ART 215
Art History Survey (GE)
1. Catalog Entry
ART 215
Art History Survey
Credit hours (3)
A survey of art through a study of styles, iconography, media, and terminology within
a broad cultural context. The course covers prehistory through Gothic, with an emphasis
on Western art. Even with the exclusion of non-western cultures, the spectrum of media
and cultures is quite broad from the Middle East to Northern Europe. Where possible, the influence of gender, politics, religion and economic factors on art and other cultural products will be examined.
Note(s): General Education and Cultural or Behavioral Analysis designated course.
2. Detailed Description of Course
This is the first of two introductory courses in art history that together cover the
history of Western art from Prehistoric times to the present. The course is designed
for art students who will take upper level art history courses and as a core curriculum
elective in the visual arts for students in other majors. The focus is on painting,
sculpture, and architecture of Western civilizations. The content and style of the
art in each period will be examined in key works of art. The course uses a chronological
organization and covers the following periods:
1) Prehistoric Art
2) Ancient Egyptian Art
3) Ancient Near Eastern Art
4) Aegean Art
5) Greek Art
6) Etruscan Art
7) Roman Art
8) Early Christian and Byzantine Art
9) Early Medieval Art
10)Romanesque Art
11)Gothic Art
3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
This is a lecture course, but class participation in the analysis of works of art
is encouraged. Digital projection of art works and other media are used in class.
This class will be conducted in strict observance of the Honor Code. Students are
referred to the Student Handbook for details.
4. Goals and Objectives of the Course
At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to:
Identify and evaluate ways in which the visual and performing arts reflect and communicate
aspects of the human experience.
To meet this goal, students will
1) Evaluate works of art using the correct terminology and syntax associated with
each medium and period covered in the class.
2) Identify the relationship between works of art studied and the specific historical,
cultural and social contexts of those art works.
3) Develop the ability to make cross-cultural comparisons of the relationship of media to the culture which produced them.
4) For all periods covered in this class, students will demonstrate their understanding
of the ways in which interactions between human behaviors, cultural beliefs
and political systems influence the meaning and role of art within that period culture.
5. Assessment Measures
A variety of assessment measures are used. These may include short-answer tests, comparison
essay questions, short essays and other forms of analysis.
6. Other Course Information
There are no extra credit options for this course. There are no prerequisites for
this class. Art majors and non-art majors may take it. The art major may use either
this or ART216 for core curriculum credit.
If the student has a learning disability recognized by the Disabled Student Services
Office at Radford University, he or she should advise the professor of the nature
of the disability during the first week of class.
Tape recording of class lectures is not normally permitted unless the student has
a learning disability recognized by Radford University and the professor receives
a formal request from the Disabled Student Services Office. At his or her discretion,
the professor may allow tape recording under other special circumstances.
Review and Approval
March 18, 2005
2012
June 20, 2015
March 01, 2021