In Art History, students explore the nature of art: its uses, its meanings, and peoples' response to it. This course’s inquiry revolves around investigating art as reflection and as engine of culture and society from prehistory to the present. From diverse global perspectives and through a cross-disciplinary approach to the analysis, interpretation of works of art and art movements, this course emphasizes the interconnectedness of art-making to societal and political shifts throughout history. Students will learn and discuss the fundamental issues and theories surrounding art production, distribution and reception and will develop an understanding of artwork in these contexts, which include issues such as gender, politics, religion, ethnicity and patronage. This course offers students the opportunity to acquire an in-depth understanding of the history of art through readings, research, slides, videos, and museum visits. Writing skills will be important in the description, analysis, and comparison of these works. When taken as an AP course, preparation for the AP Art History Exam will also be incorporated into the curriculum.