OSPPARIS 27: Art and Politics in Modern France (Way: A-II)

Instructor: Amanda Herold-Marme

Across time and space, art and politics have gone hand in hand. From equestrian portraits of victorious kings to scathing caricatures of puffed-up politicians to sleek, present-day presidential photographic portraits, artistic creation has been an essential tool to both legitimize and criticize political power throughout history. Perhaps nowhere is this association more evident than in France, hotbed of revolution, reputed defender of les droits de l’homme (human rights) and diplomatic hub, whose capital has also long figured among the world’s foremost artistic centers. This course proposes to explore art and politics in France from the revolution to the present. Through a multimedia approach—including sculptures, paintings, prints, commemorative monuments, architecture, street art and photographs—we will retrace the changing forms that some of the most salient political messages have taken in modern French art.

Units: 3 | Grading Basis: Letter grade | Way: AII |Component: Seminar taught in English

*All courses are subject to change.