ARTF108: Women in Art (I generally teach this one in-person every Spring semester)
I've organized this course thematically, and it will focus on four broad themes:
how we decide who "makes it" into art history
crafted and collectively produced artworks
protest art
art about the body.
Within each thematic section, we will learn about a range of female and gender nonconforming artists. Most of the artists we learn about will be from the 20th and 21st centuries, but we will consider some examples from as far back as the 11th century.
Assessments: Your grade will be based on open-note tests (4), creative projects (4), and weekly in-class activities.
ARTF109: Modern Art (I generally teach this one in-person in Spring, and online during Spring, Fall, and Summer semesters).
This course is organized chronologically, and it mostly focusses on art from Western Europe and the United States. It begins with artworks from the Neoclassical and Romantic art movements, and follows the development of Modernism in Western Art up through the 1950s. We will focus on building our ability to look and and talk about Modern art. I also stress connections to historical and social context when learning about art, so you can also expect to build your historical knowledge of the time periods that we discuss.
Assessments: Your grade will be based on open-note tests (4), creative projects (4), and weekly discussion assignments.
ARTF107: Contemporary Art (I generally teach this one in-person during Spring and Fall, and online during Winter Intersession)
This course will focus on artists and art trends from roughly the 1960s though the present. I've organized this course thematically, and it will focus on four broad themes:
Interactive Art
The recent history of painting
Art as a disruptive force.
Contemporary self-portraiture
Within each thematic section, we will learn about a range of contemporary artists from all over the world, many of whom are still alive and working today. We will also learn about several influential trends and styles in art since the 1960s, and we'll trace their evolution through the present day.
Assessments: Your grade will be based on open-note tests (4), creative projects (4), and weekly in-class activities or online discussions.
ARTF111: Renaissance-Modern Art History (I generally teach this one online during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters).
This course is an introduction to the major artists and trends in Western art from roughly 1300-1900. This is sort of like a "greatest hits" class in the sense that we will focus on the most famous artists from those time periods, and we will cover a lot of years and art movements very quickly. We will learn about the historical events, cultural contexts, and systems of influence that shaped Western art as it developed over 600 or so years, beginning with artworks from the late Medieval period and ending with artworks from the early 20th century. Each week you will learn about a new time period and set of artists.
Assessments: This class is set up to have roughly the same amount of work each week. Every week you will have readings and videos to take notes on, and then an open-note quiz and a visual or written assignment. There is also a final project at the end of the semester.
ARTF100: Art Orientation (I generally teach this one online during the Spring and Summer semesters).
This course is a broad introduction to art and art history. I've organized this class thematically, and each of our main themes will help us practice our ability to look at and interpret artworks. The six broad themes I've built the class around are as follows:
"Slow Looking" (tips for looking carefully at art)
Art about Love
Art about Nature
Art about (or made in) isolation
Storytelling in Art
Understanding Abstract Art
Within each of these themes will will consider artworks from all over the world, and from all different time periods and styles. You will have the opportunity to apply what you learn by researching, writing about, speaking about, and making artworks.
Assessments: Your grade will be based on open-note quizzes (6), creative projects (6), and a written final project.