ARTH 380 Histories of Art History: The Histories of Art & Science

• Mondays, 2:15 - 5:45 pm
• EV 1.615
• Instructor: Dr. Farrukh Rafiq

In this course, we will investigate the connections, parallels, and dichotomies between the arts and sciences in the Western world as they present themselves in the visual archive. We will undertake a critical examination of medical theoretical discourses, complementing these with case studies of a variety of topics including biology, psychology, botany, and evolutionary theories. We will also focus on the role of gender in the creation of nineteenth-century art and science. Our weekly readings will cover both primary and secondary material, while the lectures will bring in current contemporary examples. At the end of this course, students will be able to confidently discuss the blurred boundaries between art and science, the use of art as evidence in scientific literature, and image use both as a pedagogical tool and as an entertaining aesthetic.

Each class will consist of a lecture component, group discussions, and in-class activities that will often include close-looking, writing, and drawing exercises.