VMC 103 - Introduction to Global Visual Culture (4 Cr.)

(GCR Humanities and Interdisciplinary Studies area)

This course surveys the history of painting, sculpture, and architecture from prehistory to the present day, with an emphasis on global exchange. We will explore the making and meaning of images produced at different moments and in diverse settings and circumstances. We will consider throughout ways in which art makes meaning, the ebb and flow of stylistic trends, the use of allegorical or symbolic imagery, the persistence of major motifs and their appearance in various contexts, visual types, or “genres,” and the role of the artist and of the viewer in rendering meaning. Through reading, class discussion, and written work, you will develop your critical eye, your ability to articulate your observations using art historical terminology, and a working knowledge of major works of art across time and world cultures from the first civilizations until the mid-17^th century. Spring semester. Oettinger.