Whether deciding on lunch or a career, changing our routines or other people’s minds, it can feel difficult to make the decisions that align with the things we care about. Neuroscientist Emily Falk, author of What We Value: The Neuroscience of Choice and Change, explains how we can work strategically with our brains to make more fulfilling choices by connecting our decisions with our core values, which can make us less defensive, broaden our curiosity through different perspectives, and spark innovation.
Pointillism, the painting form based on tiny dots of color used by Georges Seurat and Paul Signac, found only a few followers because of its slow and fastidious method of precision work. It was, however, embraced at times by painters including the Cubists, Matisse, and contemporary artists such as Chuck Close. Art historian Joseph P. Cassar surveys the development of Pointillism as a technique and artistic movement. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Artists in Britain have delved into all major genres of painting, including historical subjects, landscapes, still life, and portraiture. Art historian Bonita Billman examines the major artists and movements in British painting, the social and cultural context in which their works were created, and the pivotal roles these painters have played from the Tudor period to the present. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)
The Olmec culture on Mexico’s southern gulf coast, best known for creating colossal stone heads more than 3,000 years ago, produced other distinctive artworks in a variety of materials. It also has left some of the earliest evidence of urban planning in North America and of a system of numbering and of glyphic writing. Cultural historian George Scheper explores the archaeological and sculptural wonders of the Olmec, along with their role in shaping the culture of Mesoamerica.
Tracing the history of Western architecture is like looking back at a long trail of footprints in the sand. Each step marks a particular moment of the journey, just as architectural movements and styles mark distinct moments in Western history. By examining four historical periods in Western architecture, Rocky Ruggiero, an architectural historian and expert in Renaissance art, traces the development of architectural styles, traditions, trends, and forms beginning in the ancient world and continuing through to the present day. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)
At Hollywood’s height, Joan Crawford and Bette Davis reigned supreme among leading ladies. Though similar, they differed in their approaches to acting and in the types of roles they chose. In a spring series, film historian Max Alvarez leads a gloriously melodramatic journey through the volatile lives and unforgettable careers of two extraordinary stars. Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night—or two. This session focuses on Bette Davis.
Shakespeare’s history plays are criticized by many today for their “unfair” or “non-historical” portrayals of some of England’s most famous figures. In a day-long seminar Tudor historian Carol Ann Lloyd-Stanger dives into the world of the Henrys, Richards, and other rulers to examine these plays’ intent; how their author used English history and his imagination to tell stories that met his political and economic goals; and the ways these works continue to affect our understanding of history.
The New Deal art projects were created to provide financial relief to artists in the form of employment during the Depression. By design, the Federal Art Project (FAP) was intended to be race-blind, so many Black artists hoped these programs would redress their chronic disadvantages. Art historian Mary Ann Calo argues that although FAP administrators sought to address the needs of the Black artistic community, the impact was undermined by their unwillingness to address the consequences of institutional discrimination and systemic racism. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
