The 1950s in America is thought of as a pleasant and placid decade, an era of conformity and good cheer, Leave It to Beaver, men in gray flannel suits and women in the kitchen. But it was also the decade of Emmett Till, the Little Rock Nine, Little Richard, Joseph McCarthy, air-raid drills, and Rebel Without a Cause. Leonard Steinhorn, a professor at American University, examines the politics, music, media, popular culture, and race relations of a far more complex decade than memory might suggest.
Working amid the vibrant creativity of 15th-century Florence, the sculptor Donatello emerged as one of the most innovative and influential artists of the Renaissance. A true master of technique, he revolutionized sculpture by breaking new ground in both the methods he employed and the forms he developed. Art historian Elaine Ruffolo delves into the life and artistry of Donatello, who explored the human experience with a boldness and depth that still resonates, leaving behind a legacy of works that seem remarkably modern in their emotional complexity and technical execution. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
As soon as television began in the late 1940s, advertising was a vital part of the picture. Media historian Brian Rose examines how advertising evolved during television’s first two decades and the important role it played in convincing viewers that the key to happiness was to buy their way into the American dream.
It’s hard to identify the je ne sais quoi that gives Paris its powerful appeal. What elements at its heart have set it apart over the centuries? In a 2-part series, art historian Janetta Rebold Benton unravels Paris's evolution into a global cultural icon, delving into its history of art and architecture shaped by remarkable creators. From the Middle Ages to today, she illuminates the enduring allure and timeless secrets of the City of Light. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)
Overshadowed for many decades, women artists who made important contributions to the Abstract Expressionist movement are finally getting their due. Most notable were five painters whose work was featured in the groundbreaking Ninth Street Art Exhibition of 1951. Art historian Nancy G. Heller examines the art and lives of these “Ninth Street Women,” their relationships with their male counterparts, and the gender-related obstacles they had to overcome to claim their place in a changing art world. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
The feats and names of baseball’s Negro Leagues stars are legendary: Satchel Paige, James “Cool Papa” Bell, Josh Gibson, and more. The story of the league and its players is more than a history of sports: It’s a story about American society. Historian Louis Moore explores how baseball became Black America’s game; the rise and fall of the Negro Leagues; and what inclusion of their stats into those of today’s Major League Baseball means for the past and present players.
The enigmatic boxes created by Joseph Cornell have confounded, astonished, and entranced viewers for decades. These mysterious juxtapositions of ordinary objects have been parsed, interpreted, speculated upon, and simply relished by art historians and museumgoers alike. Art critic Judy Pomeranz examines Cornell’s astonishing life and explores why his iconic boxes continue to deeply touch viewers around the world. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
During India’s colonial period (1757–1947), the British imperial system sought out Indian resources for exploitation and had a dramatic impact on the traditional arts and crafts of the subcontinent. Art historian Robert DeCaroli traces the rising influence of European powers in South Asia. Topics include the late art of the Mughal Empire, Company painting, Orientalism, photography, traditional crafts for domestic and foreign markets, Indo-Saracenic architecture, and colonial museums. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)
