This course is intended as an introduction to looking at works of art,
particularly painting, sculpture and architecture created by African 
Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans.
The development of critical thinking skills is an important course
objective. Value will be placed on student work that demonstrates a
student's: 1) willingness to raise a broad range of significant
questions, 2) ability to think empathetically, 3) aptitude for exploring
underlying beliefs and basic assumptions of an idea, 4) competence in
dealing fairmindedly with conflicting points of view and 5) capability
in accepting uncertainty, ambiguity, and lack of resolution when no
single meaning or interpretation can be found.  This course satisfies
the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences diversity requirement; the
ultimate objective is to have students gain greater understanding of
diversity issues and the role of the artist in a multicultural context.

In ARTS 2050, students will broaden their understanding and appreciation of visual
art created by culturally diverse groups within the socio-cultural context of North
America. Students will enhance their critical thinking skills by interpreting,
constructing, and deconstructing the personal and shared meanings attached to works
of art made by African Americans, Latin Americans, Native Americans, and Asian Americans.

Topics to be discussed:

Navajo Art
Inuit Aesthetics
Western Aesthetics
Indian Mascot Issue
Aztec Aesthetics
Analytic Model of Art Criticism
Mexican Muralism
Frida Kahlo and Rufino Tamayo
Contemporary Latin American Art
African American Art of…
	Colonial America
	19th C.
	1900-1960
	20th C.
Modernism v. Postmodernism
Asian Iconography and Influence
Chinese American Influence
Japanese Experience
Philipino, Korean, Indochinese, Interchanges and Galleries

Required texts:

Berlo, J. C. & Phillips, R. B.  (1998).  Native North American Art.  NY.  Oxford
      University Press.

Kim, E. H., Machida, M., & Mizota, S.  (2003).  Fresh Talk Daring Gazes:
      Conversations on Asian American Art.  Berkeley, CA: University of California 
      Press.

Lucie-Smith, E.  (1993).  Latin American Art of the 20th Century.  NY: Thames and
      Hudson.

Patton, S. F. (1998).  African-American Art.  NY: Oxford University Press.


Additional readings provided online at WebCT