Introduction to the Arts

Instructor: Jane McKinne-Mayer
OAK / VISST–104 / 15 sessions
Prerequisite: none
July 8–August 12 (no class 7/19), Mon./Wed./Fri., 9-10:30 a.m. / 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

This is a survey of significant moments in the history of artistic and architectural production since early antiquity. This class examines works of fine and vernacular art from diverse world cultures- the West, Islam, East Asia, the Americas, and Africa. Students learn to recognize and articulate formal and spatial properties of artworks and relate those to the cultural and historical contexts of the artists who created the works. Intended for first semester freshman students.

This course satisfies the Introduction to the Arts requirement.

Introduction to the Modern Arts

Instructor: [Lynn Robinson](/academics/faculty/lrobinson
OAK / VISST–108 / 15 sessions
Prerequisite: Intro to the Arts: Writing 1
July 8–August 12 (no class 7/19), Mon./Wed./Fri., 1–4 p.m.

This course is a survey of the arts from the early 19th century to the present time. The class examines profound transformations within modern culture: mechanized industry and transportation, mass urbanization, individual expression, political pluralism, cultural extremism, the avant garde; and their impact upon the traditional arts of painting, sculpture and architecture. Also explored are the new mechanical arts of photography, film, and video. Intended for second semester freshman students.

This course satisfies the Introduction to Modern Arts requirement.

Macrotrends in Design & Visual Culture

Instructor: Mara Holt Skov
OAK / VISST–300 / 15 sessions
Prerequisite: Intro to the Modern Arts
May 21-30 (no class 5/27), Tues./Wed./Thurs., 2–5 p.m.
June 3-13, Mon.-Thurs., 1-4 p.m.

Macrotrends in Design & Visual Culture is a survey of the global and local trends that have been bubbling up in recent years across the design disciplines—architecture, graphics, furniture, fashion, industrial and interaction design. Though the content is design-centric, the class also discusses fine arts, crafts, music, film, writing and performing arts. In the process, students discover that macrotrends are the physical expressions of the historical, technological and psychological concerns of our time.

Subjects include -- Less is More (again), Text as Ornament, Appropriation/Sampling/Stealing, Biology as Master Metaphor, Techno/Craft, Contemporary Futurism, Mathematics/Geometry/Parametrics, Neo-Baroque and others. Macrotrends are explored through a series of illustrated lectures, discussions of theoretical and popular readings, written assignments, student-led presentations, and object lessons in which students have the opportunity to closely observe and handle objects that embody the macrotrends discussed in class.

The class will arrange a field trip outside of class time.

This course satisfies a 300-level Visual Studies requirement or H&S elective.

Contemporary Art History: 1945-Present

Instructor: Michael Leonard
SF / VISST–200 / 15 sessions
Prerequisite: Intro to the Modern Arts
June 3–July 8 (no class 7/4), Mon./Tues./Thurs., 6:30–9:30 p.m.

The end of World War II in 1945 marked the beginning of the postmodern era and radical new changes in the way we think about and make art in the contemporary world. Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism, Feminist and Multicultural Art, Performance Art, and Postmodern Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture are just some of the topics that are covered in this course. Through art-critical readings, class discussions, lectures, films, and writing exercises, students become familiar with significant issues related to contemporary art making including the social, economic, scientific, political, and intellectual forces that helped shape the character of the art produced in the United States and elsewhere from the mid-20th Century to the present. Students also gain knowledge of the operations and function of contemporary museums and art galleries.

This course satisfies a 200-level Visual Studies requirement or an H&S elective.

The following summer study abroad courses also satisfy a Visual Studies requirement:

• Berlin Past & Present with Karen Fiss
• Italy: Art and Contemporary Culture