20815228Art History: Global Arts
Course Information
Description
Analyze artworks produced around the world from ancient times through the contemporary. Consider artistic production, art criticism, cross-culture exchanges, and aesthetics, to deepen understanding of cultural differences and interactions. Explore a range of media and enhance sensitivity to visual and material forms. Develop a foundation in visual and material analysis.
Total Credits
3

Course Competencies
  1. Analyze works of visual art from various regions of the world in terms of the diverse historical, social, and cultural contexts in which they were made and viewed
    Assessment Strategies
    Blog, Exam, Visual analysis paper
    Criteria
    Define foundational terms in art history
    Determine influence of Western perspective on conditions of interpreting and understanding art
    Determine influence of Western perspective on conditions of production of art through art history
    Examine art history as a constructed narrative privy to ideology
    Identify alternative construction and readings of art history

  2. Critically evaluate different approaches to the study of world art as a means of understanding multiple art historical and global studies perspectives and practice
    Assessment Strategies
    Exhibit essay, Blog, Exam, Case Study
    Criteria
    Discuss the context of artistic production in African Art
    Summarize historic and current approaches to the display of African Art
    Examine the influence of the Western perspective in understandings of African Art
    Discuss power imbalances and subversive strategies as they relate to displays of African art in the West
    Discuss new insights in contemporary contexts

  3. Explore exhibition strategies as related to displays of non-Western art in Western museums
    Assessment Strategies
    Research project, Exam, Exhibit essay
    Criteria
    Explore a non-Western artistic tradition, specific artist, or group of artists
    Summarize historic and current biases regarding the display of non-Western art
    Discuss power imbalances and subversive strategies as they relate to displays of non-Western art in the West

  4. Explore works of art created in Africa and the African diaspora
    Assessment Strategies
    Reflection Essay, Exam
    Criteria
    Analyze works of art made by various artists in Africa and also by artists of African descent living outside of Africa
    Consider the concepts of historic, traditional, and contemporary as related to visual art
    Critically evaluate various art historical sources, methods, and theoretical approaches, and ways that diverse cultural and disciplinary perspectives inform our own and others’ understanding of art
    Explore how Western perspectives have negatively shaped ideas about African art and peoples

  5. Consider the meanings of Islamic creativity and artist practices
    Assessment Strategies
    Reflection Essay, Exam
    Criteria
    Discuss the context of artistic production of Islamic art
    Examine the history of figurative imager in Islamic art
    Summarize historic and current biases regarding Islamic art
    Examine the influence of the Western perspective in understandings of Islamic art
    Compare artistic representational strategies of Islamic art to Western art traditions
    Discuss new insights in contemporary context

  6. Explore the history of art in China
    Assessment Strategies
    Blog, Case Study
    Criteria
    Examine the early history of China
    Define Confucianism and Daoism and explore ways these ideas shaped the character of Chinese thought through the ages
    Consider the importance of calligraphy both historically and in contemporary Chinese art

  7. Explore the history of Western modern art and its relationship to global art traditions
    Assessment Strategies
    Blog, Exam
    Criteria
    Introduce the works of key European modern artists and the concept of Western modernism
    Examine the notion of appropriation as relative to ways European modern artists engaged with non-Western art
    Discuss the intersection of gender as relative to the appropriation of non-Western
    Draw conclusions on different critical reception of art works from around the world as understood by biases toward Western Modernism

  8. Examine artistic traditions of India and Southeast Asia
    Assessment Strategies
    Blog
    Criteria
    Introduce this history of Buddhism
    Examine works of art from the Buddhist tradition
    Discuss the idea of visual expressions of spirituality through comparison of Buddhist imagery to those of other spiritual traditions
    Examine specific visual elements in representations of the Buddha to determine how visual expression allows for understandings of religious ideas

  9. Consider cultures of the pre-Columbian world
    Assessment Strategies
    Written Product
    Criteria
    Define bias in the term, “pre-Columbian”
    Introduce key works of art from various cultures of the pre-Columbian world
    Introduce key works of architecture in Aztec cities
    Discuss the plan of Teotihuacán and consider how this plan reflects the cosmological beliefs of its leadership as well as the practical necessities of building and maintaining a large, densely, populated, and urbanized city
    Compare pre-Columbian approaches to city planning with the art and architecture of Madison
    Consider the art and architecture of downtown Madison
    Discuss ways in which urban environments reflect belief systems of a particular culture group

  10. Consider the art of Native North America
    Assessment Strategies
    Blog, Exam
    Criteria
    Examine works of art made by different Indigenous cultures and peoples of North America
    Consider the concepts of historic, traditional, and contemporary as related to visual art
    Critically evaluate various art historical sources, methods, and theoretical approaches, and ways that diverse cultural and disciplinary perspectives inform our own and others’ understanding of art
    Explore how Western perspectives have negatively shaped ideas about Indigenous cultures and peoples