Studies in Visual and Material Culture

Catalog description

This seminar examines the multifaceted forms, sites, and mechanisms through which art is displayed, curated, and experienced in today's globalized world. By analyzing key case studies, this course equips students with theoretical frameworks that inform contemporary curatorial and artistics practices, encouraging them to apply these approaches to their own research and interests. The course explores a dynamic range of topics, such as the history and future of museums, the agency of display, mechanical and digital reproduction, artificial intelligence and the AI art market, mega-exhibitions, and eco-critical art practices. Through close readings, class discussions, project presentations, guest talks, and field trips, students will develop a critical framework for understanding the multifaceted roles and functions of art in the globalized world.