ARTH 130
Critical Issues in Art: From Antiquity to Contemporary Times
Summer Term 2025 |
Instructor: Staff |
Total sessions: 32 Sessions |
Office Hours: TBA |
Session Length: 145 Minutes |
Classroom: TBA |
Credits: 3 Units |
Class Length: 8 Weeks |
Language: English |
Course Overview:
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of Western art history from antiquity to the present, incorporating contemporary critical perspectives. Students will examine how artistic expression reflects and shapes social, political, and cultural issues, integrating traditional art historical analysis with contemporary debates in visual culture.
Required Material:
Fred S. Kleiner, Gardner's Art Through the Ages: A Global History, Cengage Learning, 2019.
Additional readings will be provided by instructor.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand key artistic movements and styles from antiquity to contemporary times.
2. Analyze artworks within historical, cultural, and ideological contexts.
3. Develop critical thinking skills through visual and textual analysis.
4. Explore contemporary issues in art, including globalization, identity politics, and digital media.
Course Outline: Week 1:
Lecture 1-4: Introduction to Art and Visual Culture
Lecture 1: Understanding Art and Visual Culture
o Defining art and artistic value across time and cultures
o Theories of representation, spectatorship, and ideology
Lecture 2: Methods in Art History and Visual Analysis
o Formalism, iconography, contextual analysis
o Comparing traditional and contemporary approaches
Lecture 3: Prehistoric and Ancient Near Eastern Art
o Cave paintings and early symbolic representation
o Art’s role in early human societies
Lecture 4: The Power of Images: Politics and Religion
o Visual propaganda in early civilizations (Mesopotamia, Egypt)
o The role of myth and divinity in artistic production
Assignment 1
More specific requirements (e.g., topic, formatting requirements, deadlines, etc.) will be provided in the course.
Week 2:
Lecture 5-8: Classical Antiquity and Its Influence
Lecture 5: Greek Art and the Idealized Human Form
o The “Greek Miracle” and the evolution of naturalism
o Sculpture, architecture, and philosophy in Classical Greece
Lecture 6: The Roman Empire and Its Artistic Legacy
o Monumental architecture: The Colosseum, Pantheon, and triumphal arches
o Realism in portraiture and imperial propaganda
Lecture 7: Early Christian and Byzantine Art
o The transformation of religious imagery
o Iconoclasm and the power of visual storytelling
Lecture 8: Islamic Art and Cross-Cultural Influences
o Calligraphy, geometric abstraction, and sacred architecture
o Transmission of artistic and scientific knowledge
Week 3:
Lecture 9-12: The Medieval and Renaissance Worlds
Lecture 9: Romanesque and Gothic Art
o The rise of cathedral architecture and its symbolic meaning
o Stained glass, illuminated manuscripts, and religious narratives
Lecture 10: The Early Renaissance in Italy
o Humanism and the revival of classical antiquity
o The development of perspective and naturalism
Lecture 11: Patronage and Power in the High Renaissance
o Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael
o The role of the Medici family and the Vatican
Lecture 12: The Northern Renaissance and the Print Revolution
o Albrecht Dürer, Jan van Eyck, and detailed realism
o The impact of the printing press on art and society
Week 4:
Lecture 13-16: From Baroque to Modernism
Lecture 13: The Baroque: Emotion and Drama in Art
o Caravaggio, Rembrandt, and the use of chiaroscuro
o Religious and political propaganda
Lecture 14: Rococo and the Art of Aristocratic Leisure
o Decorative excess and intimate narratives
o Satire and critique of Rococo aesthetics
Lecture 15: Neoclassicism and Romanticism
o The return to classical order and rationality
o The rise of the sublime and the power of nature
Lecture 16: Realism and the Changing Social Landscape
o Industrialization and the depiction of everyday life
o The challenge to traditional artistic norms
Midterm Exam: multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions (Contains topics in Lecture 1-16)
Week 5:
Lecture 17-20: The Birth of Modern Art
Lecture 17: Impressionism and the Transformation of Light and Color
o Monet, Degas, and the influence of photography
o The modern city as a subject of art
Lecture 18: Post-Impressionism and Symbolism
o Van Gogh, Gauguin, and the rejection of realism
o The influence of non-Western art
Lecture 19: The Avant-Garde: Cubism and Abstraction
o Picasso, Braque, and the deconstruction of form
o Kandinsky and the emergence of pure abstraction
Lecture 20: Art and War: The Early 20th Century
o Dadaism, Surrealism, and artistic rebellion
o Art as a response to political upheaval
Week 6:
Lecture 21-24: Postmodernism and Contemporary Debates
Lecture 21: The Postmodern Turn: Irony and Appropriation
o Warhol, Pop Art, and mass media imagery
o Conceptual Art and the dematerialization of the art object
Lecture 22: Feminist and Identity Politics in Art
o The Guerilla Girls, Cindy Sherman, and the critique of gender representation
o Race, identity, and activism in contemporary art
Lecture 23: Digital Media and the Transformation of Art
o The rise of digital painting, VR, and internet-based art
o AI-generated art and ethical considerations
Lecture 24: Art and the Environment
o Land Art, sustainability, and ecological concerns in art
o The role of museums and galleries in climate awareness
Assignment 2
More specific requirements (e.g., topic, formatting requirements, deadlines, etc.) will be provided in the course.
Week 7:
Lecture 25-28: Art in the Globalized World
Lecture 25: Globalization and the Art Market
o The influence of collectors and auction houses
o The rise of new art centers beyond the West
Lecture 26: Contemporary Public Art and Activism
o Murals, graffiti, and street art as social commentary
o The role of museums and institutions in public discourse
Lecture 27: Art, AI, and the Future of Creativity
o Ethical and philosophical debates surrounding machine-generated art
o The intersection of technology and traditional artistic practice
Lecture 28: Case Studies in Contemporary Art
o Analysis of major contemporary exhibitions and biennials
o Exploring emerging artistic voices from diverse backgrounds
Week 8:
Lecture 29-32: Final Reflections and Research Presentations
Lecture 29: Researching Art: Methods and Approaches
o How to analyze and write about art effectively
o Developing an original thesis in art research
Lecture 30: Student Presentations and Peer Discussions
o Sharing research findings on selected topics
o Engaging in constructive critique and discussion
Lecture 31: Revisiting the Course Themes
o Connecting historical art movements to contemporary issues
o How art shapes and reflects global cultural dynamics
Lecture 32: Final Exam and Course Wrap-Up
o Image analysis, comparisons, and thematic discussions
o Reflecting on the future of art and artistic practices
Final Exam: multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions (Contains topics in All Lectures)
Grading Assessment:
Assignment 1 |
15% |
Assignment 2 |
15% |
Midterm |
30% |
Final exam |
30% |
Seminar Participation |
10% |
Total |
100% |
Assignments:
Students are required to write one Visual Analysis and one Gallery Essay during the semester, each ranging between 1500-2000 words. The essays should demonstrate analytical thinking, clear organization, and proper use of evidence to support arguments. Grading will assess the
clarity of writing, logic, grammar, and syntax, alongside the depth of analysis and proper citation of references. Specific requirements regarding topics and deadlines will be provided during the course. Essays will be submitted electronically, and students will receive feedback on the first essay to guide improvement for the second.
Attendance:
Students are required to attend a weekly seminar led by TA to focus on the week's topic and deepen understanding. Seminar time assigned by TA. Seminar attendance counts toward the final grade.
Exams:
The examinations in this course consist of multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions. The final exam is cumulative.
Final Evaluation:
Letter Grade |
Percentage (%) |
Letter Grade |
Percentage |
A+ |
≥95 |
C+ |
64-67 |
A |
89-94 |
C |
60-64 |
A- |
84-88 |
C- |
56-59 |
B+ |
79-83 |
D+ |
54-56 |
B |
73-78 |
D |
50-53 |
B- |
68-72 |
F |
≤50 |
General Policies:
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is the cornerstone of academia and requires students and researchers to
maintain honesty, fairness, trust and responsibility in all academic activities. It includes not only avoiding dishonest behaviors such as plagiarism, cheating, and falsifying data, but also requires taking responsibility for one's own academic actions and ensuring that all work is done
independently and accurately cites the research of others. Violations of academic integrity can result in severe academic penalties, such as zero grades, suspension or even expulsion, and can cause serious damage to an individual's reputation and future career. Upholding academic
integrity is therefore essential to promoting a fair academic environment and facilitating the authentic dissemination of knowledge.
Accessible Resources Policy
The policy ensures that all students, especially those with disabilities, are able to participate equally in school learning and activities. The school provides a wide range of accessibility resources including, but not limited to, specialized classrooms, hearing aids, Braille textbooks, assistive technology, and flexible testing arrangements. Students are required to apply to the school in advance and provide appropriate medical or psychological evaluations so that an
individualized support plan can be developed for them. This policy is designed to remove barriers in the academic environment and to ensure that every student has access to equitable learning opportunities.
Withdrawal Policy
Students may choose to withdraw from a course within a specified period of time, and may not be able to do so after the expiration date. When withdrawing from a course, students are required to fill out a withdrawal form with a reason, which will be reviewed and processed on a case-by- case basis. Withdrawal from a course may not affect the student's academic performance. If a student withdraws from a course with incomplete requirements, a “W” may be assigned instead of a grade, depending on the course.
