Orientalism

About the Class

How have artists shaped ideas about cultures beyond their own—and who gets to tell those stories? The concept of Orientalism, with its premise of a “West” that observes and imagines an “East,” provides a useful perspective on these questions and raises additional ones about empire, colonialism, and transcultural encounters that feel more urgent than ever.

This four-session online course examines these questions through the lens of painting, photography, print media, and the built environment. Beginning with Edward Said’s foundational work, we’ll focus primarily on Western Europe and the Ottoman Empire in the 19th and early 20th centuries. We’ll also consider artists based in the Islamic world who challenged the binary relationship between the “West and the rest,” offering alternative perspectives on cultural exchange and representation.

The class is online-only. More about online classes.

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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.

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What Our Students Say

“The instructor was not only knowledgeable but so accessible, and such an inviting presence. She provided great reading to supplement the course.” —Mary Cassatt: Art, Identity, and Independence with Larissa Bailiff

“Pierre brings the art alive with her inside stories and images and how she interacts with the students. She is always able to answer and follow up with more information at the next class.” —Exhibiting Modernism: From the Salon to the Avant-Garde with Caterina Pierre

“Alison Boyd was engaging and effective during the online instruction, and she offered well-selected background materials for further reading.” —Aaron Douglas from Harlem to Philly with Alison Boyd