An in-depth study of a particular topic in the history of art. It may be an examination of a specific artist, group or movement or an exploration of a particular theme or issue in art.
| Distribution Area | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Humanities | Varies according to topic offered | 1/4 - 1/2 - 1 course |
This course will present the visual cultures of the Spanish colonies (Viceroyalties) in the Americas between roughly 1500 and 1800 via methods and texts from different disciplines. We will consider a wide range of artworks from the expansive territories of Mexico, Peru, and beyond, discussing key images and their histories thematically. The main themes for the course will be: influences, materiality, and circulation. These themes reflect the nature of the visual cultures we will study in this course, and will also allow us to delve into other relevant issues such as race, gender, and religion as they are so often reflected in the main artworks we discuss.
Because this is a class about visual cultures of colonial societies, we will go beyond painting and sculpture. Our class will also include discussions of textiles, architecture, altarpieces, and ephemera. In this course, students will not only learn about colonial visual histories, but will also gain an understanding of important trends in the fields of art history, colonial theory, and anthropology. Our readings reflect the diversity of this approach to the study of complex colonial visual cultures.