History of Art

Course summary

In History of Art we explore art and architecture from around the world and from all eras in history. We look at contemporary art such as Damien Hirst’s ‘Shark’ (aka The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living) and the controversies caused by the art of Tracy Emin and Ai Wei Wei. We examine the contexts in which art is made and how it creates meaning. We explore the Renaissance and Baroque eras, and explore how art evolves in relation to society and culture. We examine how Feminist art history has radically transformed they way art historians interpret art today, in particular the analysis of the representation of women in painting and sculpture.