ART HISTORY COURSES / COMPREHENSIVE
LIST
* Meets
Fine Arts Core Graduation Requirement
# Meets Cultural Diversity Graduation Requirement
*100 Survey of Western
Art - Staff
History of art from prehistory to the present examined in relation
to the cultural background in which it was shaped.
*#102 Survey
of Asian Art - Mr. Thomas
Introduction to major monuments of Indian, Chinese, and Japanese
architecture, sculpture, and painting.
*124 American
Art - Mr. Smith
American art from the early colonial period to the present. Emphasis
on Copley, West, Cole, Eakins, Homer, Bellows, Wood, Hopper, and
Pollock.
*200 Greek Art and Architecture (Cross-listed as Classics 341) -
Mr. Toumazou
Minoan-Mycenaean art and architecture of the Agean Bronze Age; later
Greek art and architecture from the Geometric to the Hellenistic
Periods.
*202 Roman
Art and Architecture (Cross-listed as Classics 342) -
Mr. Toumazou
Art and architecture of the Roman Republic and Empire, including
influences of earlier Etruscan and Hellenistic Greek art upon the
Romans.
*206 From
Catacombs to Cathedrals - Ms. Serebrennikov
A survey of Christian art in the Middle Ages, including art and
architecture from the Early Christian tombs in Rome to the earliest
illustrated Bibles, Byzantine mosaics, and the Gothic cathedrals
in France.
*208 Renaissance
Art in North Europe - Ms. Serebrennikov
Painting, sculpture, and the graphic arts from Northern Europe,
primarily the Low Countries and Germany, from 1400 to 1550. Major
artists, development of oil painting, evolution of devotional imagery,
emergence of secular art, effect of widely dispersed graphic images
on the culture of this period, and outcome of the Protestant Reformation
on the art of this region.
*210 Renaissance Art in Italy - Ms. Serebrennikov
Painting, sculpture, and architecture in Italy from 1300 to approximately
1570. Works by artists such as Giotto, Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci,
and Michelangelo; and the writers who were their contemporaries:
Alberti and Vasari.
*212 Seventeenth-Century
Art and Architecture - Ms. Serebrennikov
Painting, sculpture, architecture in Counter-Reformation Italy and
the Golden Age of Protestant Holland. Artists including Caravaggio,
Rubens, and Rembrandt, as well as issues such as how the differing
demands of a Catholic culture and a Protestant economy affected
the art of the period.
*214 Eighteenth-Century
Art - Mr. Smith
Eroticism and revolution in painting and sculpture from Tiepolo
to David.
*216 19th-Century
Painting - Mr. Ligo
Developments in the history of painting from 1790 to 1890. Emergence
of Neo-Classicism and the variety of responses to the movement,
which came to be called Impressionism. Emphasis on French painting
and parallel developments in America, England, Germany, and Spain.
*218 Modern
Painting and Sculpture - Mr. Ligo
Developments in painting and sculpture that occurred from 1890 to
1945. Reaction against Impressionism and the demise of Surrealism.
Developments in western Europe during this period and parallel developments
in Russia and the United States. Participation in a study tour of
appropriate Modern art museums in Washington, DC, and New York over
fall or spring break is an integral part of the course and, as such,
is strongly recommended.
*220 Modern
Architecture - Mr. Ligo
Developments in architecture that occurred between 1850 and the
present. Impact of the Industrial Revolution on the growth of architectural
form. Recent architectural progress emphasizing the works of Le
Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright. Participants solve an assigned
design problem and present their work to the class for critique.
*222 Painted
Women to Women Painting - Ms. Serebrennikov
As a survey of gender in art, the first half of the course examines
how women have been represented in Western art and what that implies
about the balance of power between the genders over the centuries.
The second half deals with the gradual growth of art made by women,
the issues addressed by that art, and its reception in American
culture of the past century.
*#226 Indian
Art - Mr. Thomas
Art inspired by the Hindu, Buddist, Jain, and Islamic traditions
as seen in the architecture, sculpture, and painting of the sub-continent.
*#228 Islamic
Art - Mr. Thomas
Architectural and painting traditions under the Umayyad and Abbasid
Caliphs and in Moorish Spain, Ottoman Turkey, Safavid Persia, and
Mughal India.
*230 Earth Art-From
Lascaux to Lutyens - Mr. Ligo
The world history of garden design as a manifestation of humanity's
ever-changing relationship with the natural world. Important gardens
and their creators will be studied in light of the theology, politics,
architecture, painting, theatre and stage design, poetry and philosophy
that shaped them.
*304 The Gothic
Cathedral - Mr. Ligo
Developments in architecture in western Europe from 1000 to 1500.
Emergence of the Romanesque to the demise of the Gothic. Political,
socio-economic, and theological contexts from which these architectural
styles emerged. Growth in sculpture and stained glass during this
period.
*310 Modern and Contemporary Art Criticism - Mr. Smith
Art criticism from the Modern and Contemporary periods, beginning
with early Modern criticism and concluding with Post-Structuralism
and beyond. Includes writings of Denis Diderot, Charles Baudelaire,
Clement Greenberg, Theodor Adorno, Michael Foucault, Jean Baudrillard,
Lucy Lippard, Hilton Kramer, and Donal Kuspit.
*318 Contemporary
Art - Mr. Smith
Major developments in 20th-century painting and sculpture from the
beginnings of Abstract Expressionism (c. 1945) to the present.
320-370 Seminars
Courses numbered with even numbers from 320 through 370 are art
history seminars limited to 10 to 15 upperclass students with preference
given to art majors. These seminars are offered on an irregular
basis in areas of special interest to the faculty.
322 Seminar:
Classical Greek Sculpture (Cross-listed as Classics 444) - Mr. Toumazou
Greek sculpture from 480 to 323 BCE. Emphasis on techniques of stone
carving and bronze casting, the great masters, Greek originals vs.
Roman copies, sculptural programs, symbolism and political propaganda
through art. Prerequisite: Classics 341/Art 200 or permission of
the instructor.
328 Classics
Abroad: Greek and Roman Architecture (Cross-listed as Classics 357)
Classics - Staff
Survey of major and minor forms of classical art and architecture.
Includes the arts of Byzantium and examples of Medieval and Renaissance
art and architecture derived from the classical tradition.
#332 Seminar
on Indian Art History - Mr. Thomas
Begins with the art nurtured by the Tamil dynasties, continues with
the art of the Buddhist cave temples, and concludes with an in-depth
study of Mughal art. This specially designed weekly seminar is offered
as part of the Semester-in-India Program.
372/374/376
Seminar in Art History in France - Mr. Ligo
An occasional program open to sophomores, juniors and, in exceptional
cases, seniors regardless of major. Three of the courses are in
art history; the fourth is an independent study or French language
course arranged by the student and under the direction of a Davidson
College professor (not necessarily in the art department). The first
part of the seminar is spent in Davidson in an orientation course
and in researching and writing papers for presentation by the participating
students to members of the seminar while on location in France.
The remaining time is spent in Paris and Chartres and on study tours
of important artistic centers in other parts of France. The program
is limited to 13 students chosen through an interview process. Prerequisite:
Art 100.
378/380 Seminar
in Art History in Italy - Ms. Serebrennikov
A four-course program open to sophomores, juniors, and in exceptional
cases, seniors regardless of major. Two of the courses are in art
history, the third is an independent study under the direction of
a Davidson College professor (not necessarily in the art department),
and the fourth is Italian language. The program is centered in Rome
with travel to other important sites and is limited to 15 students
chosen through an interview process. Prerequisite: Art 100 or 210.
382/384/386
Seminar in Art History in England - Mr. Ligo
A four-course program open to sophomores, juniors, and in exceptional
cases, seniors regardless of major. Three of the courses are in
art history; the fourth is an independent study arranged by the
student under the direction of a Davidson College professor (not
necessarily in the art department). The program is based in London
with frequent travel to other important English sites and to Paris.
It is limited to 15 students chosen through an interview process.
Prerequisite: Art 100.
390/392/394
Independent Study Staff
For the student who wishes to pursue some special interest in art
history underthe supervision of a faculty member, who reviews and
approves the student's work on a regularly scheduled basis. The project,
initiated by a qualified student and approved in advance, has a substantial
paper as its end result. Normally limited to majors.
400 Perspectives
in Art History - Staff
Required in fall semester for all art majors with an emphasis in art
history.
402 Capstone
Seminar - Staff
Topics in art history required in spring semester for all art majors
with an
emphasis in art history. May include a study tour of appropriate
sites.
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HONORS IN ART HISTORY
The Chair of the Art Department will send all rising Juniors with
an emphasis in art history a letter explaining the following requirements
and deadlines.
1.
3.2 overall GPA by end of junior year
2. 3.5 GPA in art by graduation (by end of junior year,
evidence that this goal is achievable)
3. Meet all the deadlines outlined below.
Spring
Semester, Candidate's Junior Year
Proposal
of Intent, Stage One
Due to Chair of the Art Department normally at 5 pm on the first
Friday in March. If that day falls during spring break, it is due
the following Friday.
Stage One of the Proposal consists of two double-spaced, typed pages
(headed by a working title for the project) that explain the topic,
discuss what led you to this topic and what interests you about
it, outline your plan for the next two months to investigate and
narrow the topic, identify the Art Department faculty with whom
you have discussed the project, and explain how you have consulted
research sources thus far.
Proposal,
Stage Two
Due to Chair of the Art Department normally at 5 pm on the first
Friday in May.
The revised Proposal of Intent presents the investigative question(s)
that will guide your research; mentions possible faculty members
(including at least two members of the art history faculty) who
could direct your work, as well as their willingness and ability
to do so; includes a bibliography of primary and secondary sources
(using the bibliographic format found in The Art Bulletin);
explains your plans for finalizing the topic; indicates how courses
you have taken or will take would inform the thesis project; and
suggests summer research possibilities.
Acceptance/rejection letters will be mailed
to all applicants by mid-June.
Fall Semester,
Candidate's Senior Year
The candidate
whose proposal has been accepted will enroll in Art 496 during the
fall semester of the senior year. The candidate and his/her primary
faculty advisor(s) will establish appropriate target dates and deadlines
necessary for the successful completion of this course. Requirements
of the course will include but may not be limited to the following
(the faculty advisor may have to augment these requirements as needed):
(1)
By the end of the fifth week of the semester the candidate will
give a twenty-minute presentation that explores the results of
the his/her research; how the thesis plans have changed and/or
solidified on the basis on this new research; a working thesis
statement; and a working outline of the argument for the thesis.
After the student's presentation, committee members will engage
the student in questions and discussion about the thesis plans.
(2) By the end of regular classes for the fall semester,
the candidate will submit a draft of the completed project. The
draft will be presented in appropriate Art Bulletin format,
including endnotes and bibliography.
(3) The candidate will receive as "Incomplete"
at the end of the fall semester; this grade will be changed to
a letter grade upon the successful completion of the Honors requirements
of the spring semester.
Spring
Semester, Candidate's Senior Year
(1)
By the end of the fifth week of the semester, the candidate will
have completed a revised draft of the thesis. Please note: a re-vision
is not the same as a re-write.
(2) By the end of the eighth week of the semester, the
candidate will have submitted the final draft of her/his thesis.
(3) Defense of the thesis
a.
During the last two weeks of the semester a one-hour oral exam
of the thesis will be completed.
b. All members of the candidate's committee will be present
at the examination and will be given fifteen minutes each to
ask the student questions.
c. At the end of the questioning, the student will be
asked to leave the room briefly while the committee members
confer over the student's performance. At the end of the session,
the student will be asked to return to hear the faculty's response.
If, in the opinion of the faculty, the thesis did not meet the
requirements for Honors, the student will be assigned a letter
grade other than "A" for Art 496.
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