Issues in Art: Conversation and Controversy

Art has always been more than an aesthetic experience—it is a site of power, protest, and provocation. This course explores key controversies in art history and contemporary practice, examining how art reflects and shapes cultural values while engaging with critical issues around race, gender, identity, sexuality, and equity. From Ruskin’s fiery critique of Whistler’s Nocturne in Black and Gold to the debates over the Elgin Marbles and the uproar surrounding Andres Serrano’s Piss Christ and Chris Ofili’s The Holy Virgin Mary, students will investigate how art challenges societal norms and raises essential questions about ownership, representation, and morality. By analyzing works that unsettle and inspire, students will cultivate a deeper understanding of art’s capacity to challenge power structures, foster dialogue, and illuminate the complexities of the human experience.

To successfully complete this course, students will need access to a laptop or desktop computer with a reliable internet connection and a working webcam and microphone. This course may also require purchase of texts or other course materials.

This Fixed-Paced course incorporates a blend of synchronous and asynchronous elements. Students and teacher meet live via zoom on a regular weekly schedule. In addition, students complete coursework including guided readings, interactive videos, text and video-based discussion threads, problem sets, individual and collaborative projects, and so on. While these activities are time-flexible, teachers sequence them with weekly deadlines to help students keep on track and encourage and support the development of productive time management skills.

During the course orientation period, CLI asks students to complete a survey on their availability for live class meetings. Teachers set individual class meeting times based on student responses.