Florida State University Graduate Bulletin 2007-2009
Department of Art History
College of Visual Arts, Theatre, and Dance
Chair: Richard K. Emmerson; Professors: Emmerson, Gerson, Hahn, Nasgaard, Neuman; Associate Professors: Bearor, Freiberg, Weingarden; Assistant Professors: Bloom, Flores, Grigor, Jolles, Lee; Curator: Hudson; Professors Emeriti: Bosch (deceased), Bucher (deceased), Draper, Mason (deceased), Rose, Teilhet-Fisk (deceased); Courtesy Professors: de Grummond, Palladino-Craig, Pfaff, Pullen, Stone
The Department of Art History offers programs leading to the master of arts (MA) and the doctor of philosophy (PhD) in the history and criticism of art. The objective is to prepare the student for a professional career either in academic art history or in one of the related professions, including work in museums, commercial galleries, or publishing. To provide the greatest flexibility in serving the students' career goals, there are four possible programs (for the specific requirements, see below.) The faculty includes specialists in Asian art, Islamic art, Latin American art, Early Medieval art, Romanesque and Gothic art, Italian and Northern European Renaissance painting, sculpture, and architecture, Baroque and 18th-century art and architecture, modern architecture, 20th-century art and criticism, American art, contemporary critical theory, history of photography, and word-image studies. Members of the classics faculty trained in archaeology and art history offer graduate-level courses in Egyptian, Aegean, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman art.
The Department of Art History is supported by a rich array of resources, including classrooms fully equipped for multimedia presentations and a visual resource center under the direction of two full-time curators. The resource center houses a collection of over 500,000 slides, digital images, videos and pedagogical CDs, and maintains image-based Web sites related to each art history course. The University library holdings are extensive and include a rare book and facsimile collection. The library supports many electronic resources and an excellent interlibrary loan division. The resources of the Ringling Museum Library are also available.
The University Museum of Fine Arts houses several permanent collections and is used for temporary exhibitions. Many of these are generated by faculty and students who have also contributed to exhibitions at the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science, the Tallahassee City Museum. The University administers the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, with its internationally-known collection of European and Asian art. Internships are available at each of the Florida State University's museums.
Students have the opportunity to pursue independent research at the Florida State University Study Centers in Florence, London, and Paris. The Florence program is used extensively by students of the history of art for the study of the Italian language and arts and for archival work. The London Study Center offers opportunities for teaching assistantships and for internships at major London museums. The Paris program, in the process of development, hosts faculty and art history classes. Archaeological experience is available at the Etruscan and Roman sites of Cetamura del Chianti and Poggio delle Civitelle at San Venanzo, the University's field school excavations in Italy.
The department sponsors an annual Symposium in the History of Art for graduate students attending universities nationwide. Students are chosen to present papers during a two-day series of meetings, and these papers may be submitted for publication in Athanor, a journal for graduate students in art history sponsored by the Art History Department and the College of Visual Arts, Theatre and Dance. Each year a distinguished art historian is invited to participate in the symposium and to deliver the keynote address.
Financial Assistance. The department offers teaching fellowships for doctoral students and stipends for MA students. Department, college, and university assistantships are available as well, and are based on past record and future potential in the arts professions. Mason Travel Funds and Mason Research and Writing Grants are available at both the MA and doctoral levels. Students also may qualify for federal and state financial aid programs.
Programs
Two types of master's degree are offered, one that requires a written thesis, and the other that provides additional study in the field through course work. The selection is made in consultation with the graduate adviser and with the advice of professors in the student's major field. Applicants who already hold a MA degree in art history may apply for admission to the PhD program.
The department also offers the possibility of a combined MA and PhD degree. The student may express interest in this degree program, and admission is by invitation of the faculty.
Master of Arts in the History and Criticism of Art
This degree is designed for students who seek to develop research and writing skills that will be useful in a professional career in one of the art historical disciplines. It consists of the following:
1. One course from three different areas, for a total of three courses:
• Ancient and Classical (including Aegean and Egyptian)
• Medieval (early Christian, Byzantine, Romanesque, and Gothic)
• Renaissance and Baroque (Southern and Northern European)
• Modern (19th and 20th centuries, American and European)
2. One course in methods of art history (ARH 5813)
3. One course in World arts (Asian, Islamic, Latin American, African, Oceanic, and Native American art)
4. Three courses in the student's major field
5. One elective chosen from courses inside or outside the department, to be determined in consultation with the graduate adviser
6. Reading proficiency in one foreign language (usually French or German)
and
7. Either six (6) semester hours of supervised research for the thesis, or nine (9) semester hours in art history (see below).
Master of Arts: Thesis
Minimum thirty-three (33) semester hours. For students who intend to continue their studies at the doctoral level, and perhaps go on to university teaching, the department recommends the thesis option. The thesis should demonstrate proficiency in research, writing, and argumentation and must be passed by a committee consisting of faculty from the Art History Department. Six (6) semester hours are awarded for thesis work.
Master of Arts: Course Intensive
Minimum thirty-six (36) semester hours. This option is best suited for students who are interested in pursuing careers in the field that do not require the PhD. In this case, the student will complete the requirements as outlined above, but in place of the six (6) semester hours required for the thesis, an additional nine (9) semester hours (three courses) in art history will be necessary.
Doctor of Philosophy in the History and Criticism of Art
The doctor of philosophy program in the history and criticism of art is suitable for the student who has already completed the master of arts degree in art history and who wishes to pursue a career either in university teaching or in a museum at the highest professional level. It consists of a minimum of thirty-six (36) semester hours of course work beyond the master's degree plus twenty-four (24) semester hours of supervised dissertation research (sixty [60] semester hours).
1. One course in methods of art history (ARH 5813) if not already taken at FSU
2. Five courses in a major area of study
3. Three courses in a minor area
4. Three electives to be selected in consultation with the student's major professor and the graduate adviser. These might be taken in other areas of art history or in other disciplines (courses must be approved by the graduate adviser and are dependent on the major and minor areas of study)
In addition to the above course work, the candidate also must complete the following requirements:
5. Twenty-four (24) semester hours of supervised dissertation research
6. Demonstration of reading knowledge in French and German (language requirements for students with a specialization in non-Western art may differ). Depending upon area of specialization, additional languages may be required
7. A minimum of one semester of residence in the Florida State University Study Center, either in Florence or London (this requirement may be waived when a student has a similar opportunity to pursue advanced research in a different cultural setting)
8. Satisfactory completion of a doctoral examination concerning material in the major and minor fields
9. Satisfactory defense of a dissertation that makes an original contribution to scholarship
It should be noted that the University requires that doctoral students take twenty-four (24) semester hours of course work while in residence during one 12-month period.
Combined Program Leading to a Doctor of Philosophy in the History and Criticism of Art
This degree provides for students who hold a bachelor's degree in art history (or a sufficient number of courses in the field) the opportunity to move through the master of arts and into doctoral level study at an accelerated pace. Those who hold the bachelor's degree and wish to pursue doctoral-level work in the department first should apply for admission to the master's program. Acceptance will be by invitation of the faculty, and will occur between the student's second and third semester of master's-level work. After nomination by the major professor, the entire faculty will vote on admittance. Under the requirements of the combined program, the master's thesis will be replaced by a "qualifying paper," which will demonstrate the student's capacity for advanced research, writing, and argumentation. For requirements, see numbers 1–6 under sub-section 'Master of Arts in the History and Criticism of Art' and numbers 2–9 under sub-section 'Doctor of Philosophy in the History and Criticism of Art' above. In all, this track requires a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours of course work, plus twenty-four (24) semester hours of supervised dissertation research (eighty-four [84] semester hours).
Certificate in Museum Studies
In addition to their MA or PhD degree, graduate students in art history may earn a Certificate in Museum Studies. The museum studies program is interdisciplinary and prepares students for professional work in museums and related institutions. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for the graduate degree, students complete two (2) core courses, two (2) electives, a six (6) semester hour internship, and a certificate project. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in regularly scheduled museum career activities.
Definition of Prefix
ARH—Art History
Graduate Courses
ARH 5111. Art and Archaeology of the Bronze Age in the Aegean (3). A detailed study of the major archeological evidence related to the Bronze Age in Crete and Greece; the major sites, monuments, and artistic works studied and analyzed.
ARH 5119. Archaeology in Ancient Egypt (3). A survey of the archaeology and art of ancient Egypt from the predynastic to ptolemaic and roman periods. Emphasis is placed upon the art, architecture, and culture of the Old and New Kingdoms.
ARH 5125. Etruscan Art and Archaeology (3). Critical study and appraisal of Etruscan monuments and artistic works; major archaeological evidence for Etruscan culture.
ARH 5140. Greek Art and Archaeology of the Fifth and Fourth Centuries B.C. (3). A careful study of the monuments of classical Greece and its artistic productions; study of archaeological evidence and the accomplishments of classical Greek Art.
ARH 5160. Art and Archaeology of the Early Roman Empire (3). The archaeological evidence and artistic production of Rome from Augustus through the Antonines studied carefully with a view toward evaluating the period's accomplishments.
ARH 5174r. Studies in Classical Art and Archaeology (3). Specific studies in aspects of classical art and archaeology.
ARH 5220. Early Christian and Byzantine Art (3). Begins with the first manifestations of Christian art and covers audiences, patrons, and problems of the representation of religious ideas. Arts discussed include Roman catacombs, mosaics of Ravenna and Sicily, sacred spaces of martyria and churches, icons of Rome and Constantinople, and late and luxurious court arts of Byzantium.
ARH 5221. Early Medieval Art (3). Course considers the development of the uses of art in the European Middle Ages, from Barbarian metal work to the acceptance of the classical tradition, to the first mature pan-European art of Romanesque architecture and sculpture. Topics of special interest include pilgrimage, imperial imagery, manuscripts, and monasteries.
ARH 5240. Later Medieval Art (3). Generally called Gothic art, this course explores the cathedrals (including their sculpture and stained glass) built by bishops and towns, as well as the castles, sumptuous arts, and manuscripts commissioned by princes and lords. Topics of special interest include the Black Death, devotional art, civic expression, and the arts of the courts.
ARH 5321. Early Italian Renaissance Art: 15th Century (3). An examination of how social and historical issues influenced the arts during the first great cultural flowering of the Renaissance in Florence, Rome, and Venice. Discussion will center on how the requirements of the patron, the vitality of local traditions, and the interaction among the arts all contributed to the creation of the new Renaissance vocabulary.
ARH 5322. Later Italian Renaissance Art: 16th Century (3). Course examines works by the great masters of the Renaissance, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Titian, against the backdrop of the social and political realities of the day. Discussion will include the rise of the artist-hero, the sources and meaning of Mannerism, and the impact of the religious controversies of the age.
ARH 5340. Northern European Renaissance Art (3). Developments in northern European fifteenth and sixteenth century art with emphasis on painting and printmaking: Flemish, French, German, and Dutch artists.
ARH 5360. Southern Baroque Art (3). This course investigates painting, sculpture, and architecture in Italy and Spain during the 17th century, stressing the theatrical, ecstatic, and virtuoso character of works produced for royalty, the Church, and the rising middle class by such masters as Caravaggio, Bernini, and Velazquez.
ARH 5361. Northern Baroque Art (3). Course examines the Golden Age of painting, sculpture, and architecture in France, England, and the Netherlands. Discusses how such figures as Rembrandt and Vermeer encoded meaning in works of detailed realism and contributed to the rise of new subjects in art, including still-life, landscape, and portraiture.
ARH 5363. 18th-Century Art (3). A study of painting, sculpture and architecture produced in Western Europe during the Enlightenment, with emphasis on the luxurious, sensual art of the Rococo, the rational classicism of the Palladian Revival, the new moral and philosophical image of women, and the rise of the decorative arts.
ARH 5420. Modern European Art: Neoclassicism through Impressionism (3). Course discusses European art from 1780–1880, concentrating on the evolving dialogue between academic and anti-academic practices through an investigation of the relationship between theory, criticism, and techniques of representation. Topics of inquiry include: David and Neoclassicism; British landscape painting; Delacroix and French Romanticism; Courbet's Realism and Manet's Naturalism; and French Impressionism.
ARH 5445. Modern European Art: Postimpressionism through Surrealism (3). Course covers the development of art from 1880-1940. Topics of discussion include abstraction, symbolism, surrealism, as well as the relationship between the techniques and forms of abstract representation and contemporary philosophical, social, scientific and political events. The writing of artists and critics provide the basis for this inquiry.
ARH 5556. Arts of Japan (3). An introduction to the arts and culture of Japan, focusing on key monuments and artistic traditions that have played a central role in Japanese art and society. It covers, chronologically, the Pre-historic Age, Shinto, Buddhism, Court Culture, Zen Buddhism, Samurai Government, and the Industrial Age.
ARH 5558. Arts of China (3). A survey of the major epochs of Chinese art from prehistoric times to the modern period. The course examines the important artistic traditions developed in China: bronzes, funerary and architectural monuments, painting and calligraphy, Buddhist sculpture, and ceramics.
ARH 5605. Native American Arts and Architecture of the Southwest (3). Arts and architecture of the Native American peoples of the Southwest, beginning with ancient times and emphasizing the arts of the present Pueblo people from the 16th century to the present.
ARH 5625. American Art before 1940 (3). Prerequisite: Graduate standing in art history, or permission of instructor. This course familiarizes students with the literature in the history of US art relevant to the period covered and the critical issues driving the field. Theme for the seminar varies.
ARH 5648. Art after 1940 (3). Course covers American and European art from Abstract Expressionism to the present. This course examines the reactions against Abstract Expressionism and investigates late-modernist practices (e.g., Pop Art, Minimalism, Conceptualism, Earth Art, Performance Art). Topics discussed include contemporary artistic practices and the relationship between modernism and postmodernism.
ARH 5725. History of Graphics (3). A survey of artists and processes in western printmaking from woodcut to silk screen.
ARH 5797. Seminar in Museum Studies (3). Theoretical and practical approaches to museum operation and the historical development of the art museum in America.
ARH 5806r. Seminar in the History and Criticism of Art (3). May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours.
ARH 5813. Seminar in the Methods of Art History (3). Seminar in methodology required of art history graduate students.
ARH 5838. The Museum Object (3). Prerequisite: Currently enrolled in a graduate degree program in a department participating in the Museum Studies Certificate program, or have a graduate degree in a related discipline. Course covers the philosophy and practice of acquiring the museum object; the processing of the object in an institutional setting; research methods and interpretation; philosophy in methods of presenting the object and its interpretation through exhibition and display; and various forms of publications and dissemination.
ARH 5875. 20th-Century Feminist Art Criticism (3). Prerequisite: Graduate standing in art history, or permission of instructor. This course analyzes the questions raised by feminist artists and art critics in the U.S. since 1970 and their responses, based upon their philosophical and ideological stances as liberal, radical, cultural, materialist, or post-structuralist feminists.
ARH 5885. Introduction to Appraising Personal Property (4). This course is a basic introduction to appraising personal property. It covers all aspects of proper appraisal procedure and methodology for fine art: painting, drawing, sculpture, prints, ceramics, silver, glass, jewelry, books, etc. This course follows the proper requirements of USPAP and the IRS.
ARH 5886. Uniform Standards for Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) (4). This course follows the US Government Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice as they apply to the Fine Arts.
ARH 5887. Walt Disney and the American Century (3). This course considers the artistic output of Walt Disney and his company in relation to fine art, society and politics during the twentieth century, emphasizing contributions in the realms of film, architecture and the theme park. In an effort to judge Disney's impact on the production and consumption of leisure, students engage with some thirty years of academic critical discourse.
ARH 5907r. Directed Individual Study (1–5). May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours.
ARH 5913r. Supervised Research (1–5). (S/U grade only.) May be repeated to a maximum of five (5) semester hours. A maximum of three (3) semester hours may apply to a master's degree.
ARH 5940r. Supervised Teaching (1–5). (S/U grade only.) May be repeated to a maximum of five (5) semester hours. A maximum of three (3) semester hours may apply to a master's degree.
ARH 5942r. Internship in Museum Studies (1–6). This course is an internship in a collaborative museum to provide students with firsthand knowledge of, and practical experience in, museums. Concurrent registration is permitted. May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours.
ARH 5971r. Thesis (1–6). (S/U grade only.) A minimum of six (6) semester hours credit is required.
ARH 6292r. Topics in Medieval Art: Seminar (3). Advanced seminar on specific topic within the area of Medieval art. Specific topics vary. May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours.
ARH 6394r. Topics in Renaissance Art: Seminar (3). Advanced seminar on specific topic within the area of Renaissance art and architecture. Specific topics vary. May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours.
ARH 6398r. Topics in Baroque Art: Seminar (3). Advanced seminar on specific topic within the area of Baroque art. Specific topics vary. May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours.
ARH 6592r. Topics in Eastern Art: Seminar (3). Advanced seminar on specific topic within the area of Eastern art. Specific topics vary. May be repeated to a maximum of (9) semester hours.
ARH 6694r. Topics in 19th-Century Art: Seminar (3). Advanced seminar on specific topic within the area of nineteenth century art. Specific topics vary. May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours.
ARH 6695r. Topics in 20th-Century Art: Seminar (3). Advanced seminar on specific topic within the area of twentieth century art. Specific topics vary. May be repeated to a maximum of nine (9) semester hours.
ARH 6980r. Dissertation (1–12). (S/U grade only.)
ARH 8964r. Preliminary Doctoral Examination (0). (P/F grade only.)
ARH 8967r. Master's Comprehensive Examination (0). (P/F grade only.)
ARH 8976r. Master's Thesis Defense (0). (P/F grade only.)
ARH 8985r. Dissertation Defense (0). (P/F grade only.)