The course will consider how, during the reign of Philip II, Spain became a mecca for the finest artists in Europe. The course will also question the usual interpretations of high Spanish culture, assumed to be a dark reflection of the devot peity, gravity and austerity of a monochromatic society ruled by the Catholic church and a decadent nobility. The course begins with the Formative Period and examines the development of village societies in Central and Western Mexico which gave rise to the complex civilization of the Olmecs. A key aspect of the course is the development of a sound understanding of cultural elements that persisted through all major Mesoamerican societies, including calendrical and writing systems, social, political, economic, and religious structures, monumental construction, and cosmological studies. Grades will be based upon participation, class assignments, and two examinations.
Much modern art draws on mass and popular culture.
In addition to the primary questions above, themes of consumerism, leisure, celebrity, and gender will surface as we investigate the complex relationship between modern art and pop culture. Weekly readings and discussion. Attendance and participation important. This course examines the role of women in the production and reception of art in the Renaissance, and the function of representations of women in the early modern era. Coverage includes Italy, Spain, France, England, and other centers in Europe and post-conquest America.