ART 1544 - Survey of Art History: Body, Gender, and Self
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 42779,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Stephanie Smith
Email: ssmith@ysu.edu
Course Description
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Gardner's Art Through the Ages: A Global History, 16th edition | Fred S. Kleiner |
This is an online asynchronous course that uses Cengage's Mindtap. This is an online, interactive version of the following text:
Fred S. Kleiner, Gardner's Art Through the Ages: A Global History, 16th edition (Cengage, 2020).
Additional Course Readings:
Sorabella, Jean. “The Nude in Western Art and Its Beginnings in Antiquity.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.
Department of Medieval Art and The Cloisters. “The Cult of the Virgin Mary in the Middle Ages.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.
Dr. William Allen, "Icon with Virgin (Theotokos) and Child between Saints Theodore and George," in Smarthistory, December 12, 2023
Dr. Amy Calvert, "King Menkaure (Mycerinus) and queen," in Smarthistory, August 14, 2025
Dr. Kristen Laciste, "The Benin “Bronzes”: a story of violence, theft, and artistry," in Smarthistory, April 25, 2023
Dr. Sarahh Scher, "Chavín de Huántar," in Smarthistory, August 9, 2015
Dr. Lane Eagles, "Jan van Eyck, The Arnolfini Portrait," in Smarthistory, January 16, 2025
Dr. Letha Ch'ien, "Diego Velázquez, Las Meninas," in Smarthistory, March 25, 2026
Dr. Esperança Camara, "Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes," in Smarthistory, July 19, 2015
Dr. James R. Jewitt, "Titian, Venus of Urbino," in Smarthistory, August 20, 2020
Dr. Thomas Folland, "Édouard Manet, Olympia," in Smarthistory, December 9, 2015
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Kleiner, Introduction, What is Art History | Introduction to the Course & How to Look at Visual Art | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 8/31 | Kleiner, chapters 1, 5, and 9 The Nude in Western Art and Its Beginnings in Antiquity (Heilbrunn Timeline) The Cult of the Virgin Mary in the Middle Ages (Heilbrunn Timeline) Icon with Virgin (Theotokos) and Child…(Smarthistory) |
Module 1: The Goddess Embodied | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 9/7 | continuation of week 8/31 | Module 1: The Goddess Embodied | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 9/14 | Kleiner, chapters 3, 7, 19, and 38 King Menkaure (Mycerinus) and Queen (Smarthistory) The Benin “Bronzes”: a story of violence, theft, and artistry (Smarthistory) |
Module 1: The Goddess Embodied Module 2: Power, Memory, and Commemoration |
Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) Peplos Kore v. Aphrodite of Knidos |
| 9/21 | continuation of week 9/14 | Module 2: Power, Memory, and Commemoration | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 9/28 | continuation of week 9/14 and 9/21 | Module 2: Power, Memory, and Commemoration | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) Egyptian Comparison |
| 10/5 | Kleiner, chapters 2, 12, and 18 Chavín de Huántar (Smarthistory) |
Module 3: Transformers | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 10/12 | continuation of week 10/5 | Module 3: Transformers | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) Invent Your Own Hybrid Creature |
| 10/19 | Kleiner, chapters 20, 24, 28 The Arnolfini Portrait (Smarthistory) Diego Velázquez, Las Meninas |
Module 4: Secular Society in Western Europe | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 10/26 | continuation of week 10/19 | Module 4: Secular Society in Western Europe | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 11/2 | continuation of week 10/19 and 10/26 Kleiner, chapter 24, 27, and 29 Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes |
Module 4: Secular Society in Western Europe Module 5: Violence and the Body |
Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) Velazquez and Toulouse Lautrec |
| 11/9 | continuation of week 11/2 | Module 5: Violence and the Body | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 11/16 | continuation of week 11/2 Kleiner, chapters 26, 27, and 35 Titian, Venus of Urbino (Smarthistory) Édouard Manet, Olympia (Smarthistory) |
Module 5: Violence and the Body Module 6: Eroticism and the Male Gaze |
Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) Judith slaying Holofernes: Gentileschi v. Allori |
| 11/23 | continuation of week 11/16 | Module 6: Eroticism and the Male Gaze | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
| 11/30 | continuation of week 11/16 and 11/23 | Module 6: Eroticism and the Male Gaze | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) Manet & Olympia |
| 12/7 | continuation of week 11/16, 11/23, and 11/30 There is no final exam for this course. |
Module 6: Eroticism and the Male Gaze | Various assessments (see Blackboard classroom) |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.