HAD-655 Topics in Islamic Art and Design

3 Credits

What makes a work of art “Islamic”? This seminar scrutinizes the artistic expressions of Islam spanning various regions, historical periods, and mediums, while also considering their worldwide impacts and contemporary interpretations. By encouraging a nuanced examination, it aims to develop a critical framework for discerning the multifaceted artistic traditions within Islamic societies globally, touching upon themes like gender representation; Orientalist perspectives in art; expressions of Arab, Iranian, and Turkish revolutions; colonial art styles; and the dynamics of the contemporary art market in the Gulf Region.