Global Perspectives on Contemporary Art

Catalog description

This course explores major trends in the visual arts since the mid-twentieth century, with a particular focus on the transnational networks and diasporic movements that have shaped art of the past four decades. Through this global perspective, the course emphasizes the intersecting trajectories of art made in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and other spheres outside the traditional canonical centers of Europe and the United States. This is a Communication Intensive course focused on writing. Students will complete a series of short essay assignments, peer-review and revision exercises, and in-class presentations that will help develop and refine their written and oral communication skills. Through these assignments, students will learn to critically analyze and articulate how contemporary art engages pressing issues of our global present including war, conflict, and violence; migration, diaspora, and (de)colonization; and current states of emergency amid democratic collapse and climate catastrophe. The course will actively engage the Cleveland Museum of Art, with lectures, discussions, and student projects centered on the museum's collections. Offered as ARTH 393 and ARTH 493 . Counts as a Communication Intensive course. Counts as a Human Diversity & Commonality course. Counts as a Understanding Global Perspectives course.