Rebecca Brown
Montgomery 144
Office hours: T 8-9:30 pm, Th 11-12 & by appointment
office: x4439
home: (540) 368-0969
email: rmbrown@smcm.edu
Texts:
Scope of the Course
On the surface, we seem to be undertaking the impossible: all of art history for the entire world from the beginning of time to the present. Over the course of the semester, we will accomplish this, but with a defined and clear focus. Two goals undergird the course and the material covered here. You should both gain exposure to a broad range of art and gain familiarity with a variety of art historical approaches. With these goals in mind, I have mapped a path through the available material which will give you an idea of "what's out there" both in terms of art works and in terms of methodologies. Despite the sometimes disparate nature of the material, we will develop an understanding of the relationships among these various cultures, and the ways in which they have been interlinked for centuries.
Course Requirements
Much of the material—images and concepts—that we will cover in the course will not be in the texts. Visual memory is a difficult skill to acquire, and it is crucial that you attend the lectures to reinforce and elaborate the text and other readings. If you miss a class, please get the notes from another student in the course.
I've given a breakdown of the way your grade will be determined here; I intend to reward for improvement generously. The art history exam is usually a brand new experience for most; I intend to be forgiving of mistakes made in the midterm.
Reading Assignments
All of the reading assigned in the syllabus is required. Please read ahead of class time. Reading from the course packet will drive specific discussion days (marked on syllabus) and will figure prominently on the exams.
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Questions?
First, read Explanatory Notes. |