ART 354 AX - Contemporary Art

4 Credit(s)

This course examines trends in art of the last decades of the 20th and the early years of the 21st, with a focus on art of the United States. Emphasizing the cultural diversity of this country, we will explore historical, critical, and theoretical issues that inform the work of contemporary US artists. So that students can experience multiple ways of engaging with contemporary art, we will read about and discuss issues in contemporary art, contemporary theory and criticism, and current art world events; visit museums and galleries; and meet with working artists. Particular course-related activities may be determined based on interests of students in the class. Along with reading scholarly texts about contemporary art, contemporary critical theory, and various writings by contemporary artists, throughout the semester students in this writing-enriched course will be expected to write informal responses to issues raised in this course, reflections on course readings and works of art considered in class, and a substantive formal research paper. Class discussion will include peer review of written work and will emphasize the development of thoughtful and critical approaches to the study of art of recent decades so that the knowledge gained here can be applied to consideration of art and artists not studied in this course.

Prerequisite(s): ENG 110 or W cornerstone.