Crash Course Art History Preview
February 7, 2025 – Los Angeles: This video kicks off the Crash Course Art History series, a new collection of episodes that will roll out on this website over the coming weeks and months. This series celebrates the vast scope and enduring relevance of art history, offering viewers a fresh perspective on a subject that’s often misunderstood.
Busting Myths About Art History
Forget the stereotype of art history as just “soothing landscape paintings, portraits of royalty, and muscular babies.” This series reveals that art is so much more — spanning everything from ancient cave paintings to graffiti, fashion, and even living sculptures. It’s a vibrant, expansive field that defies narrow definitions.
Why Study Art History?
Art history isn’t just about pretty pictures. It’s a powerful lens for understanding different cultures, time periods, and the surprising threads that connect us all. Whether you’re an art lover or a curious beginner, this series will show you why art matters.
Meet Your Host: Sarah Urist Green
The series is led by Sarah Urist Green, a curator and art educator passionate about making art approachable. With a background in museums, authorship, and creating the YouTube series The Art Assignment, she’s the perfect guide for this journey.
What’s in Store?
The Crash Course Art History series will feature 22 episodes delving into the “who, where, when, and why” behind a wide range of artworks. Expect to gain the tools to interpret visual art and uncover recurring themes like nature, the divine, and the human body. From ancient relics to modern masterpieces, this series has it all.
Art History Today
Art history isn’t stuck in the past — it’s a living, evolving field. The video series highlights how contemporary issues shape the discipline, raising questions like: “Who gets to decide what’s preserved?” It also explores how activists use art to champion justice and how new technologies, like AI, are transforming the creative landscape.
Acknowledgements
This video was filmed at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. A special thanks goes to the individuals whose contributions made it possible.
Stay tuned for more episodes, and dive into the world of art history!