Image caption: The Department of Visual Arts is inviting students to engage with the history of culture through Spring course HAVC 1Q99: Contemporary Issues in the History of Western Art.
Wednesday, April 01, 2026 | by Gillian Minaker
Brock students can broaden their perspectives on art and its impact on society this spring.
Welcoming students from all academic backgrounds and disciplines, HAVC 1Q99: Contemporary Issues in the History of Western Art explores different ways of looking at the visual past and present from prehistory through the early 20th century. The course is offered online and no art experience is required.
Instead of approaching art history chronologically, the course explores themes and issues in the history of European and North American art and connects them to today’s world.
“Students will learn the important skills of visual analysis. These skills are more important than ever as we navigate a world populated with images designed to manipulate us through deep fakes, propaganda and influencer videos,” says Linda Steer, Associate Professor of History of Art and Visual Culture.
One of the concepts taught in the course is the skill of “close looking.” According to Steer, learning to look closely at historical and contemporary works of art helps students develop critical observation and thinking skills that are necessary in a number of jobs, such as nursing.
“Past students have noted that the course has helped them learn how to pay more attention to their environment. It’s never been more important to learn how to critically evaluate all images, including art,” she says.
Also central to the course is understanding how marginalized people have been depicted or overlooked in European and North American art, and how contemporary artists have challenged those representations in interesting ways.
“We consider historical and contemporary depictions of Indigeneity, race, gender and disability. Operating from the premise that art is not neutral, we examine how art makes meaning in cultures and in historical moments,” Steer says.
The course will explore how monarchs throughout history used painted portraits to assert their power, for example, and how present-day rulers use similar symbolism to assert their status.
Students can expect to gain knowledge through in-class exercises, discussions, readings, videos and non-traditional assignments.
“We consider why 17th century Dutch art collectors desired still life paintings that depicted luxury objects and compare that to how wealth is depicted today. Students will have the opportunity to create their own still life using their phone cameras,” Steer says.
For more information on Brock’s Spring/Summer courses or to register, visit brocku.ca/springsummer.
