ARTH3005: Identity and American Art

Where do we see American identity? How was it invented? What difference do different identities make in a nation of over 330 million people? This class explores the history of visual culture and the fine arts in the United States, from the 1600s to the present. Our goal is to understand how images and objects define what being "American" means—for individuals and for the public—and to see how art is a place where identity can be challenged, expanded, and transformed. Through interactive, art-based lectures, you will learn the skills of visual analysis, historical research, and art appreciation. Whether looking at a tea set designed by Paul Revere, poppies painted by Georgia O'Keeffe, or a Midwestern landscape fashioned out of wood by George Morrison: we'll use art to ask big questions about American experience.

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