Art and Architecture

History and literature are inevitably intertwined with the fine arts produced by every society.  As the third "strand" in this interdisciplinary course, the study of art and architecture is crucial to a complete understanding of the time periods studied.  In this class, we endeavor to cultivate the students' appreciation of paintings, sculptures, and buildings as they reflect (or reject) the values that characterize different ages.

Art of the Western World

Throughout the year, students view all nine parts of the classic film series Art of the Western World and complete handouts specific to each part.  Each section of the film aligns with the time period being studied and provides an opportunity for the students to view benchmark works that have shaped our civilization.  Whether at the dinner table or on a family vacation, Cult./Lit. students take pride in identifying and describing great works of art and architecture.

If a student is absent on a film day, he/she may borrow the video from the High School library.  Additionally, the entire film series is available as streaming video online.

See the course calendar for scheduled film days.

Arts and Ideas

To enhance their appreciation for art and architecture, students complete reading/notetaking assignments in the comprehensive textbook Arts and Ideas.  This book offers a rich assortment of color photographs of major works of art, accompanied by detailed descriptions and analyses, which assists the students in understanding the relationship between art and history.

Click on  Arts and Ideas for a list of reading assignments. 

See the course calendar for assignment due dates.

This page is maintained in accordance with Shenendehowa's web publishing guidelines by Ms. Kirkpatrick and Mr. Vaccaro