ARTH 150

Introduction to Art History

Summer Term 2025
Instructor: Staff	Total sessions: 30 Sessions
Office Hours: TBA	Session Length: 145 Minutes
Classroom: TBA	Credits: 3 Units
Class Length: 8 Weeks	Language: English

Course Overview:

This course introduces students to the study of art, architecture, and material culture from a global perspective. By examining key artistic traditions across different historical periods and cultural contexts, students will gain an understanding of how visual expression reflects and shapes societies. The course is structured around both chronological developments and thematic connections, providing students with a broad yet critical view of global artistic production.

Throughout the term, students will analyze how artistic styles, materials, and techniques

developed in response to cultural, religious, and political influences. By engaging with primary visual sources and scholarly interpretations, students will develop skills in visual literacy, formal analysis, and art historical research.

Required Material:

Marilyn Stokstad and Michael W. Cothren, Art History (6th Edition), Pearson, 2017.

Learning Objectives:

1. Develop visual literacy and skills in formal and contextual analysis.

2. Identify key works, movements, and developments in global art history.

3. Understand how art and architecture interact with historical, social, and cultural contexts.

4. Analyze themes of artistic exchange, colonialism, and cultural appropriation.

5. Construct well-supported arguments using art historical research methods.

Course Outline: Week 1:

Lecture 1-4: Foundations of Art History

Lecture 1: Introduction to Art History

o Understanding visual analysis and formal interpretation

o Overview of art historical methodologies

Lecture 2: Art and Early Human Societies

o Prehistoric cave paintings and early material culture

o Symbolism and function in early art

Lecture 3: Ancient Civilizations: Mesopotamia and Egypt

o Monumental architecture and sculpture

o Power, religion, and artistic production

Lecture 4: The Birth of Writing and Art’s Role

o Hieroglyphics, cuneiform, and visual storytelling

o The relationship between text and image in early societies

Week 2:

Lecture 5-8: Classical Traditions and Artistic Innovation

Lecture 5: Art of Ancient Greece

o Humanism and the idealized form

o The Parthenon and classical architectural orders.

Lecture 6: The Roman Empire and Art

o Public monuments, portraiture, and political propaganda

o The role of art in everyday Roman life

Lecture 7: Buddhist and Hindu Art in South Asia

o The evolution of Buddhist sculpture and temple architecture

o Depictions of Hindu deities and their narratives

Lecture 8: Early Chinese and Korean Art

o Calligraphy, ceramics, and Confucian aesthetics

o The role of art in governance and philosophy

Assignment 1

More specific requirements (e.g., topic, formatting requirements, deadlines, etc.) will be provided in the course.

Week 3:

Lecture 9-12: The Medieval World and Religious Art

Lecture 9: Early Christian and Byzantine Art

o The transition from Roman to Christian art

o Iconoclasm and the role of religious imagery

Lecture 10: Islamic Art and Architecture

o The mosque as an architectural form

o Calligraphy, geometric patterns, and cultural identity

Lecture 11: Medieval Art in Europe

o Gothic cathedrals and stained-glass windows

o Illuminated manuscripts and religious storytelling

Lecture 12: Buddhist, Shinto, and Zen Art in Japan

o Temple architecture and the Zen aesthetic

o Influence of Chinese and Korean art traditions

Week 4:

Lecture 13-16: The Renaissance and Global Connections

Lecture 13: The Italian Renaissance

o Humanism and the revival of classical ideals

o The rise of perspective and naturalism

Lecture 14: The Northern Renaissance and Print Culture

o Differences in artistic priorities between North and South

o The impact of the printing press on artistic production

Lecture 15: Indigenous Art of the Americas

o Maya, Aztec, and Inca art and their societal roles

o Codices and pre-Columbian visual storytelling

Lecture 16: African Art: Spirituality and Power

o Sculpture, textiles, and masks in African societies

o The role of art in ritual and political authority.

Midterm Exam: multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions

(Contains topics in Lecture 1-16)

Week 5:

Lecture 17-20: Baroque, Rococo, and the Age of Empire

Lecture 17: The Baroque and Dramatic Expression

o Theatricality, movement, and emotion in European Baroque

o The role of patronage and power

Lecture 18: Art and Colonialism

o The impact of European expansion on indigenous art

o Art as a tool of cultural exchange and resistance

Lecture 19: Rococo and the Enlightenment

o Elegance, decoration, and aristocratic taste

o The philosophical shift toward reason and critique

Lecture 20: Chinese and Mughal Court Art

o The fusion of Persian, Indian, and European styles in Mughal painting

o Qing Dynasty scroll paintings and court commissions

Week 6:

Lecture 21-24: 19th-Century Art and Modernism

Lecture 21: Romanticism and Nationalism

o Emotion, nature, and the sublime in European art

o The role of art in shaping national identity

Lecture 22: Realism and Photography

o The rise of documentary and social critique in art

o How photography reshaped artistic representation

Lecture 23: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism

o Capturing light and modern life

o The shift toward abstraction

Lecture 24: Art in Meiji Japan and the Woodblock Print Revival

o The influence of Western art on Japanese aesthetics

o The global circulation of ukiyo-e prints

Assignment 2

More specific requirements (e.g., topic, formatting requirements, deadlines, etc.) will be provided in the course.

Week 7:

Lecture 25-28: 20th-Century Avant-Gardes and Contemporary Art

Lecture 25: Cubism, Futurism, and the Birth of Modernism

o Breaking traditional perspective and form

o The role of industrialization and technology

Lecture 26: Surrealism and the Unconscious

o Dream imagery and automatic drawing

o Political engagement in avant-garde movements

Lecture 27: Postmodernism and Global Contemporary Art

o Identity, performance, and conceptual art

o The critique of traditional narratives

Lecture 28: Indigenous and Decolonial Art

o Reclaiming cultural heritage through contemporary media

o Art as activism and social commentary

Week 8:

Lecture 29-30: Critical Perspectives and Course Wrap-Up

Lecture 29: Art and the Digital Age

o The impact of AI, digital media, and NFTs

o How museums and galleries are evolving

Lecture 30: Course Review and Final Reflections

o Major themes revisited

o Preparing for the final assessment

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 two visual analysis 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, short answer and long answer

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.