Austin Porter

This course examines visual culture in the United States from the late nineteenth century to the present day. We will analyze a variety of cultural artifacts, including fine art, film, commercial design, advertising, and popular culture. Major topics considered include the relationship between high and low culture, the role of mass media in American society, and the persistence of folk traditions in everyday life. We will also address how museums and public monuments and memorials define national identity. Other major issues include the evolving representation of race, class, gender, and war. Finally, we will examine American visual culture in an international context. This course is cross-listed in the Department of Art History and counts as an intermediate course in the art history major. No prerequisite.

This course explores specific problems in American art and architecture. Topics include Modernism and the Great Depression, World War II and Abstract Expressionism and the relationship between art and politics broadly speaking. When possible, students will utilize regional museum collections. Assignments will include seminar reports, class discussion and a research paper. This course is the same as ARHS 378D. This counts toward the Europe and the Americas place and the after 1800 time requirements for the major and must be taken as ARHS 378D to count towards the fine arts requirement. This course can be repeated up to two times for credit, so long as they cover different topics. Prerequisite: ARHS 111, 227D, AMST 109 or equivalent.

This course surveys Western art and architecture from the Renaissance to the present. Framing the study of art history within a social context, this course provides students with the tools for understanding style and interpreting meaning in individual works of art. Although this is a lecture format, discussion is encouraged. This counts toward the introductory course and Europe and Americas place requirements for the major. No prerequisite. Offered every semester.

This course examines the visual representation of race between the early modern era and the present. We consider how factors including indigenous material culture, slavery, immigration, migration, war and political activism have shaped visual culture and modern art. In addition to traditional forms of fine art, such as painting, sculpture, photography and prints, students also consider cartoons, advertising, film and other forms of mass media. We also address the relationship between race and museums, monuments and memorials. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the after 1800 time requirement for the major. Prerequisite: ARHS 111, AMST 108 or permission of instructor.

Beginning with abstract expressionism, this course critically addresses the development of high modernism in New York after World War II. Students analyze the importance of American art criticism during the 1950s before tracing the resistance to associated ideologies as seen in the global emergence of pop art, minimalism, conceptual art and feminist art. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the after 1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: ARHS 111 or permission of instructor.

Beginning with Postmodernism, this course examines the primary themes of the expanding contemporary art scene since the late 20th century. Issues and movements addressed include installation art, neo-Expressionism, graffiti art, conceptual art and theory, performance and video art, the AIDS crisis and identity politics, and the globalized art market. The relationship between art and social issues is emphasized. As we address a fairly short period of time, this course combines a chronological and thematic approach. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the after 1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: ARHS 111.

This course explores specific problems in American art and architecture. Topics include Modernism and the Great Depression, World War II and Abstract Expressionism, and the relationship between art and politics, broadly speaking. When possible, students utilize regional museum collections. Assignments include seminar reports, class discussion and a research paper. This course is the same as AMST 378D. This counts toward the Europe and the Americas place and the after 1800 time requirements for the major and must be taken as ARHS 378D to count towards the fine arts requirement. This course can be repeated up to two times for credit, so long as each covers different topics. Prerequisite: ARHS 111, 227D, AMST 109 or equivalent.

Required of all senior majors and recommended for senior minors, this course serves as a capstone to the study of art history. Students study the foundations of the discipline, explore the variety of methodological approaches employed by art historians, and assess current theoretical issues in the field. Prerequisite: senior standing. Offered every fall semester.

Honors is for students with demonstrated ability to work on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member. A minimum 3.33 cumulative grade-point average and a minimum 3.5 GPA in the major are required. Students undertaking an honors thesis must have had at least one (and preferably two) intermediate or advanced courses at Kenyon in the topic area. Endorsement of the project by the proposed thesis advisor is mandatory before submitting an application for honors. Previous completion of a research paper in art history (preferably in the area of honors specialization) is essential. Meeting the minimum GPA does not automatically qualify a student for honors. Typically, if a student has written an exceptionally well-researched and well-written art history paper, and meets the other criteria for acceptance into honors, a professor might suggest that the student undertake a related topic as an honors thesis. Alternately, students can discuss pursuing an honors thesis with their academic advisor and a potential thesis advisor. The project must be supervised by an art history professor who agrees and is available to serve as the honors thesis advisor and whose interests and expertise coincide with the proposed project. In either case, the student then works closely with the thesis advisor to develop a project proposal to be submitted to the art history faculty. Departmental approval must be obtained during the spring semester preceding work on the thesis. Permission of instructor and department chair are required.

Honors is for students with demonstrated ability to work on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member. A minimum 3.33 cumulative grade-point average and a minimum 3.5 GPA in the major are required. Students undertaking an honors thesis must have had at least one (and preferably two) intermediate or advanced courses at Kenyon in the topic area. Endorsement of the project by the proposed thesis advisor is mandatory before submitting an application for honors. Previous completion of a research paper in art history (preferably in the area of honors specialization) is essential. Meeting the minimum GPA does not automatically qualify a student for honors. Typically, if a student has written an exceptionally well-researched and well-written art history paper, and meets the other criteria for acceptance into honors, a professor might suggest that the student undertake a related topic as an honors thesis. Alternately, students can discuss pursuing an honors thesis with their academic advisor and a potential thesis advisor. The project must be supervised by an art history professor who agrees and is available to serve as the honors thesis advisor and whose interests and expertise coincide with the proposed project. In either case, the student then works closely with the thesis advisor to develop a project proposal to be submitted to the art history faculty. Departmental approval must be obtained during the spring semester preceding work on the thesis. Permission of instructor and department chair are required.