ART 130 - Art and Culture: Prehistoric through Gothic [SUN# ART 1101]

3 Credits, 3 Contact Hours
3 lecture periods 0 lab periods

A survey of the development of art and architecture in Western Civilization from prehistoric through Gothic art with the inclusion of a global perspective. Includes identification and interpretation of cultural and stylistic characteristics, contextual functions and purposes of works of art, influences of cultural values on the production of art, art historical terminology, exemplars of non-Western culture, and critical methodologies.

Prerequisite(s): WRT 101 , WRT 101HC , WRT 101S , or WRT 101SE  
Gen-Ed: Meets AGEC - HUM and I, G; Meets CTE - A&H or SBS and G.

1. Identify and interpret cultural and stylistic characteristics of works of art produced during Paleolithic through Gothic periods.
2. Describe and decode functions and purposes of works of art in their own historical context.
3. Discuss and analyze geographic, religious, social, political, and economic influences on art production.
4. Define and use correct art historical terminology describing form and content.
5. Identify and discuss major examples of non-Western art production from prehistory to 1300.
6. Identify and discuss methodologies of art historical analysis and new perspectives in the discipline.

A. Producing written discourse in more than one assignment through papers, reports, quizzes, tests, etc., which includes a minimum word standard of 3000 words.

B. Written assignments emphasize critical inquiry which includes the gathering, interpreting, and evaluating of evidence.

C. Includes a formal out of class paper of at least 1,500 words which requires critical inquiry and where the writer develops and supports a main idea.  

D. Explicit writing instruction with timely feedback to help students improve their writing and critical inquiry skills is part of the course’s content.

E. The evaluation of written assignments must include the overall quality of written work and critical inquiry, as measured by a rubric.

F. At least 50% of the student’s grade must be based on the written work and critical inquiry assignments.

II. Identification and Interpretation of Cultural and Stylistic Characteristics

1. Prehistory
2. Near Eastern
3. Egyptian
4. Aegean
5. Greek
6. Etruscan
7. Roman
8. Early Christian
9. Early Medieval
10. Byzantine
11. Islamic
12. Romanesque
13. Gothic

III. Contextual Functions and Purposes of Works of Art

1. Patronage
2. Religious/spiritual
3. Political/social
4. Expressive/psychological

IV. Influences of Cultural Values on the Production of Art

1. Geographic influences on culture
2. Social values
3. Religious values
4. Economic values
5. Political values
6. Personal values

V. Art Historical Terminology

1. Terminology related to formal analysis focusing on media and technique
2. Terminology related to iconography
3. Terminology related to style
4. Terminology related to critical methodologies

VI. Exemplars of Non-Western Culture

1. Global perceptions of art
2. Asian art
3. Indigenous cultures of the Americas art
4. African art
5. Pacific cultures art

VII. Critical Methodologies

1. Formal analysis
2. Iconographic analysis
3. Biographical investigation
4. Cultural theories
5. Feminist theory
6. Semiotics