The more than 40 concertos of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are among the greatest bodies of work that exist in the Western concert music canon. From vivacious early experiments to the magisterial later masterworks, the composer’s sublime invention never dimmed. Pianist and scholar Rachel Franklin explores how Mozart built the modern concerto form with inexhaustible creativity and shaped our contemporary expectations of virtuosity allied with expressive power.
With a dynamic and far-reaching history that spans the Neolithic period to the modern age, Chinese civilization has given rise to some of the world’s most remarkable artistic creations. Art historian Robert DeCaroli explores that complex legacy by examining how shifts in China’s social, religious, and political life have influenced transformations in its material culture. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)
Since Jaws scared a nation of moviegoers out of the water nearly 50 years ago, great white sharks have attained a mythic status as the most frightening and mysterious monsters to still live among us. Journalist Susan Casey became obsessed with these awe-inspiring creatures and has joined scientists on their expeditions to study the species. Dive in as Casey discusses her time spent among the great whites as well as the latest in great white shark research.
For centuries, the royal court in London was the political, social, and cultural headquarters of the nation. A formal gathering there was a glittering stage where a guest could increase their power, consolidate their family’s importance, and share gossip and tales of palace intrigues—all with the goal of capturing the eye of the sovereign. Historian Robert Bucholz reveals why anybody who was anybody—or who longed to be somebody—coveted an invitation to court.
In this class, learn the strategies artists such as Rembrandt, Daumier, Cézanne, and Vermeer used to harness light and unify, intensify, and give dimension to their images. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
The words Gilded Age capture it all: A golden era of opulent architecture, extravagant fashions, stunning art, and above all, the wealth that made it possible. Art historian Bonita Billman examines the art, architecture, fashion, and interior design of the upper crust during this period between 1870 and 1912 and explores the dramatic distance between their lives and those on the other end of the social and economic scales. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)
Quilting is a tradition that has transcended the limits of culture and eras. Throughout the centuries, styles and techniques evolved, but the common thread in the creation of quilts was often their makers: women. Led by Alden O’Brien, textile and costumes curator at the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, visit three museums to explore the role quilting has played in our society, including how it has been used to express emotion and act as a force of social justice.