Mondays, February 2–16, and Tuesday, February 24, noon – 2pm
Henry Chalfant. Art Is Not a Crime (film still from Style Wars), 1983. Photo courtesy of Henry Chalfant / Art Resource, NY
$220; members $198
(4 classes; final class on Tuesday, February 24)
About the Class
Art censorship is on the rise around the world, with artists and cultural institutions being silenced or attacked with increasing regularity. Taught by Gareth Harris, the author of Censored Art Today, this course examines the causes and implications of this trend. Focusing on case studies from China, the Middle East, and the US, classes will explore the complexities of censorship and the ongoing debates around cancel culture. Who, and where, are the censors? Why are they taking more control now? What is at stake? This will be a lively class with lots of discussion. Don’t miss out.
Please note: The final class will be held February 24, on a Tuesday.
The class is online-only. More about online classes.
Already registered? Log in to Barnes Learning.
Barnes classes will:
- Sharpen your observational and critical thinking skills.
- Improve your ability to communicate about art.
- Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.
Henry Chalfant. Art Is Not a Crime (film still from Style Wars), 1983. Photo courtesy of Henry Chalfant / Art Resource, NY
Instructor
Gareth Harris
Harris is the chief contributing editor of the Art Newspaper and the author of Censored Art Today, named one of the best contemporary art books of 2022 by Wallpaper magazine. He has published numerous articles about the visual arts in the Financial Times and has written for the New York Times, Apollo Magazine, and Frieze, among others.
What Our Students Say
“The instructor is a gifted individual who is able to [engage] with all different kinds of learners and motivate us to want to learn more, see more, and experience more. I would highly recommend any course by this instructor.” —Collection Concentration: Medieval Modern with Kaelin Jewell
“Martha Lucy knows how to balance her lecture with fact, excellent painting selections, and inclusion of the students.” —The Art and Life of Toulouse-Lautrec with Martha Lucy
“The best class to understand the elements of art. The instructor’s expertise and warmth, along with the excellent discussions with my classmates, made it a truly wonderful experience.” —The Elements of Art with William Perthes
“This class offered rich insight into Picasso and his contemporaries—the gallery scene, turn-of-the-century politics, Catalan culture, along with Picasso’s approach to composition and contemporary European culture. It was so informative.” —Picasso in Focus: New Discoveries at the Barnes with Christine Romano and Naina Saligram
“Caterina loves the material she presents and infuses all her classes—of which I have taken many—with that infectious enthusiasm.” —Rendez-vous au Café: Café Culture in 19th-Century Art with Caterina Pierre
Go Further
Close-Looking Immersion: Cézanne’s Portrait of a Woman
Spend an hour with Cézanne’s haunting Portrait of a Woman. Instructor: William Perthes
Surrealism, Then and Now
Revisit the movement’s origin and global expansion and consider its legacy today. Instructor: Naina Saligram
Caravaggio: Revolutionary Painter of the Roman Baroque
Learn how Caravaggio rejected classical idealism for raw naturalism, fueling works with psychological intensity. Instructor: James Harper