ARTH 3500 - African American Art

(crosslisted)
(also AMST 3500, ASRC 3500, VISST 3500) (LA-AS)

Fall. 4 credits.

C. Finley.

This course investigates the different forms of African-American visual artistic traditions in relation to their historical origins and sociocultural context from the early days of slavery to the present time. We start with an overview of African art and the experiences of the Middles Passage and slavery in relation to African-American traditions in the decorative arts including: pottery, architecture, ironwork, quilt making, and basketry. This is followed by a fine-art survey starting with the 18th and 19th centuries and continuing through the early-20th-century Harlem Renaissance up to the present. Certain issues related to African-American arts and creativity such as improvisation, Black Aesthetic, and Pan Africanism also are explored. Slides, films, and filmstrips are used extensively to illustrate topics discussed. Visits to museums and relevant current exhibitions may be arranged.