3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

Although visual storytelling has been a goal of artists and craftspeople throughout history, the dominant voices in early and mid-20th-century art and criticism expressed a preference for non-representational imagery and the investigation of purely formal properties. Today’s artists have once again embraced narrative possibilities and are able to deploy an exciting and expanded range of media and technology. Through their often unruly and at times transgressive stories, contemporary artists seek to represent personal identity, critique institutions and society, assert humanistic values, and entertain. Led by The Baltimore Museum of Art’s Senior Curator of Contemporary Art Kristen Hileman, students will engage in the visual and conceptual analysis of specific artworks to decipher narrative qualities. Among the many artists to be discussed, those that are part of the BMA’s contemporary collection and exhibitions program will be given particular attention. These include Sophie Calle, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Mary Reid Kelley and Patrick Kelley, Meleko Mokgosi, Ryan Trecartin and Lizzie Fitch, and John Waters. This course aims to enhance knowledge of art history, recent developments in art, and visual literacy.