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Native American Art and Art History (AMIS 1200)

Total Credits: 3
Lecture Credits: 3

Description: The course will introduce students to the artistic expressions of Native Americans, ranging from traditional/tribal art to contemporary Native art, thus enhancing aesthetic appreciation and deepening understanding. Through lectures, visual presentations, gallery visits and guest speakers, you will be presented with a broad chronological, stylistic, and aesthetic organization of the study of North American Indian Art from prehistory to the present. The course places an emphasis on contextualizing art as cultural manifestation. You will look at the ways in which historical events influenced traditional forms and how they, in turn, continue to influence modern contemporary Native American art forms.

Topical Outline:
1. Art elements and principles
2. Definition / Description / Interpretation / Evaluation
3. Ancient images and tools
4. Spirituality in Native art
5. Native Cultural and Artistic Traditions of Tribes

Learning Outcomes:
1. Gain an appreciation for the complexities of the artistic expression of Native Americans throughout North America
2. Develop a sense of the rich artistic heritage of Native Americans in the contemporary world
3. Understand the social and historical impact made on Native cultures and art by cultural upheaval and loss of lands
4. Appreciate the valuable contributions of Native American artists
5. Analyze works of Native American art in terms of their physical, formal, contextual, and critical aspects

Prerequisites:  Placement into READ 0100 or completion of ESOL 0042

MnTC:
  • Goal 6: The Humanities and Fine Arts
  • Goal 7: Human Diversity