This course is designed to guide students interested in art history—that is, the history of image worlds, objects, material practices, and their shifting and contingent meanings—through the acquisition of the methodological tools and knowledge needed for further study of art and visual culture. Although led by a single instructor, the class will also engage the expertise of a range of History of Art faculty with diverse specializations for the purpose of exploring methodological questions from the ancient to contemporary worlds, and from the Americas to Asia. Emphasis will be placed on gaining familiarity with major theoretical frameworks (for instance material culture and materialisms, postcolonialism, feminism, heritage and restitution) and key concepts and their comparative application (for instance “artist,” narrative, mimesis, institutional critique) as well as foundational skills for future coursework (framing a research question, compiling a bibliography, and so on). Discussion sections provide the setting for further practice in visual analysis and description, strategies for object research, and more.

This course fulfills the Theories and Methods requirement for History of Art. It may also be taken to fulfill an upper division HA lecture if HA 100 has been completed; non-majors welcome as well.