Chance and Modern Art

3 units

This course considers chance as a major compositional principle in modern art. Focus will be placed on the diverse ways in which artists throughout the twentieth century have championed the creative possibilities of accident and randomness in the creation of works of art as an attack on reason and logic and as a counterpoint to officially sanctioned aesthetic tastes. By deflating concerns of style, skill, and personal expression, the implementation of chance processes facilitated a liberating exploration of unorthodox methodologies for making art. Moving chronologically through the twentieth century, we will follow the history and development of these practices while also examining the diverse social, cultural, and theoretical contexts informing them. Prereqs: Intro to Western Art (L01 112) or Intro to Modern Art (L01 211) or permission of instructor.