Global Modernism

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Museum architecture shapes visitors’ experience of works of art and plays an integral role in the life of a city or region. In this course students will think critically about the architecture of the art museum. Questions to be considered include: How does architecture contribute to a museum’s visiting culture? What is architecture’s appropriate role – should buildings be at the forefront of a visitor’s experience or remain as a backdrop? How might a structure reflect the culture and art collection it presents? How have signature buildings impacted an area’s economic standing? Among others, the work of designers such as Renzo Piano, Tadao Ando, Zaha Hadid and Snøhetta will be explored. Case studies addressing institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Louvre will be analyzed. Students will gain familiarity with field scholarship, visit multiple area museums, lead short discussions, and complete a longer research paper. For more information about this and other courses in the Department of Art and Art History, please visit https://art.georgetown.edu This course is not available to audit.