Mission/Goals

Mission

Art history is distinctive in its direct engagement with art objects through visual analysis and historical study. We use art objects to understand history and culture, and history and culture to understand art objects. Students earning a BA in art history explore the varied roles of artists, their art, their audiences, and their patrons across diverse cultural and historical contexts. In addition, they experience the creative process of making art. Students gain a breadth of knowledge spanning both Western and non-Western subfields of the discipline. Art history majors develop skills in analyzing images and texts that are applicable to a wide range of personal, civic, and professional endeavors; they may also go on to graduate work in art history and professional work in art-related fields.

Goals of the Art History Major

I. KNOWLEDGE

The student will gain:

• familiarity with the terminology necessary for the historical study and discussion of art
• specific knowledge of selected monuments in both Western and non-Western art
• breadth of knowledge in several different sub-fields of art history
• knowledge of the creative process, acquired through the direct experience of making art
• knowledge of the possibilities and limitations of various media, acquired through the direct experience of making art
• knowledge of the varied roles of artists and art objects across diverse cultural and historical contexts, as well as how, why, and for whom artists make art

II. ABILITIES

The student will be able to:

• analyze works of art formally and iconographically
• communicate effectively and precisely in writing and speaking
• reason persuasively, i.e., present a thesis, support that thesis, and come to logical conclusions
• formulate insightful questions about visual objects, and answer them through research and creative thinking

III. IDEOLOGIES, VALUES and PERSPECTIVES

The student will graduate with:

• self-consciousness about visuality in culture
• willingness to use objects as historical evidence that fosters understanding of both past and present
• recognition of the affecting presence of actual art objects and the limits of working with reproductions
• an interest in and curiosity about the diverse values and ideas evident in the visual culture of different periods and places
• respect for and willingness to engage productively with unfamiliar cultural forms