Mar 29, 2024  
2017-2018 University Bulletin 
    
2017-2018 University Bulletin [ARCHIVED BULLETIN]

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ARTH 195 - Introduction to Contemporary Art

3 hours


Looking at art made primarily during your lifetime, we will this course investigates what contemporary art is, especially artwork that reflects contemporary culture. In this seminar style course, students will talking about some of the most discuss well-known artists, such as Takashi Murakami who animated a Kanye West video and designs handbags for Liouse Vuitton, Jeff Koons who makes giant balloon puppies out of aluminum, and Damien Hirst whon  encrusted a human skull with diamonds making it the most expensive art work ever made. Much contemporary art is controversial: Eduardo Kac crossed the genes of a jellyfish with a rabbit to create a bunny that glows under black light, Chris Ofili affixed elephant dung to a painting of the Virgin Mary, and Tracy Emin used her own unmade bed as her artwork. Still other artists make art that addresses contemporary issues: Vik Muniz photographs people who must forage garbage dumps in order to survive, Betsy Damon makes art that purifies water, and Ai Wei Wei protests the corruption of the Chinese Government by making a work based on the death of children who were killed in an earthquake because of shoddy construction of their schools. Assignments include an art review, short papers, and discussions. This class also features on-campus events such as an art opening, an art class critique, and artist lecture. There are also additional opportunities to attend an art fair, a field trip to the Museum of Contemporary Art, and art events in the city. No art or art history background is needed for this course-it is designed for anyone who wants to learn how to look at the images around them and understand their impact on society and themselves.

May not be taken concurrently with ARTH 419 - Contemporary Art Capstone .

Prerequisite(s): Junior and senior art or art history majors must have permission of instructor to enroll.

This course will satisfy the fine arts core area requirement.



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