Minor in Art History

Program Requirements

Our Mission: 

The Art History minor offers students an opportunity to focus on an expanded range of historical and cultural ideas about art and art making. The minor provides a guided and structured approach to diverse critical methods for exploring the cultural creation, meaning, dissemination, and impact of visual images, objects, and practices.

Participating Departments:

Animation

Animation: Motion Design

Fashion

Fine Arts: Painting

Fine Arts: Photography

Fine Arts: Sculpture/New Genres

Game & Entertainment Design

Graphic Design

Illustration

Product Design

Toy Design

Program Learning Outcomes:

Students enrolled in the Art History minor will:

  • Develop and articulate connections across applied studio and Liberal Studies disciplinary perspectives.
  • Analyze and contextualize the art historical canon(s) as tools for critical and creative problem solving, both as students and future working artist designers.
  • Identify and analyze the broad history of both Western and non-Western art production in ways that connect those histories to real-world applications in current and future creative job markets.
  • Demonstrate critical and imaginative approaches to the study of art history, past and contemporary, that challenge and reverse normalized, center-periphery binaries privileging western over indigenous, abled/neuro-typical over disabled/neurodivergent, cis over diverse genders.
  • Develop visual and information literacy skills in order to locate, critically evaluate, and use resources from both traditional and emerging technologies effectively and ethically
  • Demonstrate an awareness of how art’s diverse histories connect artists to social justice, engagement with community, and a robust respect for equity, difference, and inclusion. 

Course Title

Course Number

Credits

Fine Arts Contemporary Art Survey

AHCS 226

3.00

Course Description: This Contemporary Art for Fine Artists is a survey of key fine art objects, practices and issues from the late 1950s to the present. Taking key historical events as its structure, the class uses contemporary art movements and counter movements to investigate mechanisms of form, taste, value, class, gender and exclusion, as these are demonstrated and challenged by artists in the US and globally. Included is a consideration of postmodern theory and fine art creation as systems capable of both perpetuating and effectively challenging normalized and marginalized identities. Required for All Fine Arts majors and Art History, Painting, Photography, and Sculpture/ New Genres minors. This course may be taken in either fall or spring, must be completed in the sophomore year.


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Topics in Art History

AHCS 310

3.00

Course Description: AHCS 310 are elective Art History courses that address a variety of issues in fine art and visual culture. Course offerings vary each semester. See the Liberal Arts and Sciences department for course offerings and course descriptions. This course may be taken in either fall or spring.


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Topics in Art History

AHCS 310

3.00

Course Description: AHCS 310 are elective Art History courses that address a variety of issues in fine art and visual culture. Course offerings vary each semester. See the Liberal Arts and Sciences department for course offerings and course descriptions. This course may be taken in either fall or spring.


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Topics in Art History

AHCS 310

3.00

Course Description: AHCS 310 are elective Art History courses that address a variety of issues in fine art and visual culture. Course offerings vary each semester. See the Liberal Arts and Sciences department for course offerings and course descriptions. This course may be taken in either fall or spring.


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Capstone

LIBS 440

3.00

Course Description: The Liberal Arts and Sciences Capstone experience is a required senior-level course designated to facilitate students’ critical reflection on a topic that intersects with their own studio practice, discipline, and/or identity. As the signature course and culminating expression of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Department, the class design allows for independent research and private mentoring through Blended classes that meet synchronously online. The Capstone research process encourages students to apply the skills they have accrued during their time at Otis College to a project that can advance their understanding of their career path and chosen industry. A minimum grade of C- or better on the Capstone paper and course is required to pass.


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Electives

History of Graphic Design and Illustration

AHCS 222

Credits: 3.00

Course Description: How do the communication arts reveal the expectations and values of a culture and society at any given time? What are the moral and ethical responsibilities of the communication artist? From typography to photography, trademarks to corporate logos, and from posters to postcards to illustrated electronic paperless forms, the communication arts provide a crucial link to people, places, and to popular culture. This course presents an overview of the communication arts, focusing upon the instrumentality of graphic design, advertising, and illustration in the construction of complex social, political, cultural, racial, ethnic, and gender identities. Activities and assignments such as panel discussions and photo essays afford students a chance to see the connection between their work, and larger historical, contemporary, and global aspects of culture. Most significantly, this course provides an opportunity to understand the vast influence that the communication arts have wielded and continue to wield across the world. This course may be taken in either fall or spring, must be completed in the sophomore year.


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History and Future of Product Design

AHCS 225

Credits: 3.00

Course Description: When did art become design? Product design influences and is influenced by culture and technological developments. From the Dark Satanic Mills and the Spinning Jenny to advanced 3D printers and the advent of AI, how have technology and manufacturing processes influenced and driven product design and what were the global societal and cultural consequences of these? Objects and products do not exist in a vacuum and thus must be seen through various lenses and themes such as the continual search for utopia and social reforms, the economic and psychological implications of man vs. machine, material exploration for functional and aesthetic potential, human inspiration from the natural world and our impact on the environment. This course examines how technology shaped today’s design thinking and its potential impact on transforming the future of designed objects and the world as we know it. Required for all Product Design majors.


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Art History of Animation

AHCS 228

Credits: 3.00

Course Description: The "Art History of Animation" course provides a comprehensive survey of the history of animation from its earliest beginnings to the present day. The course explores the development of animation techniques, styles, and themes, and their relationship to cultural and social contexts. Students will gain a thorough understanding of the artistry and creative processes that underlie animated productions and develop an appreciation for the role of animation in shaping popular culture. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: Identify the key historical milestones in the development of animation as an art form, and the social and cultural contexts in which they occurred. Analyze the visual language and stylistic techniques used in animated productions, including the use of color, line, and shape. Evaluate the role of animation in shaping cultural values and attitudes towards race, gender, and identity. Discuss the cultural and artistic significance of major animated films and series, and their impact on popular culture. Demonstrate an understanding of the creative processes involved in animation, including storyboarding, character design, and animation production. This course may be taken in either fall or spring, must be completed in the sophomore year.


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Art History of Game Design

AHCS 229

Credits: 3.00

Course Description: This course provides an overview of the history of video games, tracing their evolution from their early beginnings to the present day. Through a combination of lectures, readings, discussions, and hands-on experiences, students will explore the social, cultural, and technological factors that have shaped the development of video games. Topics covered in the course include: The Origins of Video Games: The course will begin with an overview of the early history of video games, including the development of the first electronic games, such as Spacewar!, and the emergence of arcade games in the 1970s. Iconic Games: The course will examine some of the most iconic and influential video games in history, such as Pac-Man, Super Mario Bros., and Doom. Students will analyze the gameplay mechanics, cultural impact, and historical significance of these games. Landmark Companies: The course will also explore the companies that have played a significant role in the development of video games, such as Atari, Nintendo, and Sony. Students will learn about the business strategies, marketing tactics, and technological innovations that enabled these companies to succeed in the industry. Innovative Technology and Hardware: The course will delve into the technological advancements that have driven the evolution of video games, such as the introduction of 3D graphics, motion controls, and virtual reality. Students will also examine the hardware platforms that have enabled video games to become increasingly sophisticated and immersive. By the end of the course, students will have gained a comprehensive understanding of the history of video games and the cultural impact they have had on society. They will be able to analyze and critically evaluate video games as a form of media, and understand the challenges and opportunities facing the video game industry today. This course may be taken in either fall or spring, must be completed in the sophomore year.


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History of Costume

AHCS 234

Credits: 3.00

Course Description: Study fibers, yarns, knit construction and acquire a practical understanding of how each affects the appearance and performance of the textile product. Knit swatches using a variety of stitches, combining yarns of varying gauges. Other topics include dyeing, printing, and finishes as processes that affect the aesthetic appeal of the finished product, and as functional finishes which enhance performance. The impact of these processes and issues of sustainability are examined as they relate to the cultivation and production of fibers. Learn to make fabric choices based on an understanding of the woven structure and knowledge of individual fabric properties.


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Sophomore Seminar: DEI in Global Art and Culture

AHCS 237

Credits: 3.00

Course Description: With diversity and equity at its core, Sophomore Seminar engages the western and non-western philosophical canons as a way to critique and de-center eurocentrism, white privilege, ableism, misogyny, patriarchy, systemic racism, power and exclusion at the very root of Western culture. The class asks the following: How do officialized and unspoken philosophies or worldviews shape our most essential and normalized standards/canons of beauty, value, "truth," as well as produce our centuries old privileges and prejudices? Who/what is advanced by these entrenched ideas; who is excluded? Who are the non-dominant but powerful voices that oppose philosophical givens? This is an interconnected two-semester class. Sophomore Seminar 1 introduces key concepts in ancient and modern, European, and non-western philosophical systems, to trace the impact of these ideas on current art, thought and racial/gendered biases. Then Sophomore Seminar 2 critically considers contemporary theorists, non-western and LGBT creatives who challenge the classical and modern philosophical canons covered in Soph Sem I. In both courses/semesters, students learn to evaluate the ideological impact of power, gender, economics, and social class on social and artistic norms. This course may be taken in either fall or spring, must be completed in the sophomore year.


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History + Theory IV

CRIT 405

Credits: 2.00

Course Description: Interior organizations are examined through spaces of work and consumption, ergonomics, office landscaping, corporate parks, brandscapes, junk space, malls, themed environments, surveillance, and spectacle. Prerequisite: CRIT304 History + Theory III. Required for Architecture/Landscape/Interiors majors.


Pre-requisites: CRIT 304

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Art, Space and Place

LIBS 314

Credits: 3.00

Course Description: This course can be an upper division art history or liberal studies elective. May be taken in either fall or spring, must be completed in the junior year. Course offerings vary by semester. See LAS Electives in Browse Courses for course offerings


Section Description: The words space and place have ever-changing definitions and contexts in our globalized world. This asynchronous online course will focus on exploring the various relationships between a diverse range of creative practices, the space of their production, and the place of their diffusion. Research and case studies will include examples from philosophy, architecture, landscape, art theory, site-specific art, public space, film, urban practices, and activism, examining both the spaces of making art and the art of making spaces. By semester’s end, you will record an urban video exploration as well as an artist case-study and research presentation.


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Chinese Cinema

LIBS 314

Credits: 3.00

Course Description: This course can be an upper division art history or liberal studies elective. May be taken in either fall or spring, must be completed in the junior year. Course offerings vary by semester. See LAS Electives in Browse Courses for course offerings


Section Description: One of the most vibrant and important national cinemas to emerge in recent decades is that of Mainland China. Mired in propaganda for the first three decades after the Communist Revolution (1949), Chinese cinema found its voice with the Fifth Generation, which emerged in the 1980s. These talented and ambitious filmmakers were graduates of the Beijing Film Academy, shut down during the disruptive Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), and they were eager to tell stories about the modern Chinese experience while experimenting with cinema language. The films they made --- such as "Yellow Earth," "Raise the Red Lantern," and "Blue Kite" --- were sometimes banned at home for political reasons, but fortunately, they were able to find audiences abroad through international film festivals. Today, Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou are recognized worldwide, and a younger generation has stepped forward to capture China in transition. This course will start with examples from the silent era (1930s) and the Maoist era (early 1950s through 70s), then quickly move into the films that became international sensations. Also covered will be the more recent films of Jia Zhangke (“Ash is Purest White”) and Cathy Yan (“Dead Pigs,” “Birds of Prey”). This online course will present material through lectures, assigned readings, and viewings of films through the Nest. Most importantly, we will have class discussions about the films, their ideas and how ideas are presented. Students will gain an overview of the development of contemporary cinema in post-WWII China, while exploring connections between cinema culture and its socio-economic and political background.


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History of the Moving Image

CAIL 200

Credits: 3.00

Course Description: An integrative course using collaborative methodology, synthesizing diverse perspectives, and using the skills of creative and critical thinking, clear communication, research, and information literacy. See CAIL section for course descriptions. May be taken in either fall or spring, must be completed in the sophomore year


Section Description: Moving images, and their precursors, photographs, can provide glimpses into lives past, long-ago events, and forgotten places to help shape our understanding of culture, history, and the identities of the people who appear in them. Visual storytelling, the origin story of cinema, required the foresight, invention, and ingenuity of Muybridge, La Prince, Dickson, and the Lumiere Brothers to advance the static photographic medium into another dimension – that of the moving image. Students will review the work of the innovators that married science, creativity, and the visual arts to birth the moving image, from the camera obscura to the photograph, to a new cinematic silent era boasting its inclusion of female writers and directors and the lesser known work of Black directors during a time of exclusion of artists of color. We see how the sound revolution in cinema exploded with the introduction of talkies, followed ten years later by the first color movie with sound leading the way to visually stunning Technicolor films that were the breakthrough cinematic precursors to today's well-crafted, innovative, independent, and studio films. Students experienced in streaming visual content will examine the early devices used to create and view visual content like the camera obscura, early daguerrotypes, Muybridge's zoogyroscope, the Lumiere Brothers' films, Melies special effects films, Chaplin's silent films, early documentaries, early sound films, color films as well as homage films to this early era of cinema (such as the 2013 film Hugo by Martin Scorsese).


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Special Topics in Art History: Modernism to Conceptualism

AHCS 560

Credits: 3.00

Course Description: This course examines the development of Modernism as a discourse in the visual arts, from its development in the 1840s to challenges of its key assumptions in the 1960s. Attendance at Visiting Artists Lecture Series (VALS) is required as part of this course. The primary intention of this course is to provide a critical survey of work and discourses that have contributed to the development of Modernism as a specific aesthetic and discursive tradition. Our attention will focus on the development of visual art, and a trajectory of practices traceable from traditions of European painting and sculpture to challenges leveled at that tradition, most identified with artists working in the United States after World War II. Understanding the importance and context of these practices will require that we simultaneously explore other developments significant throughout this period including social environment, political and economic currents, technological change and related fields of practice. It is a period characterized by extraordinary change, gross inequities, and the formation of conventions on which a contemporary view of art as an aesthetic discipline are based. We will attempt to actively engage these concepts with the goal of developing a view of Modernism in direct dialog with the question of the role of art and artists in this period and in contemporary society.


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Contemporary Graphic Design Issues

AHCS 577

Credits: 3.00

Course Description: This course is total immersion into the field of graphic design. Current and critically important figures will be covered; students will be given tools to use in their practice to ensure that they are informed on the discipline on a global scale. In addition, students will begin to engage visiting artists in dialogue during lectures.


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Models of Practice

AHCS 587

Credits: 3.00

Course Description: In this course students will work to contextualize their future practice through close examination of their own body of work, research, and on and off-site visits with contemporary design practitioners. The course will provide opportunities to experience the many roles that designers can play today focusing on the way practice models continue to evolve in response to socio economic technological, cultural, economic and political conditions.


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* It is recommended that at least one AHCS310 course has a non-western focus. Students who have a discipline specific art/design history requirement for their major may have that count towards one AHCS310 elective. Certain LIBS314 topics will satisfy this requirement with approval from the Minor Area Head and Director of Interdisciplinary Studies.

** LIBS440 Capstone paper should address an Art History topic. LIBS440 Capstone/Senior Thesis for Fine Arts majors will fulfill this requirement. Students who have a dedicated capstone for their major will complete one capstone course that combines both their major
and minor

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For questions related to the advising and registration process (using Degree Works or Plan Ahead), CAIL, LAS or minors, please contact us.

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