Art & Art History
Department

ARTH 250: Topics in Art History: Introduction to Latin American Art and Architecture                      back to courses index

Ruth Anne Phillips

This class is a selective introduction to the art and architecture of the Americas from the earliest civilizations to the present. The course surveys a diverse range of visual culture from ancient Mesoamerica and the Andes through the Colonial, post-Independence, Modern and Contemporary periods. The course provides a basic understanding of the history of artistic production and intercultural interaction through the study of representative works of art and architecture from each period and region. Analysis takes an interdisciplinary approach to examine the continuities and changes in the form, function, and symbolism of Latin American art and architecture over time. Particular focus is on the role of visual media in the construction and maintenance of political power, religious belief and practice, concepts of space and place, national identity, socioeconomic organization and self-representation in Latin America. No pre-requisite. This course satisfies the core curriculum requirement in Arts.

ARTH 250: Introduction to World Architecture
Cristin Cash

An introduction to the architectural traditions of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The course provides a basic understanding of the visual language of architecture through the study of representative structures from each region. The primary focus is on developing an understanding of architecture in its historic, geographic and cultural context. Through the comparative study of architecture across time and space, the course also explores the dynamic relationship between architectural form and function and how architectural style communicates diverse conceptions and experiences of place. Slide presentations, lectures and discussion. This course satisfies the general education requirement in arts.