Queer Art History

Unit 1 – Early Queer Art: Pre-20th Century Masters

Unit 2 – Harlem Renaissance: Queer Artists of Color

Unit 3 – Queer Art & Activism in the AIDS Crisis

Unit 4 – Postmodern & Contemporary Queer Art

Unit 5 – Queer Visual Culture: Photography

Unit 6 – Queer Performance in Art and Theater

Unit 7 – Intersectionality in queer art

Unit 8 – Queer Art Beyond the West

Unit 9 – Queer Art: Politics of Representation

Unit 10 – Queer art and gender identity

Unit 11 – Queer art in the digital age

Unit 12 – Queer Art: Future of the Movement

## What do you learn in Queer Art History

Queer Art History explores LGBTQ+ representation and themes in art from ancient times to the present. You'll analyze works by queer artists, examine how sexuality and gender identity have been portrayed throughout history, and discuss the impact of social movements on artistic expression. The course covers painting, sculpture, photography, and performance art, focusing on how queer perspectives have shaped cultural narratives.

## Is Queer Art History hard?

Queer Art History isn't typically considered one of the tougher art history courses. It's more about interpretation and cultural context than memorizing dates and names. That said, you'll need to do a fair bit of reading and be ready to engage in class discussions. If you're interested in the subject matter, you'll probably find it pretty manageable and even enjoyable.

## Tips for taking Queer Art History in college

1. Use [Fiveable Study Guides](https://fiveable.me/cram-mode) to help you cram 🌶️
2. Keep an open mind and be ready to challenge your preconceptions about art and sexuality
3. Engage in class discussions - they're often where the most interesting insights come up
4. Create a timeline of queer art movements to help contextualize different works
5. Watch documentaries like "Paris Is Burning" or "Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures" for extra context
6. Visit local LGBTQ+ art exhibitions or museums to see works in person
7. Start a study group to discuss readings and share perspectives on artworks

## Common pre-requisites for Queer Art History

1. Introduction to Art History: This course provides a broad overview of art movements and styles throughout history. It's a great foundation for understanding the context of queer art within the larger art world.

2. Gender and Sexuality Studies: This class explores theories of gender and sexuality across cultures and time periods. It offers valuable background knowledge for understanding the social contexts of queer art.

## Classes similar to Queer Art History

1. Feminist Art History: Examines art from a feminist perspective, focusing on women artists and representations of women in art. It often intersects with queer art history in exploring gender and sexuality in visual culture.

2. Contemporary Art: Covers art movements from the mid-20th century to the present. This course often includes discussions of identity politics and queer themes in recent art.

3. Performance Art History: Explores the development of performance as an art form. Many influential performance artists have addressed queer themes and identities in their work.

4. Post-Colonial Art: Examines art from countries and cultures that have experienced colonization. This course often touches on intersections of race, gender, and sexuality in art.

## Majors related to Queer Art History

1. Art History: Focuses on the study of visual arts throughout history. Students learn to analyze artworks, understand their historical and cultural contexts, and develop critical thinking skills.

2. Gender and Sexuality Studies: Explores how gender and sexuality shape society, culture, and individual experiences. Students examine these topics through various lenses, including literature, history, and sociology.

3. Visual Arts: Combines practical art-making with the study of art history and theory. Students develop their artistic skills while also learning about the cultural and historical contexts of art.

4. Cultural Studies: Analyzes cultural phenomena and how they relate to power structures in society. Students examine topics like media, popular culture, and identity politics.

## What can you do with a degree in Queer Art History?

1. Museum Curator: Organizes art exhibitions and manages collections. Curators research artworks, write exhibition catalogs, and work to make art accessible to the public.

2. Art Critic: Writes reviews and analyses of art exhibitions and individual artworks. Critics help shape public understanding and appreciation of art through their writing and commentary.

3. Arts Administrator: Manages the business side of arts organizations like galleries, theaters, or museums. They handle budgets, fundraising, and program planning to keep arts institutions running smoothly.

4. LGBTQ+ Community Outreach Coordinator: Works with organizations to develop programs and events that engage the LGBTQ+ community. They might organize art exhibitions, workshops, or cultural events that celebrate queer art and artists.

## Queer Art History FAQs

1. Do I need to identify as LGBTQ+ to take this course? Not at all - the course is open to anyone interested in exploring queer perspectives in art history. It's about understanding and appreciating diverse viewpoints.

2. Will this course cover contemporary queer artists? Yes, while the course covers historical periods, it also includes discussions of contemporary queer artists and their work.

3. How does this course differ from a general art history class? This course specifically focuses on LGBTQ+ themes and artists, providing a more in-depth look at how sexuality and gender identity have been expressed in art throughout history.

Art History

Queer Studies

1.1 Sappho and ancient Greek poetry

1.4 Caravaggio and Baroque art

1.5 Walt Whitman and 19th-century American literature

1.2 Michelangelo and the Italian Renaissance

1.3 Shakespeare and Elizabethan theater

2.1 Langston Hughes and queer themes in poetry

2.2 Richard Bruce Nugent and queer visual art

2.5 Zora Neale Hurston and queer anthropology

2.3 Gladys Bentley and queer performance

2.4 Countee Cullen and queer identity

3.3 Gran Fury and activist art collectives

3.4 Felix Gonzalez-Torres and conceptual art

3.1 Keith Haring and pop art activism

3.5 Nan Goldin and documentary photography

3.2 David Wojnarowicz and multimedia art

4.2 Judy Chicago and feminist art

4.3 Catherine Opie and portrait photography

4.1 Robert Mapplethorpe and queer photography

4.4 Kehinde Wiley and queer portraiture

4.5 Zanele Muholi and queer African art

5.2 Peter Hujar and intimate portraiture

5.4 Rotimi Fani-Kayode and African diasporic art

5.5 Lyle Ashton Harris and queer self-portraiture

5.1 Diane Arbus and marginalized subjects

5.3 Alvin Baltrop and queer urban landscapes

6.1 Marsha P. Johnson and drag performance

6.3 Ron Athey and body art

6.2 Reza Abdoh and experimental theater

6.5 Taylor Mac and queer cabaret

6.4 Split Britches and lesbian theater

7.1 Audre Lorde and black lesbian poetry

7.2 James Baldwin and queer African American literature

7.3 Frida Kahlo and queer Latinx art

7.4 Kazuo Ohno and queer Japanese performance

7.5 Adrienne Rich and queer feminist theory

8.5 Chitra Ganesh and queer diasporic art

8.3 Yayoi Kusama and queer Japanese art

8.1 Sunil Gupta and queer Indian photography

8.2 Ren Hang and queer Chinese photography

8.4 Tejal Shah and queer South Asian multimedia art

9.4 Cass Bird and queer fashion photography

9.3 Vaginal Davis and queer punk performance

9.2 Harmony Hammond and lesbian abstract art

9.1 Tom of Finland and gay male erotica

9.5 Mickalene Thomas and queer black femininity

10.3 Yasumasa Morimura and gender performance

10.4 Juliana Huxtable and trans activism

10.2 Greer Lankton and transgender art

10.1 Claude Cahun and gender fluidity

10.5 Cassils and transgender body art

11.2 Jacolby Satterwhite and 3D animation

11.3 Shu Lea Cheang and cyberfeminism

11.4 Ryan Trecartin and post-internet art

11.1 Zach Blas and queer digital art

11.5 Queer online communities and digital activism

12.4 Queer art and environmental justice

12.5 Queer art and the future of identity politics

12.3 Queer art and disability justice

12.2 Queer art and decolonization

12.1 Queer art and intersectional activism

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