The Art Museum: History, Theory, and Design

3 units

This course will study the conceptual basis of the institution of the art museum in the United States and Europe, including its history, theoretical foundations, design, and cultural function. We will begin with the origins of the modern museum in the 18th century and earlier; trace the development in the 19th century of the earliest national art museums in the United States and Europe; consider the opportunities and problems of museums of modern and contemporary art in the 20th century; address the question of appropriate architectural strategies for art museums of the past and the present; and consider a variety of developments in the art museum today. Prerequisite: Introduction to Modern Art (L01 211), Architectural History II (A46 2284/4284), or permission of instructor. Students in the College of Architecture may register for this course under the assigned College of Architecture course number.