ART 216
Art History Survey: Renaissance to Contemporary (GE)
1. Catalog Entry
ART 216
Art History Survey: Renaissance to Contemporary
Credit hours (3)
A survey of art through a study of styles, iconography, media, and terminology within
a broad cultural context. The course covers the Renaissance through the early 21st
century, with an emphasis on western art.
Note(s): General Education and Cultural or Behavioral Analysis designated course.
2. Detailed Description of Course
This is the second of two introductory courses in art history that together cover
the history of Western art from Prehistoric times to the present. The course is designed
for art students who will take upper level art history courses and as a core curriculum
elective in the visual and performing arts for students in other majors. The focus
is on painting, sculpture, and architecture of Western civilization. The content and
style of the art in each period will be examined in key works of art. The course proceeds
in chronological order, beginning with the early Renaissance and covering styles and
movements in most of the following periods:
1) Renaissance Art
2) Baroque Art
3) Art of the 18th Century (Rococo and Neoclassicism)
4) Art of the 19th Century (Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism,
Post-Impressionism)
5) Art of the 20th Century (Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, Abstract
Expressionism, and others)
6) Postmodern and Contemporary Art
Art history is concerned with history as much as with art: not only will we study a lot of artists and art works, we will also examine changes in style over time, how people responded to particular works of art in the past and the present, and what factors influenced those responses. To quote from the textbook for the course: “A historically based narrative...enables the author [and reader] to situate each work discussed in its historical, social, economic, religious, and cultural context. That is, after all, what distinguishes art history from art appreciation.” To which we might add this: History involves dates but dates do not tell us as much as the prevailing events, whether political, social, or cultural. As the previous quotation indicates, art is part of these narratives, as an influencer and something that is influenced.
3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
This is a lecture course, but class participation in the analysis of works of art
is encouraged. Digital projects and other media will be used to familiarize students
with the art works studied. Students are expected to attend class. By accepting admission
to Radford University, each student makes a commitment to understand, support, and
abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception. Violations of
academic integrity will not be tolerated. This class will be conducted in strict observance
of the Honor Code. Students are referred to the Student Handbook for details.
4. Goals and Objectives of the Course
At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to identify and evaluate ways
in which the visual and performing arts of the western world in the past 500 years
reflect and communicate aspects of the human experience. To meet this goal, students
will:
1) Evaluate works of art using the appropriate vocabulary and terminology for
the periods and styles examined in class,
2) Identify the relationship between these works of art and the specific historical,
cultural and social contexts in which they
were produced.
3) Recognize the difference between a personal response, a descriptive response, and a critical response based on theory, history, and visual analysis as demonstrated in analytic test questions. Analyze the impact of gender, culture and social developments such as market structures and patronage on art history [demonstrated in test questions and essay writing]
4) Recognize differences between individual artistic styles, period-related styles, and the influence of historic factors on the development of those styles [image test questions].
More specific objectives may be included in the course syllabus.
5. Assessment Measures
Grades are based on a variety of assessment measures including short-answer tests,
written analyses, the creation of power point analyses of art works, and in some cases,
a term paper.
6. Other Course Information
There are no prerequisites although most students will benefit from taking ART215
before ART216. Art majors may use one of these courses for their Goal 8 requirement.
Other students may take ART216 without having taken ART215 and use it for the core
curriculum Goal 8 requirement.
If the student has a learning disability recognized by the Disabled Student Services
Office at Radford University, he or she should advise the professor of the nature
of the disability during the first week of class.
Tape recording of class lectures is not normally permitted unless the student has
a learning disability recognized by Radford University and the professor receives
a formal request from the Disabled Student Services Office. At his or her discretion,
the professor may allow tape recording under other special circumstances.
Review and Approval
March 18, 2005
2012
June 20, 2015
March 01, 2021