This course surveys the history of western art from ancient Greece and Rome to the 21st century. Focusing primarily on painting and sculpture, it explains how art communicates ideas and values that have shaped western civilization and how art has developed in relation to changes in historical context, including politics, religion, science, economics, and society. Students will learn about major artistic movements, common techniques of western art, and methods for interpreting visual culture both visually and historically. No previous knowledge of art history is assumed.

This course introduces visual and critical skills for interpreting the art of different cultures from both the past and the present. We examine a variety of themes related to the techniques and functions of art, and we study the way art expresses various moral, social, political, and religious ideas. Students will gain a better understanding of cross-cultural communication and will learn how to analyze the complex visual culture of the contemporary world.

This survey course introduces major themes in art from early formations of Asian civilizations to the twenty-first century. Students investigate the various forms of art production in China, Japan, India and Southeast Asia with an emphasis on the means by which art creates meaning in diverse Asian cultures. Themes include issues such as patronage, personal style, artistic autonomy, art institutions and collecting practices.