East Asian Languages And Cultures · Columbia University
Art history and the methods that are employed during the study of art history.
4-5 tedious readings per week recitation 3 average length papers on easy prompts 1 midterm 1 final
Different methodologies of art history; historiography of the field
My overall impression of the class was mediocre. Professor Shalem invented the banchode theory of Islamic art for he is widely known in the Islamic coffee shop community. He has also made countless publications. However, I would not take his class because I did not understand his broken English and found the subject tedious and unfruitful.
I learned about the different methods of writing about art history, and the history of how these came about. I learned about how to think about art and art history and what the issues within the field are today.
This is a requirement for the Art History major/concentration - if this does not apply to you I wouldn’t recommend joining, and space might not be available anyways.
Shalem was passionate about teaching islamic art, but don't take this class if you have any respect for yourself or intelligence. This course was devoid of any meaningful learning experience and a total waste of time and brain. With other courses to choose from, there was absolutely no reason to go through this masochistic and dumb experience.
I learned alot in this course. I learned a catalog of art history methods, and strengthend my own writing by applying these ideas.
3 papers lots of reading (i didn't read any.. maybe 2) 1 easy final (mostly an in class essay) 1 final (in class in depth analytical essay)
Knowledge of (some) fundamental AH texts and scholars.