Art Appreciation

This course is an introductory exposure to art and to ideas about art and its creation. We will discuss general ideas about the nature and uses of art, introduce a basic exploration of visual elements and principles of design, explore common media and techniques, and briefly look at contemporary developments in the visual arts. Near the end of the term there will be a trip to the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts.

Ancient Art

This course is an introductory survey of the art of the ancient world. It will examine and try to understand the architecture, sculpture, and painting of many important periods and civilizations of the past. It will look at pre-historic art, the art of Egypt and ancient Near East, the arts of the Aegean cultures, Greek art, Roman art, Early Christian art, Byzantine art, Romanesque art, Gothic art, and the art of the Italian Early Renaissance.

Modern Art

This course is an introductory survey of the art of the Modern World from the Renaissance to the present. It continues with Neoclassicism and Romanticism, then looks at Realism and Impressionism, and concludes with an expression of some of the many movements and important figures of 20th century painting and sculpture.