85 Humanities Instructional Building; (949) 824-6635
Dickran Tashjian, Department Chair
Faculty
George Bauer, Ph.D. Princeton University, Professor of Art History (Renaissance and Baroque)
Linda Freeman Bauer, Ph.D. Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, Professor of Art History (Renaissance and Baroque)
Anna Gonosová, Ph.D. Harvard University, Associate Professor of Art History (Byzantine and Medieval art)
James D. Herbert, Ph.D. Yale University, Professor of Art History (modern European art, critical theory)
Judy C. Ho, Ph.D. Yale University, Associate Professor of Art History (Chinese art, critical theory)
David Joselit, Ph.D. Harvard University, Associate Professor of Art History (Modern and Contemporary art, critical theory, gender studies)
Philip Leider, M.A. University of Nebraska, Senior Lecturer Emeritus in Art History
Margaret M. Miles, Ph.D. Princeton University, Associate Professor of Art History (Greek and Roman art, archaeology)
Sally A. Stein, Ph.D. Yale University, Associate Professor of Art History (American art, history of photography, feminist theory)
Dickran Tashjian, Ph.D. Brown University, Department Chair and Professor of Art History (American art and literature, American and European avant-garde, art and technology)
Judith A. Wilson, Ph.D. Yale University, Assistant Professor of African-American Studies and Art History (African-American visual culture, post-colonial art and theory, race representation in American visual culture)
Bert Winther-Tamaki, Ph.D. Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, Assistant Professor of Art History (Modern Japanese art, Asian American art, East/West discourses in modern visual culture)
Art History is the study of works of art and other visual artifacts from all regions of the world and all periods of history. Consequently, the undergraduate curriculum in Art History, with its global perspective, is one of the most diverse disciplines in the humanities. Through Art History students learn how to describe and interpret a range of objects including sculpture, painting, photography, architecture, and so-called "new media" such as video or performance art. These skills, along with the program's intense focus on writing and verbal expression, prepare students to think critically and to express themselves clearly at a time when visual communication is becoming ever more important. Because works of art are always created within a larger cultural context, Art History courses are a good way to understand what other places or times were like. Students may explore, for example, ancient Greece, nineteenth-century Japan, or even the twenty-first century United States. Majors in Art History are thus welcome to take related courses in other fields of the humanities. Students are encouraged to pursue the study of language beyond the minimum requirements, and because of its international perspective, Art History is a particularly good major for students interested in studying abroad. There are many study centers throughout the world associated with the University's Education Abroad Program. Special scholarships are available for the Pacific region program.
Following their graduation, students with a B.A. in Art History have found employment in art galleries, auction houses, and museums, and they have entered graduate programs with a view to careers in university teaching, curatorial work, and art conservation. Moreover, with its strong emphasis on developing critical skills in writing, speaking, and analysis, Art History also provides an excellent preparation for many other careers. UCI graduates have pursued professional paths ranging from medicine and law, to business and education, to information technologies and architecture. As in the case of arts administration or intellectual property law, some of these professional pursuits have depended on and continue to make use of training in the arts.
University Requirements: See pages 54-59.
School Requirements: See page 209.
Departmental Requirements for the Major
One year-long introductory sequence (either Art History 40A, 40B, 40C or 42A, 42B, 42C); eight upper-division courses in art history, with a minimum of one course selected from each of the following areas: Ancient history (Art History 100-109), Medieval history (110-119), Renaissance/Baroque history (120-129), Modern history (130-149 and 183), Asian history (150-163), and American history (164-165); Art History 190; two quarters of Art History 198.
Students should register for Art History 190 as early as possible in their junior year after completing the University lower-division writing requirement.
Residence Requirement for the Major: At least five upper-division courses required for the major must be completed successfully at UCI.
Departmental Requirements for the Minor
One year-long introductory sequence (either Art History 40A, 40B, 40C or 42A, 42B, 42C); one upper-division course in each of the following course groupings: Art History 100-109 (Ancient history), 110-119 (Medieval history), 120-129 (Renaissance/Baroque history), 130-149, 164-165 (Modern history), and 150-163 (Asian history); and one quarter of Art History 198.
Residence Requirement for the Minor: Four upper-division courses must be completed successfully at UCI. By petition, two of the four may be taken through the UC Education Abroad Program, providing course content is approved in advance by the appropriate department chair.
In conjunction with the Program in Film Studies, the Department of Art History offers a graduate program in Visual Studies. A program description may be found at the end of the School of Humanities section. Graduate courses satisfying the requirements of the program are listed there, as well as below and in the Film Studies section.
Lower-division courses provide a comprehensive introduction to broad fields of art history, knowledge of some of the most influential monuments of human history, and an acquaintance with basic methods that art historians use to interpret artifacts in many media from many cultures.
40 History of Western Art. A year-long survey of art and culture in the West from prehistory to the present.
40A Ancient (4) F. An overview of prehistoric, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art. Considers how and why the peoples of antiquity created art and architecture, as well as the significance within its social, religious, and historical contexts. (IV, VII-B)
40B Medieval and Renaissance (4) W. Focuses on the art of the Mediterranean area and Europe between ca. A.D. 350 and 1600. By means of movements and artists, examines the cultural identities of the Christian, Islamic, and early modern worlds. (IV, VII-B)
40C Baroque and Modern (4) S. The visual arts from the seventeenth to the twentieth centuries. Explores the changing social purposes and meaning of painting, sculpture, and architecture in relation to historical events and to the artists who made them. (IV, VII-B)
42A, B, C History of Asian Art (4, 4, 4) F, W, S. A one-year survey of painting, sculpture, architecture and other artifacts in various regions of Asia. Starts with prehistory in 42A (fall quarter) and concludes with modern art in the twentieth century in 42C (spring quarter). Topics include neolithic excavations, pan-Asiatic transmissions of art, developments of art in China and Japan. (IV, VII-B)
46 The Nature of Architecture (4). Selected topics determined by individual faculty members dealing with the development of styles and schools in Western architecture and covering all periods.
80 Modern Art and Society. A one-year survey of art and other visual artifacts from the seventeenth century to the present.
80A Art, Class, and Nation in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries (4) F. Surveys how modern art in Europe emerged alongside new conceptions of class and nation. Investigates the manner in which art, far from simply recording these changes, made them visual form. (IV, VII-B)
80B Rationalized Life and Vision in the Nineteenth Century (4) W. Explores how artworks, the built environment, and even vision responded and contributed to industrialization. Attention paid to new visual forms, such as advertisements and photography, that arose from these distinctly modern forces. (IV, VII-B)
80C Vision and Self in the Twentieth Century (4) S. Examines how the practices of art, economics, and politics have been closely linked to the development of new accounts of the self within society over the last one hundred years. (IV, VII-B)
Upper-division courses explore a wide variety of aims and methods --archaeological, historical, and critical--in the study of art. Deeper understanding is obtained by focusing on shorter historical periods, specific cultural contexts, developments in particular media, or certain theoretical problems.
100 Studies in Ancient Art (4). Topics in Egyptian, Prehistoric, and Etruscan art of the Mediterranean area treated with specific reference to relevant cultural and historical settings. Specialized courses in Greek and Roman art are also taught. Concurrent with Art History 200.
103 Studies in Greek Art (4) F, W, S. Topics in Greek art, architecture, and topography from the Prehistoric period through the end of the fourth century B.C.E.
107 Studies in Roman Art (4) F, W, S. Topics in Hellenistic and Roman art and architecture; stresses historical and political background.
110 Studies in Medieval Art (4) F, W, S. Specialized topics in Medieval art and architecture in Europe, the Mediterranean area, and the Near East between the fourth and fifteenth centuries. Examples: the art of the Migration Period, Medieval City. Concurrent with Art History 210.
112 Studies in Early Christian and Byzantine Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics on the development of the art and architecture of the Later Roman and Byzantine Empires between ca. 300 and 1453. Examples: Early Christian architecture, Byzantine painting. Formerly Art History 110.
114 Studies in Western Medieval Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics on the development of art and architecture in Western Europe between ca. 700 and 1400. Examples: Romanesque painting, Gothic architecture. Same as English and Comparative Literature CL 104 or Humanities 110 when topic is appropriate.
118 Studies in Medieval Islamic Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics on the development of art and architecture between the seventh and fifteenth centuries A.D. (first to ninth centuries A.H.) in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Near East after the rise of Islam.
120 Studies in Renaissance and Baroque Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics on the art and architecture of Europe between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries. Examples: Renaissance and Baroque prints, Brugel to Rubens. Concurrent with Art History 220.
121 Studies in Southern Renaissance Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics determined by individual faculty members exploring historical developments and individual artists of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in Italy and Spain. Examples: Renaissance Venice, Age of Michelangelo.
123 Studies in Northern Renaissance Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics determined by individual faculty members exploring historical developments and individual artists of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries in Northern Europe. Examples: Late Medieval art, painting from Van Eyck to Bosch.
125 Studies in Southern Baroque Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics determined by individual faculty members exploring historical developments and individual artists of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Italy and Spain. Example: Rome in the seventeenth century. Same as English and Comparative Literature CL 104 when topic is appropriate.
128 Studies in Northern Baroque Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics determined by individual faculty members exploring historical developments and individual artists of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Northern Europe. Example: the Age of Rembrandt.
130 Studies in Eighteenth-Century Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics determined by individual faculty members exploring historical developments and individual artists of the eighteenth century. Examples: English art, Neoclassicism. Concurrent with Art History 230.
134 Studies in Modern European Art F, W, S. Varying topics within the period 1643 to 1940. Works of art are studied as cultural, social, and political practices. Concurrent with Art History 234A, B, C, D, E.
134A European Art: 1643-1789 (4)
134B European Art: 1789-1851 (4). Formerly Art History 133A.
134C European Art: 1851-1907 (4). Formerly Art History 133B.
134D European Art: 1907-1940 (4). Formerly Art History 133C.
134E Topics in Modern European Art (4). Varies with each offering. Consult with the instructor for specific topic. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Formerly Art History 133D.
140 Studies in Contemporary Art F, W, S. Varying topics within the period 1940 to the present. Works of art are studied as cultural, social, and political practices. Concurrent with Art History 240A, B, C.
140A History of Contemporary Art (4)
140B Issues of Contemporary Art (4)
140C Theories of Contemporary Art (4)
150 Studies in Asian Art (4) F, W, S. Topics include visual studies in China, Japan, Korea, and India. Concurrent with Art History 250.
152 Studies in Chinese Art and Religion (4) F, W, S. A study of the rich archaeological finds in mainland China (including tombs and temples) and the development of religious beliefs from the Neolithic through the imperial periods.
153 Studies in Early Chinese Painting (4) F, W, S. An examination of the major traditions in painting from the fourth through the thirteenth centuries and the parallel developments in art theory.
154 Studies in Later Chinese Painting (4) F, W, S. New developments in Yuan, Ming, and Qing, through modern periods.
159 Japanese Buddhist Art (4) F, W, S. Traces the history of Buddhist Art in Japan from its introduction in the late sixth century through developments in subsequent periods.
161 Studies in Early Japanese Painting (4) F, W, S. Varying topics examining major developments in the history of Japanese painting from the seventh through the seventeenth centuries.
162 Later Japanese Art and Design. Explores stylistic and technical developments in Japanese visual culture. A cross-section of media such as architecture, crafts, painting, photography, and sculpture are studied in relation to Japanese social and political history. Concurrent with Art History 262A, B, C.
162A Japanese Art: 1615-1868 (4). (VII-B)
162B Japanese Art: 1868-1945 (4). (VII-B)
162C Japanese Art: 1945-Present (4). (VII-B)
163 Asian American Art History (4) F, W, S. Investigation of the Asian American experience expressed by art and visual culture through the twentieth century. Art by Asian Americans of diverse backgrounds as well as the history of visualization of Asian identities in American art/visual culture. Concurrent with Art History 263. (VII-A)
164 African-American Art
164A African-American Art: 1650-1900 (4). Explores African-American history and identity through the architecture, crafts, decorative arts, graphics, painting, sculpture, and photography produced by North Americans of African descent during the colonial through post-Emancipation eras. (VII-A)
164B African-American Art: 1900-Present (4). Examines relationships between aesthetic and social struggles in modern architecture, film, graphics, painting, photography, sculpture, video, and new media by African-Americans. (VII-A)
165 Studies in American Art F, W, S. Varying topics within the period 1620 to 1950. Works of art are studied in their cultural, social, and political contexts. Concurrent with Art History 265A, B, C, D.
165A American Art: 1620-1800 (4)
165B American Art: 1800-1900 (4)
165C American Art: 1900-1950 (4)
165D Topics in American Art (4). Varies with each offering. Consult with instructor for specific topic. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.
175 Studies in Native and Tribal Art (4) F, W, S. Varying topics on the art and culture of native and tribal societies. For example, North American Indians. Concurrent with Art History 275.
180 Criticism of Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics discussed on the theoretical and/or practical dimensions of art historical criticism. Concurrent with Art History 280.
183 Studies in the History of Photography F, W, S. Varying topics within the history of photography from the early nineteenth century to the present. Photographic practice studied in relation to art history, cultural history, and social history. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Concurrent with Art History 283A, B, C.
183A Nineteenth-Century Photographic History (4)
183B Twentieth-Century Photographic History (4)
183C Selected Topics in Photographic History (4). Examples: documentary; pictorialism and art photography; photomontage, photographic books.
185 Topics in Visual Studies (4) F, W, S, Summer. Interdisciplinary topics on the cultural analysis of visual artifacts and practices. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.
190 Practicum for Majors (4) W. Theory and practice of art history with emphasis on formal and social models of analyzing and writing about art. Prerequisite: Art History major, junior standing, and completion of the lower-division writing requirement.
All advanced problems, special studies, and independent study courses may be repeated for credit.
198 Proseminar in Art History (4) F, W, S. Discussion and report-oriented seminar with emphasis on reading, writing, and thinking about problems in art history. Topics vary according to the faculty member in charge. Examples: Caravaggio and his followers, Dunhuang painting. Prerequisite: Art History major or consent of instructor.
199 Independent Study in Art History (1 to 4) F, W, S. Supervised, but independent reading or research on art historical topics. Prerequisite: consent of supervising instructor. May be taken for credit four times. Formerly Art History 196.
Topics within a given area may vary from quarter to quarter, and courses may be repeated for credit when this occurs. In addition to the courses below, graduate courses satisfying the requirements of the graduate program in Visual Studies are listed in the Visual Studies and Film Studies sections of the Catalogue. Graduate students may also enroll concurrently in any upper-division lecture class with the approval of the instructor.
200 Studies in Ancient Art (4). Topics in Egyptian, Prehistoric, and Etruscan art of the Mediterranean area treated with specific reference to relevant cultural and historical settings. Specialized courses in Greek and Roman art are also taught. Concurrent with Art History 100.
210 Studies in Medieval Art (4) F, W, S. Specialized topics in Medieval art and architecture in Europe, the Mediterranean area, and the Near East between the fourth and fifteenth centuries. Examples: the art of the Migration Period, Medieval City. Concurrent with Art History 110.
220 Studies in Renaissance and Baroque Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics on the art and architecture of Europe between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries. Examples: Renaissance and Baroque prints, Brugel to Rubens. Concurrent with Art History 120.
230 Studies in Eighteenth-Century Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics determined by individual faculty members exploring historical developments and individual artists of the eighteenth century. Examples: English art, Neoclassicism. Concurrent with Art History 130.
234 Studies in Modern European Art F, W, S. Varying topics within the period 1643 to 1940. Works of art are studied as cultural, social, and political practices. Concurrent with Art History 134A, B, C, D, E.
234A European Art: 1643-1789 (4)
234B European Art: 1789-1851 (4). Formerly Art History 233A.
234C European Art: 1851-1907 (4). Formerly Art History 233B.
234D European Art: 1907-1940 (4). Formerly Art History 233C.
234E Topics in Modern European Art (4). Varies with each offering. Consult with the instructor for specific topic. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Formerly Art History 233D.
240 Studies in Contemporary Art F, W, S. Varying topics within the period 1940 to the present. Works of art are studied as cultural, social, and political practices. Concurrent with Art History 140A, B, C.
240A: History of Contemporary Art (4)
240B: Issues of Contemporary Art (4)
240C: Theories of Contemporary Art (4)
250 Studies in Asian Art (4) F, W, S. Topics include visual studies in China, Japan, Korea, and India. Concurrent with Art History 150.
262 Later Japanese Art and Design. Explores stylistic and technical developments in Japanese visual culture. A cross-section of media such as architecture, crafts, painting, photography, and sculpture are studied in relation to Japanese social and political history. Concurrent with Art History 162A, B, C.
262A Japanese Art: 1615-1868 (4)
262B Japanese Art: 1868-1945 (4)
262C Japanese Art: 1945-Present (4)
263 Asian American Art History (4) F, W, S. Investigation of the Asian American experience expressed by art and visual culture through the twentieth century. Art by Asian Americans of diverse backgrounds as well as the history of visualization of Asian identities in American art/visual culture. Concurrent with Art History 163.
265 Studies in American Art F, W, S. Varying topics within the period 1620 to 1950. Works of art are studied in their cultural, social, and political contexts. Concurrent with Art History 165A, B, C, D.
265A American Art: 1620-1800 (4)
265B American Art: 1800-1900 (4)
265C American Art: 1900-1950 (4)
265D Topics in American Art (4). Varies with each offering. Consult with instructor for specific topic. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.
275 Studies in Native and Tribal Art (4) F, W, S. Varying topics on the art and culture of native and tribal societies. For example, North American Indians. Concurrent with Art History 175.
280 Criticism of Art (4) F, W, S. Selected topics discussed on the theoretical and/or practical dimensions of art historical criticism. Concurrent with Art History 180.
283 Studies in the History of Photography F, W, S. Varying topics within the history of photography from the early nineteenth century to the present. Photographic practice studied in relation to art history, cultural history, and social history. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Concurrent with Art History 183A, B, C.
283A Nineteenth-Century Photographic History (4)
283B Twentieth-Century Photographic History (4)
283C Selected Topics in Photographic History (4). Examples: documentary; pictorialism and art photography; photomontage, photographic books.
399 University Teaching (4) F, W, S. Limited to teaching assistants. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated for credit.
