ARTH 263
Introduction to Contemporary Art: Institutions and Upsetters Fall 2017
Division I
This is not the current course catalog

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This course is an introduction to some of the central artists, themes, works, and debates informing and comprising the history of contemporary art, roughly 1945 to today. In the decades following the second World War, artists became instrumental in creating the conditions for widespread cultural re-orientation and evolution of perspectives on the world, its problems and its possibilities. The ways in which artists have approached, contested, and reflected on the role of various institutions—-be they social, governmental, academic, political, commercial, media-based, or the art world itself—-is a key aspect of late 20th-early 21st century cultural and aesthetic histories. This course will therefore address major movements in contemporary art (such as abstract expressionism, pop art, happenings, conceptual art, performance, earthworks, street art etc.) through the interpretive lens of various institutions and the ways in which these have been challenged, reconfigured, emulated, and critiqued by notable artistic upsetters. Keeping in mind the tendency of art’s categories and practices to cross-pollinate and mutually construct as well as disrupt the various worlds in which they move, we will consider contemporary art in relation to the past as well as the present, looking to the historical avant-garde on which contemporary art builds (such as Dada and Surrealism), as well as the context of current events, from which the concept of `the contemporary’ itself is inextricable.No prior knowledge of art history or contemporary art is required to take this course.
The Class: Format: lecture
Limit: 35
Expected: 30
Class#: 1973
Grading: no pass/fail option, yes fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: mid-term: 15%;final Exam: 15% ;final Project (curate imaginary exhibition comprised of works on view locally + key works covered in class) : 50%; participation: 20%
Extra Info: may not be taken on a pass/fail basis
Prerequisites: none
Distributions: Division I

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