ARTH 218NLand and Us: Modern Art and the Environment

3 credits · Art History · Penn State

What art has done - and can do - in repositioning humans in relation to our shared planet, hopefully towards a better future for both? This course introduces selected artists, movements, and ideas in the 20th and 21st century that help us to see, experience, and interact with our lived environment differently. We will discuss topics such as the painting and sculpting of landscapes, "land art" and Earthwork in and out of museums, materials used in art and their ecological impacts, artistic engagement with other species, and art projects that call for communal participation and seek direct social impact. You are welcome to this course if you are curious about art and concerned about the environment--or if you are an aspiring artist, curator, or activist interested in planetary justice. You will learn about artworks in our proximity and create projects that connects art with ecological thoughts and actions.