Museums (395-0-1)

Topic

Horror Modernism

Instructors

Jessy Bell

Meeting Info

Block Conference Room: Mon, Wed 9:30AM - 10:50AM

Overview of class

Modern art and architecture confront us with ruptures—of traditions, histories, landscapes, identities, bodies, and systems of power—forcing us to grapple with the violence and disorientations that define modernity. In the process, cultural producers have often turned toward the conventions of horror not only to make sense of modern existence but also to provoke radical reimaginings of the world.

This seminar explores examples from global modern and contemporary art and architecture that seek to provoke visceral responses from their audiences. The course is organized historically and thematically, engaging topics such as colonialism, war, revolution, and catastrophe. Students will endeavor to define the genre of horror and to identify its key devices, such as the uncanny, grotesque, abject, and dystopic. While we will learn from examples across art and architectural history, we will focus on works within the Block Museum of Art and other collections across campus, such as the Michael McDowell Death Collection. We will consider a variety of cultural objects, including painting, photography, film, architecture, and urban planning. As we do, we will also think about questions of reception and exhibition—what it means to look at, process, and be affected by the horrific. The seminar will culminate in an online exhibition of objects from the Block's collection on the subject of horror and art. Throughout the course, we will draw on decolonial, media, and spatial theories to deepen our understanding of how strategies of horror and dread are called upon to unsettle dominant perceptions.

Class Materials (Required)

There is no required textbook for this course.

Class Attributes

Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area