Plains Narrative Arts: Visions and Victories
Overview: a discussion of Plains narrative arts (tipis, shields, robes) and the changes brought on with Western contact, along with new...
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ARTS IN CONTEXT
LECTURES
Topics covered include Asian, Oceanic, Contemporary and more. Images are included throughout to provide examples and supplement learning.
Click on a photo below to read its corresponding lecture, or view lectures by topic.
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Lectures: Text
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Laurie Seban
- Dec 28, 2022
- 26 min
Louvre Museum: Mesopotamia and Egypt
Overview: Survey of the Louvre's celebrated antiquities in the Mesopotamian and Egyptian departments. The history and cultural themes of...
Laurie Seban
- Oct 5, 2022
- 35 min
Uffizi Gallery, Florence
If there was only one museum to associate with the Italian Renaissance, it would be the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. And if there are two...
Laurie Seban
- Jun 30, 2022
- 7 min
Brancusi's Studio, Paris
Overview: The Atelier Brancusi at the Pompidou is a showcase of the ideas and abstract sculptures of early modern sculptor Constantin...
Laurie Seban
- Jun 19, 2022
- 21 min
Rodin Museum, Paris
Overview: A walk through the Musee Rodin in Paris, with a discussion of key works and themes, as well as the work of Camille Claudel...
Laurie Seban
- Jun 18, 2022
- 20 min
Louvre Museum: Greece and Rome
Overview: Survey of the Louvre's celebrated antiquities in the Greek and Roman departments. The history and cultural themes of each area...
Laurie Seban
- Jun 18, 2022
- 36 min
Musee du Louvre: Paintings
Overview: Tour of Louvre's collection of European painting (Italian, Spanish and French), highlighting key artworks as examples of...
Laurie Seban
- Sep 26, 2021
- 29 min
Musee d'Orsay
Overview: Survey of history of 19th century European modernism (Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism) based on the collection at...
Laurie Seban
- Aug 26, 2020
- 11 min
Elements of Style in the Visual Arts
Overview: Discussion of terms used in the formal analysis of visual arts. The elements of art are the building blocks traditionally used...
Laurie Seban
- Aug 24, 2020
- 14 min
North America: the Earth is a Gift
Native American groups range from large scale prehistoric civilizations to smaller scale historic tribes, but there are a few themes that...
Laurie Seban
- Aug 19, 2020
- 6 min
Contact
What are the characteristics of a civilization—are they relative? In Western European culture and history, the markers have been...
Laurie Seban
- Aug 18, 2020
- 4 min
Context
Context is derived from the Latin contextus, which refers to "weaving, joining, structure"--basically the meaning of the work as it...
Laurie Seban
- Aug 13, 2020
- 8 min
California Basketry: Woven Landscapes
Overview: Although basketry as a utilitarian and aesthetic object is a global art form, native California basketmakers wove with an...
Laurie Seban
- Jul 7, 2020
- 20 min
Africa: Past, Present, Future
Overview: cultural themes common in African arts: environment, gender, respect and reciprocity, ancestors, kingship/status and power...
Laurie Seban
- Jul 6, 2020
- 3 min
Henri Matisse: Colorful Collage
Henri Matisse (1869-1954) did not grow up wanting to be an artist; he intended to be a lawyer. But when he fell ill and was bedridden for...
Laurie Seban
- Jul 6, 2020
- 4 min
Pablo Picasso: Cubist Collage Art
Pablo Picasso was the son of an artist and drew from a very early age. Some say he could paint like a professional at a very early...
Laurie Seban
- Jul 6, 2020
- 5 min
Harry Fonseca: Maidu Creation Stories
In California Maidu belief, the world begins with Helin Maideh (Great Person), who first created water and air. He floated on a raft with...
Laurie Seban
- Jul 6, 2020
- 3 min
Vincent Van Gogh: How Do You Paint Happiness?
Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) was a Dutch artist who is famous for showing us his how he felt. Raised in the Netherlands, he drew from the...
Laurie Seban
- Jul 1, 2020
- 3 min
Faith Ringgold: America the Beautiful
History Faith Ringgold (b. 1930) is one of America’s most important African-American female artists, and is still working, even in her...
Laurie Seban
- Jun 3, 2019
- 13 min
Southwest Pottery: Ancient Traditions and Contemporary Innovations
Overview: the creation and design of pottery from the Southwest Pueblo cultures of the United States, along with a discussion of the...
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