Study Guide

Objective

Learning Objectives of the Study Period (Course)
The student:
- is familiar with and can define the tradition of art history with a focus on older art history.
- has a basic knowledge of expression, form, and content regarding the different epochs of art history.
- has the ability to interpret and identify the overarching Western art historical material from prehistoric art to 19th-century art.

Content

Through the course you will gain knowledge about the major movements in Western art history and the background of various ideas and styles. You will familiarize yourself with the artists and expressions of different epochs and understand how the ideas of past eras still influence the visual culture of our time. Classical art history is combined with contemporary visual cultural studies, and we include everything from artworks to mass images, architecture, and design. What makes certain visual works stronger than others, and what do the works say about the time they were created in? You will practice seeing and understanding, deciphering codes, and developing critical thinking as well as the ability to express yourself in reflective writing. In filmed interviews, you will meet people working in the cultural and art fields who discuss the importance of knowing cultural history to understand one’s own identity and other cultures.

Qualifications

No prior knowledge required