The course will introduce you to the study of art, by focusing on particular times, places, works, and artists that have played key roles in shaping our view of western art history.  We will investigate art that was produced around these crucial points in western history, as well as what preceded and what followed these turning points.  We will also pursue recurrent themes in western art history, such as conceptions of the body, forms of visual narrative, the art of spirituality, images of death and mortality, and images of power and propaganda.  In addition, we will explore the ways in which western cultural production has been defined through contact with cultures deemed to be "outside" of the western tradition.