HA 719 Art Histories

In this course we will examine and critically assess the major methodologies and theories that have shaped and continue to shape the field of art history. Throughout the semester, we will think about how certain foundational texts established and reinforced hierarchies and biases that linger both visibly and invisibly in the scholarship we read and the works we choose to prioritize and consider the role of critical theories in addressing the need for more expansive and inclusive forms of analysis. Closely reading texts that center decolonialization, ecocritical approaches, materiality, race, indigeneity, sexuality, and globalization, we will explore these more capacious approaches and the changing landscapes of the current state of the discipline. This course aims to engage a wide range of students’ interests, encouraging conversation, self-reflection, and evaluation of our own positions as scholars of art history.

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.