The University of St. Thomas

Course Catalog

COURSE CATALOG  

ARTH Courses
Look up available courses for this term

ARTH 110 Introduction to Art History 4 credit(s)
Through a series of case studies, this course examines the importance of art as cultural expression across time and from a global perspective.  Each course section will cover basic issues and approaches to art, including stylistic analysis, patronage, art's relationship to religion, ideology, society and economy, gender roles, and the interaction of cultures. Case studies will include architecture, sculpture, painting, and other arts, such as ceramics, textiles, and photography. This course fulfills the Fine Arts and Human Diversity core requirements. Consult the department website for details about the specific sections offered.
Prerequisite(s):
ARTH 159 Principles of Art History 2 credit(s)
This course will introduce and familiarize students with the stylistic and formal qualities of art through lecture, discussion, and field trips. The course will cover certain themes such as the human figure from a historical and contextual perspective. Students will be required to analyze art in these terms in discussions, tests, and papers in the class. This course partially fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 211 Methods, Approaches, and Problems in Art History 4 credit(s)
An introduction to the methods and problems of art history, including the theoretical approaches to art and its history, the examination and analysis of the work and its medium, the role of the museum and gallery in the study of art, and bibliographic tools of the different disciplines of the field.
Prerequisite(s): 151 or 152 or permission of chair.

ARTH 280 Sacred Architecture and Space 4 credit(s)
Throughout history, humans have set aside spaces for religious purposes. Frequently these are the most visible remains or representatives of a culture and are keys to understanding the place of humans within the world and universe. This course examines sacred architecture and spaces from a variety of perspectives, including materials and structure, ritual function and liturgy, decoration, symbolism, physical context, and social/religious context. The course will examine not only Christian churches, but will also examine non-Christian and non-western traditions of religion and architecture. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 282 The History of American Architecture 4 credit(s)
A survey of high style and vernacular architecture in the United States from the Native Americans to the present day. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: identify the major themes and styles in American architecture; recognize major monuments and their designers; and understand how an American identity was projected in architecture. This includes understanding American architecture and its relationship to corresponding developments in art, landscape, and the urban fabric. Emphasis will be placed on structures in Minnesota and the upper Midwest. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 285 Arts of Africa and the African Diaspora 4 credit(s)
The continent of Africa presents a world of contrasts: from the powerful trading empires of the Sahel to the small scale, nomadic societies of the Kalahari. This course will survey the arts and cultures of Africa, drawing on recent breakthroughs in archaeology, anthropology, and art history to explore the diversity and creativity of past and present African artists. In addition, the course will address the expansion of African culture to the New World, a process that began tragically in the Middle Passage, but emerged triumphantly in the artistic traditions of the Diaspora peoples. This course fulfills the Fine Arts and Human Diversity requirements in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 286 Women's Art in Cross-cultural Perspective 4 credit(s)
What is "women's art"? Is the definition of women's art consistent across cultures? What are the conditions of women's artistic practice, and how do women address vital social, spiritual, and political issues through their art? These are the questions to be addressed in this course, an interdisciplinary study of women's art that focuses on case studies in Africa, the Americas, the Pacific, and Asia. This course fulfills the Fine Arts and Human Diversity requirements in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 289 Asian Art 4 credit(s)
This course is a survey of South and East Asian art, from its beginnings in the Bronze Age until the present. The course will emphasize regional characteristics as well as cross-cultural influences of Asian art in a variety of media, including architecture, painting, calligraphy, sculpture, and pottery. The course will also examine the impact of social class on artists and patronage and upon the influence of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shintoism play in the form and function of Asian art. This course fulfills the Fine Arts and Human Diversity requirements in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 291 Topics in Non-Western Art 4 credit(s)
This course number covers a range of offerings in the art and architecture of Asia, Africa, Oceania and Latin America. Offerings will vary from year to year, but will usually provide a comprehensive survey of the arts of a wide region such as Asia or Africa or of a major religion such as Buddhism or Islam. A more detailed examination of a single country such as China or Mexico may also be included among offerings. This course fulfills the Fine Arts and Human Diversity requirements in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 295, 296 Topics 2 credit(s)
The subject matter of the course will vary from year to year, but will not duplicate existing courses. Descriptions of these courses are available at www.stthomas.edu/registrar/onlineschedule.html. Topics listed under 297 fulfill the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 297, 298 Topics 2 credit(s)
The subject matter of the course will vary from year to year, but will not duplicate existing courses. Descriptions of these courses are available at www.stthomas.edu/registrar/onlineschedule.html. Topics listed under 297 fulfill the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 300 The Ancient Near East and Egypt 4 credit(s)
A survey of the arts of the Stone and Bronze Ages, including the civilizations of Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, Egypt, the Near East, and the Aegean Sea. The use and problems of archaeology in the understanding of ancient cultures will be discussed. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 305 Greek Art and Archaeology 4 credit(s)
A survey of the art and architecture of ancient Greece from the fall of the Bronze Age civilizations to the end of the Hellenistic period. Particular attention will be given to sculpture, vase painting, and the relationship of art to the broader culture, to the art of the ancient Near East and Egypt, and to gender relations in ancient Greece. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 310 Roman Art and Archaeology 4 credit(s)
A survey of the art of the Roman Republic and Empire to the emperor Constantine in the early fourth century C.E. Issues include the use of art and architecture as an expression of imperial political programs, the creation of urban architecture and the everyday environment of the Romans, and Rome's relationship to Greece and the Near East. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 320 Art and Culture of Colonial Mexico 4 credit(s)
In 1521, the Spaniard Hernando Cort's and his army conquered the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan and assumed control of a land that later came to be known as Mexico, initiating a period of transformation, innovation, and synthesis called the Colonial era (1524 to ca. 1810). The art and architecture created during this time reflects the processes of conflict, resistance, and adaptation that ensued as a result of the collision of two cultures. This course surveys the historical context in which the painting, sculpture, and architecture of Mexico were created, from the conquest to the rise of the independent Mexican nation. A knowledge of major works and monuments will be stressed; however, the emphasis of this course is placed on an understanding of the general concepts and issues that affected art and culture in the Colonial era. Both Spanish and pre-Columbian art and culture will be investigated in order to understand the unique context and characteristics of the visual culture of Mexico during this formative period. This course fulfills the Fine Arts and Human Diversity requirements in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 330 Churches and Mosques in the First Millennium 4 credit(s)
This course examines the formation and development of the first Christian and Islamic art and architecture during the first millennium C.E. of Europe and the Mediterranean. The class will examine the development of religious structures for these new religions, the role of visual images in both religious and secular contexts, and the influences that these cultures exerted on each other. Areas to be covered include: the Early Christian period; the Germanic, Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, Scandinavian cultures of the sixth to eighth centuries; the Carolingian and Ottonian periods; Byzantine art and architecture; Islamic art and architecture. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 335 Cathedrals, Monasteries, and Caliphates 4 credit(s)
A survey of the arts in Europe during the Romanesque and Gothic periods, c. 1000-1400. Emphasis will also be given to contemporaneous currents in Byzantine and Islamic art and their influence on the art of the West. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 340 Southern Renaissance Art and Society 4 credit(s)
A survey of the art and architecture of Italy, Spain and Portugal from the fourteenth through the sixteenth centuries. The course will focus on issues of style, patronage and iconography. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 342 Renaissance and Reformation in Northern Europe 4 credit(s)
A survey of the art and architecture of northern Europe from the fourteenth through the sixteenth centuries. This course will examine the impact of the Protestant Reformation on the art of this era, and examine issues of style, patronage and iconography.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 345 Baroque and Rococo Art 4 credit(s)
A survey of the art and architecture of western Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Emphasis will be given to issues of iconography, patronage, and style. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 347 Golden Age of Spain 4 credit(s)
The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries were an age of great triumph for the kingdom of Spain. For a brief but glorious era, the Spanish empire was the most powerful force in the western world. Suffused in gold and riches from its colonies in the New World, Spanish culture prospered and flourished. It was during this intoxicating "Golden Age" that Spain's greatest artistic masterpieces were produced. This course explores the historical development of Spanish painting, sculpture, and architecture, focusing on the social, political, and religious issues that affected artistic production. Particular emphasis is placed on the key figures in the history of Spanish art: El Greco, Zubarán, Ribera, Velázquez, Murillo, Martínez Montañes, and Pedro Roldán. The art of Spain's New World colonies is also examined. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 351 Romanticism to Impressionism 4 credit(s)
This course will investigate the history of European painting and sculpture from 1800 to 1880. It will consider the major trends of Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, and Impressionism. It will also address art's response to and role in a European society marked by colonialism, industrialization, and the rise of urban mass culture. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 352 Art in the United States 4 credit(s)
This course will investigate the history of the visual arts (primarily painting and sculpture) in the United States from 1776 to 1960. Artists to be considered include colonial portraitists; Romantic landscape painters; Neoclassical sculptors; Realist, Luminist, and Impressionist painters; artists associated with New York Dada and the Harlem Renaissance; Precisionists, Regionalists and Social Realists; and Abstract Expressionists. Participants will consider artists' responses to key historical developments such as the founding of the nation, westward expansion, the Civil War, industrialization, and emergence as a superpower. Several issues will run throughout the course: What is the relationship between the art of Euro-Americans and that of Europe -- and that of Native Americans? Is there something "American" about American art? How do the visual arts reinforce or challenge our sense of American history and identity? This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 356 Modernism in European Art 4 credit(s)
Modernist artists strove to find a visual language of expression appropriate to their time; yet many contemporaries found their works incomprehensible, as do many people today. An open-minded and historically informed investigation of modern art helps to make sense of it. This course will explore the history of European painting and sculpture from 1880 to 1940. It will consider the many movements that characterized modernism, such as Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, Fauvism, Cubism, Futurism, Expressionism, Dada, Surrealism, and Constructivism. Issues to be addressed include the rejection of tradition, the development of abstraction, the impact of World War I and its aftermath, the influence of science and technology on art, and the fate of modernism under Hitler's and Stalin's regimes. Particular attention will be paid to the theoretical underpinnings of modern art. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 361 Contemporary Art 4 credit(s)
This course will investigate the history of the visual arts since 1960, from Pop Art and Minimalism through recent trends. Art from around the globe will be considered, but primary emphasis will be placed on art in the United States. In addition to surveying the most significant artists, works, and trends, participants will consider issues such as: the commodification of art; the dematerialization of the art object; art's role in sociopolitical discourse; definitions of postmodernism; the legitimating institutions that comprise the "artworld"? and the relationship of aesthetic or critical theory to artistic creation. This course fulfills the Fine Arts requirement in the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 391 Native American Art 4 credit(s)
An examination of the art of the Native Americans from the prehistoric period to the present within the context of distinct geographical regions: Woodlands, Plains, Plateau, Northwest, and Arctic. This course fulfills the Fine Arts and Human Diversity requirements of the core curriculum.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 450 Modern Scandinavian Art History 4 credit(s)
The golden age of Scandinavian art history witnessed the establishment of national art academies and museums in the nineteenth century and the amassing of avant garde collections of European masters and non-Western art in the twentieth, along with the emergence of prize-winning Nordic designers in industrial settings. Although on the periphery of Europe, Scandinavian masters? art reflected contemporary styles but also displayed the austerity and fantasy of traditional folk designs which evolved out of the poverty and isolation of its largely rural population in the centuries before the modern era. The art of the five Nordic countries provides a model for examining the integration of ethnic folk art motifs with mainstream European styles as well as the acceptance of both fine and applied arts as equal in importance. In additional, indigenous art of the Sami and the Greenlandic Inuit enriched folk and international design motifs. The art of those artists who participated in the great emigration of Scandinavian peoples to North America in the late nineteenth into twentieth centuries will also be examined in relation to the influences of mother country and the American artistic mainstream.
Prerequisite(s): one ARTH course or permission of instructor

ARTH 475, 476 Experiential Learning 2 credit(s)
These courses allow students to gain credit for certain non-classroom experiences. (These do not include studio art courses.) Normally open to junior and senior students. Permission of the department chair is re-quired. Credit for experience is normally sought prior to its occurrence. See the complete description of these courses at the beginning of the "Curricula" section of this catalog.
Prerequisite(s): previous course or courses in art history

ARTH 477, 478 Experiential Learning 2 credit(s)
These courses allow students to gain credit for certain non-classroom experiences. (These do not include studio art courses.) Normally open to junior and senior students. Permission of the department chair is re-quired. Credit for experience is normally sought prior to its occur-rence. See the complete description of these courses at the beginning of the "Curricula" section of this catalog.
Prerequisite(s): previous course or courses in art history

ARTH 481 Senior Presentation and Paper 0 credit(s)
During the senior year or earlier, art history majors are expected to write a major research paper with an abstract and to describe the results of their research in a short oral presentation. The purpose of this paper and presentation is to allow the student to demonstrate competency in art historical methodology and to gain some experience from presenting the results to a group of peers.

Normally, this requirement is done in lieu of the regular paper assignment for one of the upper-level courses. The topic should be chosen in consultation with the instructor of the course by the end of the second week of the semester and should be completed no later than six weeks prior to graduation. In addition, students will present a short oral report on their research to a departmental symposium to be held prior to graduation. Registration for 480 should be made during the semester that the student anticipates writing the paper. A mark of pass or fail will be assigned upon completion.

Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 483, 484 Seminar 2 credit(s)
See the description of these courses at the beginning of the "Curricula" section of this catalog.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 485, 486 Seminar 2 credit(s)
See the description of these courses at the beginning of the "Curricula" section of this catalog.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 487, 488 Topics 2 credit(s)
The subject matter of these courses will vary from year to year, but will not duplicate existing courses. Descriptions of these courses are available at www.stthomas.edu/reqistrar/onlineschedule.html
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 489, 490 Topics 2 credit(s)
The subject matter of these courses will vary from year to year, but will not duplicate existing courses. Descriptions of these courses are available at www.stthomas.edu/reqistrar/onlineschedule.html
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 491, 492 Research 2 credit(s)
See the description of these courses at the beginning of the "Curricula" section of this catalog.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 493, 494 Research 2 credit(s)
See the description of these courses at the beginning of the "Curricula" section of this catalog.
Prerequisite(s):

ARTH 495, 496 Individual Study 2 credit(s)
See the description of these courses at the beginning of the "Curricula" section of this catalog.
Prerequisite(s): permission of the instructor or supervisor and previous work in art history

ARTH 497, 498 Individual Study 2 credit(s)
See the description of these courses at the beginning of the "Curricula" section of this catalog.
Prerequisite(s): permission of the instructor or supervisor and previous work in art history