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Academic Year 2000/2001

Introduction to the Practice of Art History
ARHA 101 FA

This course emphasizes the practice of the discipline of art history by means of five thematic units, each focusing on art historical method and theory by reference to specific case studies. The cases are drawn from the history of world art and are not limited to Western art. Each of the three sections has a different cultural focus, corresponding to the primary expertise of the professor. The three sections meet jointly to introduce and summarize each unit. Major readings for the course may include (in addition to section readings): Michael Baxandall, "Introduction: Language and Explanation" in PATTERNS OF INTENTION: ON THE HISTORICAL EXPLANATIONS OF PICTURES; Erwin Panofsky, "Introductory," in STUDIES INCONOLOGY and "Jan Van Eyck's 'Arnfolfini' Portrait," in MODERN PERSPECTIVES IN WESTERN ART HISTORY; Henrich Wolfflin, "The Most General Representational Forms," in PRINCIPLES OF ART HISTORY; W. Eugene Kleinbauer, "Determinants of Art Historical Investigation," in MODERN PERSPECTIVES IN WESTERN AR T HISTORY; George Kubler, THE SHAPE OF TIME: REMARKS ON THE HISTORY OF THINGS.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA ART    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Within the context described in the course description, this section will focus on the art and architecture of Carolingian Europe. Founded in the German Rhineland during the eighth century CE, the Carolingian empire reunited most of western Europe for the first time since the end of effective Roman rule. During the one hundred fifty years of their dominion over most of western Europe, Carolingian kings and their subordinates, both lay and ecclesiastical, emerged as prolific patrons of painting, sculpture and the arts of the book --which will provide the focus and case studies for the first three thematic units-- as well as of such monuments of architecture and urbanism as the palace complex at Aachen and monasteries such as Saint-Gall and Corvey --the primary focus of the last two units.

Major Readings

Additional readings for Section 01 will be announced.

Examinations and Assignments

Six short written assignments, midterm and final exams.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

Instructor(s): Maines,R Clark   

Times: .M.W.F. 10:00AM-10:50AM;     Location: DAC100

Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: 19)

SR. major: X   Jr. major: X

SR. non-major: X   Jr. non-major: X   SO: 9   FR: 10

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal:    Reading Non-Verbal Texts, Speaking

SECTION 02

West Africa is home to a multitude of highly diverse cultures, ranging from large states and empires to small-scale societies of a few thousand people. Religious traditions-- Islam, Christianity, local practices-- are equally varied. Material culture reflects this great diversity. Therefore, it is virtually impossible to impose a master narrative, or even to follow a unitary chronological structure, in studying the arts of West Africa. This section will focus on two contrasting culture areas : the "sahel" region of Mali, home, since the 11th century, to long distance trade, Islamic culture (and literacy) and centralized states; and the cultures of the Upper Guinea Coast, whose historical narrative may be followed from about 1500. These coast al peoples have generally constituted decentralized, small-scale societies where cultural forms have been as fluid as are the identities of the various groups.

Major Readings

Additional readings for Section 02:
Robert F. Thompson, AFRICAN ART IN MOTION
Sidney Kasfir, "One tribe--one style?" HISTORY IN AFRICA
Victor Turner, THE FOREST OF SYMBOLS
Clifford Geertz, "Art as a Cultural System"
Peter Mark, THE WILD BULL AND THE SACRED FOREST
J.L. Bourgeois, SPECTACULAR VERNACULAR
L. Prussin, HATUMERE, ISLAMIC DESIGN IN WEST AFRICA
Levitzion and Conrad, ANCIENT GHANA AND MALI
Dominique Malaquais, on Bamileke architecture
Sidney Kasfir in AFRICAN ARTS, 1988

Examinations and Assignments

Six short written assignments, midterm and final exams. Professor Mark's section will include a mandatory field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (approximate date: 9/30/00). Students will be responsible for reserving space on the Arts Bus at an approximate cost of $30 each.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

Instructor(s): Mark,Peter A.   

Times: .M.W.F. 10:00AM-10:50AM;     Location: ZLKA106

Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: 19)

SR. major: X   Jr. major: X

SR. non-major: X   Jr. non-major: X   SO: 9   FR: 10

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal:    Reading Non-Verbal Texts, Speaking

SECTION 03

Within the context described in the course description, this section will focus on the art and architecture of Mughal India. Founded in northern India in the early 1500's, the Mughal empire was one of the largest centralized states in the history of the pre-modern world. During the two centuries of their effective imperial rule over much of the Indian subcontinent, the Mughal emperors and their subordinates were prolific patrons of painting and the arts of the book--which will provide the focus and case studies for the first three thematic units--as well as of such monuments of architecture and urbanism as the Taj Mahal and the capital cities of Fatehpur Sikri and Shahjahanabad--the primary focus of the last two units.

Major Readings

Additional readings for Section 03:
Ebba Kich, MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE
Milo Beach, THE IMPERIAL IMAGE
Richard Ettinghausen, THE EMPEROR'S CHOICE
Robert Skelton, IMPERIAL SYMBOLISM IN MUGHAL PAINTING
Pramod Changra and Daniel J. Ehnbom, THE CLEVELAND TUTI-NAMA MANUSCRIPT AND THE ORIGINS OF MUGHAL PAINTING
Janice Leoshko, MAUSOLEUM FOR AN EMPRESS

Examinations and Assignments

Six short written assignments, midterm and final exams.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

Instructor(s): Wagoner,Phillip B.   

Times: .M.W.F. 10:00AM-10:50AM;     Location: DAC300

Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: 19)

SR. major: X   Jr. major: X

SR. non-major: X   Jr. non-major: X   SO: 9   FR: 10

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal:    Reading Non-Verbal Texts, Speaking

Last Updated on MAR-26-2001

Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459