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In this final lecture in his series on iconography, art historian Noah Charney focuses attention on works that reveal their secrets only to the initiated. He traces the hidden messages, social satire, and political subtext embedded in The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews by Thomas Gainsborough, and Giovanni Bellini’s enigmatic Sacred Allegory. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Gardens are at their most compelling when they carry more than plants: when they echo history, material presence, and the quiet authority of objects shaped by hand and weather. Design historian and passionate gardener Elizabeth Lay Little explores how selecting the right antique object can enhance a space whether your garden leans cottage or formal.
While scientists have come a long way toward deciphering the laws of the universe, many of them still regard time as one of the greatest unsolved mysteries. Physicist and science presenter Jim Al-Khalili explores questions such as whether time has a beginning and an end; why it points toward the future and not the past; and whether time is even real—which he argues that it is.
This class is for students wanting to master the standing figure and explore dynamic ways to dress it up. Experiment with rendering various fabrics such as satin, velvet, and sheers. Students are invited to try mixed-media options in addition to ink and watercolor.
The late 19th century in New York City was an era of exquisite mansions, palatial public buildings, and beautiful parks—magnificent markers of the Gilded Age. Yet the city was a study in dichotomies whose contrasting facets were noted in the writings of Edith Wharton and Henry James and exposed in the photographs of Jacob Riis. George Scheper, a lecturer at Johns Hopkins University, surveys this cultural panorama. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
The anime creations of Studio Ghibli in Japan have traversed the globe since it was founded in 1985. Linda Ehrlich, who has taught Asian studies and Japanese film for several universities, focuses on the artistic and cultural influences of two of the studio’s key films: Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi, 2001), directed by Miyazaki Hayao, and The Tale of Princess Kaguya (Kaguya-hime, 2013), directed by Takahata Isao. She also analyzes other Studio Ghibli films.
This five-session course is an introduction to live figure drawing. Working with charcoal and graphite on paper, students become familiar with classical formats for figure drawing sessions. Through practice, demonstrations, and group discussions, students learn and gain confidence drawing human models.
The storyline of Paris can be followed along the banks of its iconic River Seine. On both the Right Bank and the Left, evidence of the city's 2,000-year history, the figures who shaped it across the centuries, and the artistic and architectural movements that originated here can be seen. In a 2-part series, journey with freelance travel writer Barbara Noe Kennedy as you discover intriguing sites, historical aspects, and art in this virtual exploration using maps, photos, and videos. This session focuses on the Left Bank of Paris.
Learn to capture the depth of field, motion effects, and exposure you want by quickly making camera adjustments in the field. Topics covered include ISO, apertures, shutter speeds, exposure modes, metering modes, exposure compensation, and histograms.
Americans have long viewed major trials as public dramas that reveal enduring social tensions. Historian Michael Ross argues that the most memorable cases matter because the conflicts they expose never fully fade. His series revisits four landmark trials—involving witchcraft in New England, an accused Gilded Age double murderess, the evolution debate, and the controversial Chicago Seven—showing how each became a flashpoint for its era and why their echoes still shape American society.
