ART 140 - Fantasy in Western Art

Art inspires the feeling of wonder. Through the imagination of artists, we can glimpse the awesome, the impossible, and the terrific. However, since artists are of this world, their work draws from historical and earthbound experiences, and the fantasies in art tell us about that moment’s natural, material, and social conditions. This course introduces Western art that engages the visionary and the fantastical. The class presents an alternative to the traditional survey: it loosely follows the chronology of art from the Early Modern or Renaissance period to today but remains organized around themes and high-impact activities rather than encyclopedic lectures. Though all are welcome, first-years and sophomores are especially encouraged to enroll since this course teaches skills to help you transition to advanced undergraduate coursework. We will develop academic reading and writing skills in various formats, from a digital story to a scholarly research paper, broken down into discrete steps with ample opportunity to receive feedback, grow, and develop your critical thinking and intellectual identity.

We will also play a live role-playing game called Reacting to the Past, in which we take on actual historical figures to debate, curate a virtual exhibition, and follow the art historical transition from traditional and neoclassical paintings to the dreamlike images of Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Symbolism. On the one hand, our discussions will build awareness of the tragic consequences of fantasy like colonialism, systemic oppression, and environmental extraction. On the other hand, we will balance criticism with generative and hopeful imaginaries like speculative futures, critical fabulation, and world-building to actualize a more just, equitable, and inclusive society.

Satisfies Art major and minor requirements
Satisfies Visual and Performing Arts requirement.