Artemisia Gentileschi, one of the most significant women artists of the Baroque period, worked against all odds at a time when art was dominated by men, becoming the first woman to be accepted by the Academy of the Arts in Florence. Art historian Joseph Paul Cassar surveys her works—notable for dramatic paintings that portray strong biblical heroines—and discusses her training in the workshop of her father. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)
Strategically located for trade, rich in resources, and containing a variety of cultural traditions, the civilizations of Southeast Asia are among the most dynamic in the world. Art historian Robert DeCaroli examines the cultural and artistic traditions of ancient Southeast Asia with a focus on the royal arts of the great civilizations that arose within the borders of modern Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Burma (Myanmar), and Vietnam. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)
With climate change seemingly spiraling out of control, it’s easy to become consumed by anxiety when contemplating the future of our planet. Drawing on her book Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet, Hannah Ritchie, deputy editor and lead researcher of the online scientific publication Our World in Data, challenges this prevailing narrative. She examines how optimism and lifestyle changes can augment the development of sustainable solutions that preserve nature as well as our own well-being—countering despair with the beginning of a better future.
Under the artistic direction of maestro Charlie Young, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra has celebrated some of the greatest jazz music throughout its 33-year history as one of the crown jewels of the National Museum of American History. The 2023–2024 SJMO season adds new excitement and luster to that musical tradition with this in-person concert honoring Duke Ellington.
Join multidisciplinary artist Spencer Finch in conversation with curator Sarah Newman of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Finch, best known for his large-scale, site-specific works that explore changing landscapes, discusses his work and process as well as the ways in which environmentalism connects to what he does.
For more than 125 years, filmmakers have been drawn to the vitality of New York City. Its universally recognized landmarks, diverse neighborhoods, and 8 million stories have helped make the city a featured player in over 17,000 movies, including King Kong, West Side Story, and Taxi Driver. Media historian Brian Rose demonstrates the changing ways New York has been captured on film and why it remains a star attraction today.
A December 16, 1944, surprise attack by German troops on Allied forces in Belgium’s Ardennes region sparked an American counteroffensive called the Battle of the Bulge. Five weeks of combat over snow-covered ground in freezing temperatures forced German troops to withdraw, with the Allies claiming victory. Military historian Mitch Yockelson shares the history of the battle and its significance as a turning point of World War II.