Art History is the study of the visual arts in civilization. It
examines changing values in all fields of visual culture,
including painting, sculpture, graphics, photography,
architecture, film, the mass media, and forms of popular
expression. Its interdisciplinary reach encompasses literature,
history, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, gender studies,
critical theory, and cultural studies. Art History emphasizes
visual as well as verbal and written literacy, providing more
than the standard advantages to a liberal arts education.
Students majoring in Art History will engage with the
wide-ranging opportunities its curriculum presents for learning
and research. Studying Art History develops visual
literacy, communication skills, critical/creative thinking and an
understanding of diversity.
Alum Sara Sumpter (BA 2006) will speak on the role of thunder god
in Japanese art. Her talk, “Bringing the Thunder,” will take
place at Sac State on Wednesday October 30. Dr. Sara Sumpter
received her PhD from the University of Pittsburgh in 2016.
Amelia Jones is Robert A. Day Professor and Vice Dean
of Research, Roski School of Art
& Design, USC, and is a curator and scholar of contemporary
art, performance, and feminist/sexuality studies. Recent
publications include Seeing Differently: A History and
Theory of Identification and the Visual Arts (2012);
co-edited with Erin Silver, Otherwise: Imagining Queer
Feminist Art Histories (2016); and the edited special
issue “On Trans/Performance” of Performance
Research (2016).
