Topic: The 50's
Abstract Expressionism, Bay Area Figurative Art, Neo-Dada, Happenings and Pop Art were
all percolating in the American art world of the 1950s. Issues of abstraction vs. the figure, high vs.
low, and the effects of the post-War economic boom were illustrated, and  hotly debated, at the
time.  Phenomenon such as the "red scare," the Korean War, Civil Rights struggles and the
closeting of homosexual identity all heated up this "Cold War" decade, and were reflected in the
art of the time.  A nostalgic glance back at the "Happy Days" of the 1950s reveals to some a bland
culture of conformity, marked by the rising popularity of television and the beginning of the
"Disney-fication" of America.  On the contrary, our study will reveal that the mid-point was highly
formative for many of the social and cultural trends that colored the ensuing decades of the 20th
century.

The requirements for this lecture course are: a series of short written assignments, a brief in-
class presentation,  and a final examination, as well as class participation. Graduate students will
be required to attend a bi-weekly meeting to discuss readings, and will write a term paper in lieu
of the final exam.