Art Appreciation: Satire to Propaganda

On this seven week online course we will look at works ranging from the satirical, even salacious, scenes of William Hogarth, through the often shocking socio-political criticism of Georg Grosz's work during the Weimar Republic, to the state-controlled art of Soviet Socialist Realism, this course explores the power of art to criticize and/or celebrate the social and political developments of their times.

No previous experience is necessary  - just a lively, open-minded interest in art!

Topics to be covered will include: the work of William Hogarth; Gustave Courbet; Jean-Francois Millet; Georg Grosz; Otto Dix; the works of the American Ashcan School (c1890-1914) and Soviet Socialist Realism (1930-); and the social, cultural and political context in which these works were produced.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

- identify two of the key characteristics of the work of three of the artists under discussion in terms of themes, choice and treatment of subject matter

- describe one of the techniques used by three of these artists in terms of formal elements including medium, style or composition 

- identify three of the major influences  - social, cultural and/or political on their work

- describe one of the ways in which their works were received   - by critics and the public

- recognize one of the works of at least three of the artists explored in this course