Nov 24, 2025  
DRAFT 2026-2027 College Catalog DRAFT 
    
DRAFT 2026-2027 College Catalog DRAFT [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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

3 Contact Hours, 3 Credits
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  
AGEC Gen-Ed: A&H
CTE Gen-Ed: A&H or SBS and G




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Course Learning Outcomes
  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.

Outline:
I. 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

II. Contextual Functions and Purposes of Works of Art

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

III. 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

IV. 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

V. 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

VI. Critical Methodologies

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