Art practice in this country since the l970s has dealt forthrightly with basic social problems, initially ones rooted in gender and race. These basic issues of course are also intimately tied to class, economics and access to representation. With the opening of Womanhouse in L.A., women especially began producing work that dealt with their own lives-initially, with what went on in domestic space and relations, but expanding out into their roles in larger social relations. African-American, Asian, and Native American artists, both women and men, produced complex works that intertwined their concerns about their place in the mainstream culture, reflections on how they are seen, and declarations about who they are. This course will investigate artists' works since the 1970s which deal with gender and race, as well as class and economics as they tie to those principal concerns. We will emphasize research and presentation of art works, but will also reach out to a number of artists directly. Before meeting with artists in New York and Boston, as well as initiating conference calls with artists elsewhere, we will develop and direct questions about their work. Intentionality is one area to pursue with them, but other areas of inquiry will be devised by the class. Requirements: readings; weekly short/small written or visual responses to artists presented; research on and presentation of work by one artist; research on the work of one artist whom we will contact, along with principal responsibility for that contact. Prerequisites: ArtH 101-102. Enrollment limit: 19 (expected: 19).

Hour: DIGGS