ART-125 A Global Introduction to Art

This is an introductory, General Education course designed for the non-art major. This course provides a framework and language for describing, interpreting, and appreciating art. It explores fundamental questions associated with art across diverse cultures (western and non-western) and throughout history. For example, students consider how to define art, various cultural and personal motivations for producing art, the art making process, and the ways in which art reflects its cultural and historical moment. Content is presented through lectures, discussion, hands-on exercises, and student group work and presentations. This course carries SUNY General Education The Arts credit.

Credits

3

Lecture Contact Hours

3

Lab Contact Hours

0

Other Contact Hours

0

Department

  • Visual and Performing Arts

Grading Scheme

  • Letter

SUNY Gen Ed Credit

  • Yes

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify the ways in which the style and content of art is an expression of its cultural context.
  2. Use art vocabulary to analyze the ways in which formal elements convey meaning.
  3. Recognize and understand various media and techniques used to make art.
  4. Identify cultural vs. universal themes in the art of diverse peoples and eras.
View Course Outline

ART 125: A Global Introduction to Art

Department

Visual and Performing Arts

Course Description

This is an introductory, General Education course designed for the non-art major. This course provides a framework and language for describing, interpreting, and appreciating art. It explores fundamental questions associated with art across diverse cultures (western and non-western) and throughout history. For example, students consider how to define art, various cultural and personal motivations for producing art, the art making process, and the ways in which art reflects its cultural and historical moment. Content is presented through lectures, discussion, hands-on exercises, and student group work and presentations. This course carries SUNY General Education The Arts credit.

Credit Hours

3

Contact Hours

Lecture3
Lab0
Other0

Grading Scheme

Letter

SUNY General Education Course

  • The Arts

Course Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify the ways in which the style and content of art is an expression of its cultural context.
  2. Use art vocabulary to analyze the ways in which formal elements convey meaning.
  3. Recognize and understand various media and techniques used to make art.
  4. Identify cultural vs. universal themes in the art of diverse peoples and eras.

Topic Outline

  1. Introduction to Art 
    1. What is art?
    2. Deriving Meaning: Form, Content, Context
    3. The Elements of Art
    4. The Formal Analysis
    5. Materials and Techniques 
  2. Why We Make Art 
    1. Religion, Politics, Power, Social Issues
    2. Patronage, Artist, and Audience 
  3. Key Historical Styles 
    1. Classical
    2. Medieval
    3. Renaissance
    4. Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassical
    5. The 19th century, Modernism
    6. Postmodernism
  4. Contemporary Issues: censorship, looting, ownership and repatriation, controversial art