ARTH 160A - Humanities Learning Community

Unit(s): 4

ARTH 160 A/B is a year long course, which features weekly lectures and small seminars. It constitutes a Humanities Learning Community (HLC) for any first-year student. It is open to all majors. Students taking this course can not get credit for ARTH 210 and ARTH 211. Why do humans make art? What does art reveal to us about cultures both historical and contemporary? This learning community introduces students to art and architecture from societies throughout the world while also building important college and life skills. Over the course of the year, we move from the earliest prehistoric cave paintings to modern experiments in the twenty-first century. Throughout, we will keep in mind that art is a fundamental component of human culture. We will study art that supports political power or undermines it, art active in ritual and religion, objects that express cultural aspirations and anxieties, and more. We consider gender, hierarchy, religion, death, and the power of representation over two semesters progressing roughly chronologically. All First Year Learning Community courses address building academic skills, a sense of community, the transition to college, and developing personal, social, and academic independence. ARTH160A/B offers substantial GE credit with a grade of C- or better both semesters.

Prerequisite(s): This course is restricted to first-time first-year students.
GE Category: A3 - Critical Thinking
Typically Offered Fall Only
May Be Repeated No
Teaching Mode: Face-to-Face, Hybrid & Online Grading: Graded