ARHI 201 is a survey course designed to introduce developments in artistic expression from cave drawings and the monuments of the ancient world to the paintings, sculpture and architecture of 15th-century northern Europe. Students learn to look at art and see it within the social and political context of the time in which it was created.
Objectives
Learn how to look at art in terms of its visually descriptive aspects and corresponding materials of production.
Understand the functions of visual art in the periods covered in the course.
Examine and understand the iconographical significance of important historical works.
Within the historical parameters of the course, achieve a general overview of the history and developments of western visual art, its major periods, movements, concepts, and artists.
Have acquired an art and architecture vocabulary and be able to use it in relation to specific works.
Be able to initiate a critical discussion on how works of art form part of a larger set of relationships that include artist and society.
Outline
Lesson 1: Introduction to Art History
Lesson 2: Prehistoric and Near Eastern Art
Lesson 3: Art and Architecture of the Ancient Egyptians
Lesson 4: Aegean and Greek Art
Lesson 5: Art and Architecture of the Etruscans and Romans
Lesson 6: Early Jewish, Early Christian, Byzantine, and Islamic Art
Lesson 7: Early Medieval and Romanesque Art
Lesson 8: Gothic and Italian Art and Architecture
Evaluation
To receive credit for ARHI 201, you must achieve a course composite mark of at least a D (50 percent) and a mark of at least 50 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the composite mark is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Self-Assessment Study Questions
15%
Essay
15%
Term Paper
35%
Final Exam
35%
Total
100%
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Davies, Penelope J. E., Walter B. Denny, Frima Fox Hofrichter, Joseph Jacobs, Ann M. Roberts and David L. Simon. Janson's History of Art: The Western Tradition. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2011. (eText)
All other learning resources will be available online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the ARHI 201 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on each part of the examination.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.