Introduction
This seminar’s main objective is to introduce the students to the general notions of art history, then to explore four thematic issues specifically related to the artistic, social and political practices of the studied country (US in 2024-25 / UK in 2025-26). These thematic sessions are regularly updated according to current events, the current programme of exhibitions in Paris, France and even Europe, students' research, etc. This course deals with painting, sculpture, architecture, art object, photography, film and television works and any other reproduction support, intending to inscribe them in their historic, social and cultural context. The ambition of this odd-numbered semester class is eventually to prepare the students for the thematic in-depth study offered by the even-numbered semester class.
Objectives
Disciplinary and Cultural Knowledge Skills (Cognitive)
- Organize and interrelate the main periods & movements of UK/US art
- Acquire a visual literacy that you can verbally articulate and persuasively convey
- Recognize & evaluate specific formal elements of artistic language (eg. media, technique, content, subject, composition, structure, color, light, texture, perspective, proportion, space, etc.)
- Relate relevant biographical information to artistic production
- Situate artistic movements within the context of significant political & social events
Critical Thinking Skills (Oral & Written)
- Evaluate the impact of historical and theoretical concepts upon art
- Reveal the motivations behind the production
- Reveal how artistic interpretation is bound by history, culture & individuality
- Be able to research, write and defend an essay in conventional form explaining the outlook, techniques and impact of artists in historical perspective
Libraries
Practical information
