Diversity & Art History:
Strategies and Practical Applications

Elizabeth K. Menon

http://www.snappyprof.com

"Diversity" Experiences & Challenges

• St. Olaf College, Northfield Minnesota

  • "I hope you're not going to do the 'straight' version of Michelangelo"

• Minnesota State University, Mankato

  • Title change: Oriental Art to Asian Art

  • Course change: Women in Art to Gender in Art

  • Introduction to Art and Survey Renaissance to Present both had university "Diversity Requirement"—
    25% of course content dealing with any one or combination of the following:

    • race

    • gender

    • sexual orientation

    • class

• Purdue University

Hopes for Curriculum Development at Purdue:

• African Art -- looking for a qualified instructor from another department or program!!!

• Latin American Art -- looking for a qualified instructor from another department or program!!!

• Survey of World Art

• Gender in Art (?)

Immediate changes:

• Integration of world art into current A&D 227 Renaissance to Present (through thematic rather than chronological presentation strategy).

• A&D 384 Postmodernism (diversifying in terms of race, gender, orientation and media)

Utilization of surveys and course projects to reach these goals

• Surveys identify issues/subjects/artists of interest and issues/subjects/artists which cause discomfort for individual students.

• Respect for discomfort (rape images, dead bodies etc.)

Ideas: diversity is also personal; diversity is for everybody; everybody is an individual.

Examples of course projects that emphasize students' individuality (which includes race, gender, orientation but doesn't single out certain students).

• Also had topical focus and/or interaction with a primary "source document"

  • Design: History and Theory - Redesign Around a Theme

  • A&D 451 - How to Do It

  • A&D 380 - Fantasy Exhibitions

  • A&D 382 - Van Gogh/Delacroix/Zola

   

• Allowed a *lot* of flexibility for students to develop their own perspectives

  • A&D 383 - Manifesto!

   

• In some cases students choose the type of activities from a "menu" of possibilities

  • A&D 384 Contract for Grade

   

• Encouraged self exploration and provided an opportunity to "deal with" 911 and other issues like censorship

• A&D 384w - Post-Postmodernism

• A&D 383 - Saatchi-ology

 

• Fun "extra credit" projects that allow free reign of creativity in non-judgemental way

  • A&D 227, 380, 384w - Arthrax

  • A&D 451, 384, 695 - Art History Sniper

  others not on the website: Art History Roadkill, Art History Candy Bar, Art History Carnival Ride