Instructor: Barnhart WF 9:30 AM – 10:50 AM
Does art imitate life—or does life imitate art, as Oscar Wilde once claimed? In this class, we will ponder this question and many others connected to the relationship between art and living. We will study ekphrasis, the Greek term for a literary description of a work of art. This type of interdisciplinary approach can deepen our understanding, internalization, and connection to both the written and artistic works being examined. This semester, we will explore works across genre—reading and writing ekphrastic poems, essays, and fiction—as well as discipline—examining visual art, music, dance, and more! We will take class field trips to on-campus/local galleries and hear from some working artists across disciplines. In addition to literary works about pieces of art, we will also read works interested in the artist’s life itself: what does it mean to be an artist? Artists/art enthusiasts from other disciplines at UC interested in a reading-and writing-intensive course are very welcome!