying functions that works of art and architecture have served in Western visual culture from the Renaissance to the present.
7. Demonstrate the impact that political, social, and/or economic changes have had on the visual arts.
8. Identify and apply critical theories and concepts related to enduring issues of aesthetics, ethics, creativity, and meaning when analyzing specific iconographic motifs (e.g. religious or mythological subjects).
9. Incorporate innovation, risk-taking, and creativity into analysis and comparison of styles associated with different regions and periods, and/or with individual artists.
10. Pose and address questions related to the confluence of creative expression with social and cultural contexts when distinguishing between different modes of representation, such as stylization, naturalism, realism, and idealism, and explain their historical significance.
11. Assess, reflect on, and critically analyze the role of creative and aesthetic activities and products that demonstrate the impact that political, social, and/or economic changes had on the visual and humanistic culture of the periods studied.

Course Objectives

1. Define and correctly employ the specialized vocabulary used by art historians.
2. Identify major art historical developments, dates, and period names from the 15th through 21st centuries.
3. Recognize and compare styles associated with individual artists, and/or movements, periods, or regions.
4. Distinguish between different modes of representation, such as naturalism, realism, idealism, expressionism, and abstraction, and explain their historical significance.
5. Recognize and explain the meaning of specific iconographic motifs, such as Christian, mythological, or allegorical subjects.
6. Describe the varying functions that works of art and architecture have served in Western visual culture from the Renaissance to the present.
7. Demonstrate the impact that political, social, and/or economic changes have had on the visual arts.
8. Identify and apply critical theories and concepts related to enduring issues of aesthetics, ethics, creativity, and meaning when analyzing specific iconographic motifs (e.g. religious or mythological subjects).

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Creative Process and Humanistic Inquiry Rubric
9. Incorporate innovation, risk-taking, and creativity into analysis and comparison of styles associated with different regions and periods, and/or with individual artists.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Creative Process and Humanistic Inquiry Rubric
10. Pose and address questions related to the confluence of creative expression with social and cultural contexts when distinguishing between different modes of representation, such as stylization, naturalism, realism, and idealism, and explain their historical significance.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Creative Process and Humanistic Inquiry Rubric
11. Assess, reflect on, and critically analyze the role of creative and aesthetic activities and products that demonstrate the impact that political, social, and/or economic changes had on the visual and humanistic culture of the periods studied.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Creative Process and Humanistic Inquiry Rubric