HA101 introduces students to the disciplinary practices and goals of art history via encounters with selected great monuments of visual culture ranging from magic-charged cave art of prehistory to compelling Christian, Jewish, and Islamic monuments of medieval life, piety, and power down through the Crusades. We place each monument in dialogue with a cluster of thematically associated creations that enrich our understanding of how art expresses ideas and exerts meaning in its era of original production. We also consider how to "read" a famous monument across time-as its fame may have the power to produce new meanings in new historical contexts. Discussion sections encourage active use of campus museum collections via specially designed online engagements. Course materials: Textbook (Shaman Drum); Coursepack (Accu Copy); Online Aids. Grading basis: Three Unit Tests (1 hour each), Two Essays (2-3 pages each), Class Attendance/Section Participation. Estimated cost of materials: $50 or more, but less than $100. I. IV. 1, 2

Instructor: Margaret Root
email:mcroot@umich.edu

  • Tuesday and Thursday
  • 10:00am - 11:30am
  • 2011 MLB
  • Credits: 4
  • Lecture