History of Modern Art | Master Course Outlines | Academics

VAFA193 History of Modern Art

3 credits

2250

Writing Placement Test score of 6 or COMP107 (C or better)

None

Museum trip is mandatory.

This course meets the General Education requirement for Arts/Humanities.

This survey course covers painting, sculpture, and/or architecture from the late-nineteenth century up to the present. Students gain a formal understanding of major twentieth-century stylistic movements. They interpret selected examples of Modern art using a variety of analytic methodologies, including cultural, religious, social, political, and/or economic context.

Course Learning Goals

Students will:
1. recognize the major art historical periods, styles, and innovative media of Modern art;
2. describe the forms of Modern art using appropriate art historical vocabulary (i.e., perform a formal analysis);
3. identify and explain the subject matter of a work of art;
4. interpret the possible meaning of a work of art within an appropriate and arguable context (e.g., historical, religious, political, economic, social, racial, gender roles, etc.) [Arts/Humanities]; and
5. apply research skills using library resources and/or scholarly Internet sites;
Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities
Students study in class and through museum visits introductory level painting, sculpture and/or architecture associated with such movements as Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Art Nouveau, Cubism, Fauvism, Futurism, Expressionism, Constructivism, de Stijl, the Bauhaus, Dada, Surrealism, Assemblage and Environments, Social Realism, Regionalism, Junk Sculpture, Happenings, Pop Art, “Op” Art, and Color-Field Painting. They learn basic terminology used in the study of visual art forms and apply this vocabulary to Modern art. Students examine art as a reflection of its cultural origin and explore how art can be interpreted in the context of history, religion, politics, economics, social hierarchies, race relations, gender roles, etc. As appropriate, they examine how the art produced during the twentieth century has affected and/or reflected aspects of American culture.
Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals
1. required exams that include essay questions
2. required museum paper with proper use and citation of research materials
3. optional quizzes
4. optional writing assignments
Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student:
Slides, video, digital technology, and supplementary readings are selected by instructor. Departmentally-selected textbook. See course syllabus.