A survey of modern realism. Beginning with Manet in France, the course looks at how realism evolved across media from the 1860s-1960s. It explores how realism came to complement and oppose trends in avant-garde art. Drawing upon works from the United States, Europe, Latin America, and the Russian Empire/USSR we will seek to understand how modernity and modernism influenced realism and will place particular emphasis on the politics of realist aesthetics. Areas of inquiry will include Social Realism, Socialist Realism, Mexican Muralism, Third Reich realisms, and world-building realism. This course offers students a foundational understanding of realism in modern art and visual culture.
