Interior Perspectives on Art explores the relationship between interior spaces, notions of interiority, art, and material culture. Students are introduced to the major movements and ideas in art and architectural history from the Renaissance to the present by examining how art was produced for, in, and about interiors. Examples of interior spaces include domestic, religious, and civic buildings, as well as spaces explicitly linked to art display and production, such as studios, galleries, and museums. Examples of art and material culture surveyed include painting, sculpture, film, and digital media. Students learn about historical and critical issues that influenced the way artists related to interior environments through a survey of images, readings, and films. They develop an understanding of the social contexts reflected in interior space and the role played by art in reinforcing or changing social norms. Lectures and readings provide students with a critical vocabulary for describing the historical context and critical significance of works of art and related material culture. Students are encouraged to engage in critical interpretation through the use of visual media as well as written responses. Students interrogate historical material in conjunction with their own lived experience of interiors and art through reflective, creative exercises such as photography, video, and image curation. These strategies encourage students to think critically about the conjunction of interiors + art in their own lives and to become curious about the connections between past and present.

Spring 2022 | University of Tennessee