History of Art and Visual Culture: in detail (draft)

BA Honours History of Art and Visual Culture (HAVC)

Ever wonder why certain works of art were censored? Curious about why some old maps have pictures of monsters on them? Interested in how new technologies have shaped art-making? Our courses in the History of Art and Visual Culture answer these questions and much, much more.

This degree provides a solid foundation for future academic and curatorial work in the arts. Students majoring in HAVC will take a wide variety of thematic courses exploring the history of art and visual culture. Through lectures, seminars, field trips, research projects, and creative work, students will explore such topics as:

  • the development of artistic styles over time
  • critical and aesthetic issues relating to the production and consumption of art and visual culture
  • the ways in which art interacts with other forms of visual culture

What do we do in the History of Art and Visual Culture?

History of Art and Visual Culture (HAVC) takes a thematic approach to the study of art and visual culture from the ancient world to the present. Our award-winning faculty teach a variety of engaging courses that include topics such as:

  • the role of animals in art and visual culture
  • trends defining the art world today
  • visual culture and the body
  • case studies in censored art
  • the evolving role of the contemporary artist in society
  • the ways that gender is negotiated through art and visual culture

In HAVC we explore history as it is connected to the present. Courses are innovative, interdisciplinary, and current.

You can learn more about the scholarly research work and teaching by the professors in this program  by visiting the program blog:  HAVoC.

Why a degree in History of Art and Visual Culture?

A BA (Honours) provides the foundation for further study in museum or curatorial studies, gallery administration, art criticism, art history, many related areas in humanities or social science research, fine arts, education, and law school.

Our students graduate with the transferable skills that are in high demand in the marketplace.  These skills include:

  • deep looking and thinking
  • critical evaluation of visual and written texts
  • reading, writing and presentation skills
  • independent thinking and problem solving
  • long-term project development and delivery
  • an understanding of how the past informs the present

A BA (Honours) degree in the History of Art and Visual Culture, offered through the Department of Visual Arts requires the completion of 11 credits in the major. There is also the option of either a Combined BA degree (8 credits) or Minor in History of Art and Visual Culture (4 credits).  See brocku.ca/webcal/undergrad/visa for more information about degree requirements.

Applying to the HAVC program.

Students interested in the History of Art and Visual Culture studies (HAVC) program apply to the Bachelor of Arts in Humanities – Faculty of Humanities exploratory first year program (OUAC code: BHE) and declare their HAVC major during the first year of their BHE studies.
Applicants to the HAVC program are not required to submit a portfolio.

Think visual culture. Act and reflect compassionately!

header image:
Geoffrey Farmer, A Way Out of the Mirror, 2017. Canadian Pavilion Venice Biennale.

Did you know?

Many medical schools are now requiring students to take History of Art and Visual Culture courses in order to develop powers of observation necessary for being a doctor?

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Learn more about Visual Arts

Two female visual art students painting outside

Concentrations

Concentration in Curatorial Studies

This concentration includes six full credits from a list of theoretical and applied courses, some of which include the opportunity to work alongside professional curators. Courses in the History of Art and Visual Culture also provide an important foundation for this area of study.