Global Art & Visual Culture

ART 1309 Global Arts and Visual Culture satisfies three hours of the Creative Arts requirement in the Core Curriculum and three hours of the Multicultural graduation requirement.

Global Arts and Visual Culture is a study of the visual arts that emphasizes an investigation of the nature of art – past and present -- in western and non-western cultures.  The course is structured as a general introduction to the media, technique, ideas and history associated with the visual arts. It is designed to provide the general college student (non-majors and art minors only) with a deeper appreciation of art and the creative process and an understanding of artistic expression through form, content and cultural context. Students learn to recognize art not only as the expression of individual artists but also as a reflection of wider cultural identities (religious, political and social). To achieve this goal, students learn to identify the basic formal elements underlying all art forms, the processes by which visual art is created and the many ways of “seeing” and “interpreting” works of art. The program prioritizes effective instruction, technological innovation and student engagement across multiple section offerings that utilize both digital and face-to-face delivery.

The program area is coordinated by an area Coordinator (Dr. Maia Toteva) and supported by three Lecturers (Professor Kate Peaslee, Dr. Bryan Wheeler, and Dr. Katharine Scherff) and one Instructor (Professor Natalie Hegert). The course provides multiple opportunities for student participation within larger sections offered via face to face in a lecture format and smaller sections delivered via online instructional method. Students are also encouraged to engage with their local artistic communities and cultural venues through gallery visits, creative assignments and hands-on, experiential learning.