ARTH 343 - Globalization and Contemporary Art

4 credits
Introduces students to recent theories and practices of contemporary art in a global context. Examines the changing relationship of Western artists to the rest of the world, questions of nationalism, internationalism, and post-nationalism as categories of art historical inquiry, issues of ethnic and cultural difference, and theories of display and exhibition in a variety of local and international contexts. Students examine topics such as: art’s relationship to the global market, the role of national, ethnic, or racial identity in artistic production, and the impact of digital media on cultural globalization. Students identify some of the primary institutions and mechanisms of the “global art world” and focus on several key geographical regions in which contemporary artists engage with globalizing processes. Students gain knowledge of significant artists and texts and critically evaluate the challenges such artists pose to founding assumptions about artistic and art historical practice. Approved for University Studies Integration - Strand J. Graded (A-F) only.