Art of the 21st Century

ART HIS 800.15

This class will explore the state of art and the changes that have occurred within the international art world since the start of the new millennium, with a major focus on the impact of the events of 2020.

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What you can learn.

Discuss how and to what extent is the restitution/repatriation of looted art to be made
Understand what an equitable, inclusive art world could look like
Question whether the roles artists play in society has been altered
Consider how lay-offs, furloughs, firings, and closings have affected museums and the gallery system

About this course:

Given the turmoil caused by national politics, the pandemic, and social justice movements during the past two years, the art world as we have known it has been considerably altered. This class is devoted to exploring art and the art world as they appear today. It is organized thematically so as to explore a range of topics. Among them is Black visibility, the fact that Black artists, long unrepresented in museums and the art scene at large, have emerged in huge numbers with provocative works of quality and import. We consider at length artists who seek to remedy historical blindness through a direct confrontation with art history and Old and Modern Masters. Contemporary Feminist Art, the subject of a recent spate of exhibitions on an international scale, is examined in relation to earlier manifestations dating back to the 1960s. Jasper Johns, widely considered America’s greatest living artist, is currently the subject of two major linked exhibitions on the East Coast. Like these exhibitions, the class investigates the artist’s approach to content, with a focus on his later work. The current state of galleries and museums is also explored, as the traditional roles and make-up of each have been challenged and redefined in myriad ways. New museum and gallery structures, issues of cultural preservation, and the contrast between the museum experience and commercial art immersive experiences are examined. Instruction consists of lecture/presentations, meetings with guest speakers, and guided class discussions.