AP Art History/Block – High School
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to foster in students an understanding and knowledge of architecture,
sculpture, painting, and other art forms within diverse historical and cultural contexts. In the course, students examine and
critically analyze major forms of artistic expression from the past and the present from a variety of cultures. In addition to
visual analysis, this course emphasizes understanding works in context, considering such issues as patronage, gender and
the functions and effects of works of art. Prior art training is not prerequisite and nor does the course cater exclusively t o
future Art History majors.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Identify and classify works of art (Architecture, Painting, Sculpture, Minor Arts & Photography) from prehistory to
twentieth century.
Analyze, formally, works of art by situating them within the correct historical context (the original historical, social,
political and religious setting) in which they were created.
Analyze visual traditions with a full understanding of the interdependence of disciplines as well as the inter
connectivity of cultures.
Describe works of art in a formal manner using appropriate art-history terminology, both descriptive and technical.
Evaluate media, techniques and methods employed by artists in the creative process.
PREREQUISITES: None
COURSE LENGTH: Two Semesters
REQUIRED TEXT: No required textbook for this course.
MATERIALS LIST:
Gardner's Art through the Ages
Thomson Wadsworth, 2005
COURSE OUTLINE:
Unit 1: Orientation
Section 1 - Course Introduction
Section 2 - Getting Started
Section 3 - Research Paper
Section 4 - Excelling on the AP Art History Exam
Unit 2: Ancient Art
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
-
Ancient Art: Introduction
Prehistoric Art
Aegean Art
Early Classical Art of Ancient Greece
Classical and Hellenistic Art of Ancient Greece
Entruscan Art
Early Roman Art
Later Roman Art
Exam Preparation Section
Unit 3: Art Beyond European Traditions
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
1
2
3
4
5
-
Art beyond the European Traditions: Introduction
Art of the Ancient Near East
Ancient Egyptian Art
Islamic Art
Exam Preparation Section
Unit 4: Medieval Art
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
-
Medieval Art: Introduction
Early Christian Art
Byzantine Art
Early Medieval Art
Romanesque Art
Gothic Art
Exam Preparation Section
Semester 1 Exam
Unit 6: Renaissance Art
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
-
Renaissance Art: Introduction
Precursors of the Renaissance
Early Renaissance
Giants of the High Renaissance
Mannerism
Northern Renaissance
Exam Preparation Section
Unit 7: Baroque Art
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
1
2
3
4
5
-
Baroque Art: Introduction
Baroque Art
The Golden Age of Dutch Art
French Art, 1661-1789
Exam Preparation Section
Unit 8: Nineteenth Century Art
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
-
Nineteenth Century Art: Introduction
Neoclassical Art
Romanticism
Realism and Photography
Impressionism and Post-Impressionism
Other Late Nineteenth Century Art Styles
Nineteenth Century Architecture
Exam Preparation Section
Unit 9: Twentieth Century Art
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
1
2
3
4
5
6
-
Twentieth Century Art: Introduction
Early Twentieth Century Art
Twentieth Century Art Between the World Wars
Twentieth Century Art After World War II
Twentieth Century Architecture
Exam Preparation Section
Unit 10: Course Refresher
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
Section
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
-
Semester 2 Exam
Course Refresher: Introduction
Key Female Artists and Patrons
Key Figures in American Art
Key Points About Art Beyond the European Tradition
Fifty Terms You Absolutely, Positively Have to Know
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