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Academic Year 2003/2004


Van Gogh and the Myth of Genius
ARHA 140 SP

This seminar will investigate in-depth the career of this immensely popular and influential artist. Van Gogh has been the subject of much myth-making-- both in his time and today-in which he appears as the quintessential mad genius whose passionate and tormented emotions become the stuff of art. We will both investigate the formation of this myth and view it critically, balancing it against the artist's own account of his career in his paintings and prodigious correspondence. Van Gogh's extensive, insightful, and fascinating writing begs the question of how one should treat an artist's statements when interpreting his works. We will also examine the role of biography in art. Finally, rather than viewing the artist as an isolated creator, we will situate his work within the artistic landscape of late nineteenth-century Europe, and especially France, where he spent his most productive years as an artist, 1886-1890.

MAJOR READINGS

Judy Sund, VAN GOGH
Van Gogh,Letters
A course Reader

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Weekly class presentations and bi-weekly short papers.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Instructor uses the enrollment request system and does not respond to emails prior to the beginning of class. All interested students should attend the first day of class.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

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

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Kuenzli,Katherine M.   
Times: .....F. 01:10PM-04:00PM;     Location: DAC300
Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: 15)
SR. major: X   Jr. major: X
SR. non-major: X   Jr. non-major: X   SO: X   FR: 15

Special Attributes:
Curricular Renewal:    Reading Non-Verbal Texts, Writing
FYI:    First Year Initiative:Seminar
Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-19-2004


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