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Covering selected works and artists from prehistory to the nineteenth century, this course will introduce you to the social and cultural practices that defined traditions of art and the methods used by art historians to interpret art objects. Particular attention is paid to gender and representation, the meanings of materials and techniques, patronage and the art market, and the global dimensions of European artistic production.

Why is art important? Can art be evaluated objectively? What counts as art? Philosophy of Art offers an analysis and philosophical evaluation of problems in art appreciation, art criticism, and theories of art. Special emphasis is placed on understanding art in the context of concurrent artistic endeavor or experience.

Explore a variety of approaches to study modern and contemporary art movements and practices. You’ll examine art pieces created from the mid-19th century to the present. You will consider the artistic and theoretical basis for the development of abstract art, highlight the work of women artists and artists of color, as well as recent shifts in art-making practices and the inner workings of the art world.