About this course: Welcome to Modern Art & Ideas! This course is designed to help anyone interested in learning more about modern and contemporary art. Themes can provide an effective structure for engaging with art. In this course, you will explore four themes that educators at The Museum of Modern Art use frequently in their teaching: Places & Spaces, Art & Identity, Transforming Everyday Objects, and Art & Society. Through videos, slideshows, and a variety of resources, readings, and activities, you will explore the content and context of works of art in MoMA’s collection. Learners will… - Explore works of modern and contemporary art through a variety of accessible and relevant themes. - Hear directly from artists about their ideas and processes. - Gain exposure to a range of digital resources available for continually engaging with works of art.

Who is this class for: This course is designed for anyone who would like to learn more about modern and contemporary art and to develop skills for closer looking. No prior knowledge of art history or museum-based teaching practice is required. Please note: If you're a classroom teacher or an educator working in an informal setting and you would like to learn about modern and contemporary art while developing pedagogical skills, we recommend you instead take the course Art & Ideas: Teaching Through Themes.

Created by: The Museum of Modern Art

Taught by: Lisa Mazzola, Assistant Director, School and Teacher Programs
Department of Education

Commitment	5 weeks of study, 2 hours per week
Language	English, Subtitles: Italian
How To Pass	Pass all graded assignments to complete the course.
User Ratings	4.6 stars Average User Rating 4.6See what learners said

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Module 1: Introduction to Modern Art & Ideas

Be introduced to some of the overall benefits of studying modern and contemporary art through accessible and relevant themes.

1 video, 2 readings

WEEK 2

Module 2: Places & Spaces

Discover some of the many ways that artists represent place and take inspiration from their environment.

10 videos, 3 readings

Graded: Quiz

WEEK 3

Module 3: Art & Identity

See how artists create works of art to express, explore, and question identity.

7 videos, 3 readings

Graded: Quiz

WEEK 4

Module 4: Transforming Everyday Objects

Discover how artists use everyday objects to challenge assumptions about what constitutes art and how it should be made. Explore a variety of artistic and design choices, and the creative acts of inventing and transforming everyday objects.

9 videos, 3 readings

Graded: Quiz

WEEK 5

Module 5: Art & Society

Explore works of art created in response to the social, cultural, and political issues of their time. Gain a deeper understanding of history and contemporary society. Be encouraged to think critically about world events and how they are depicted.

8 videos, 4 readings

Graded: Quiz

Graded: Peer Review

FAQs

How It Works

Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

Help from Your Peers

Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.

Certificates

Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.

Creators

The Museum of Modern Art

The Museum of Modern Art is a place that fuels creativity, ignites minds, and provides inspiration. With extraordinary exhibitions and the world's finest collection of modern and contemporary art, MoMA is dedicated to the conversation between the past and the present, the established and the experimental. Our mission is helping you understand, enjoy, and use the art of our time.

Ratings and Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5 of 1,255 ratings

Very good this course of modern art I learned new things I had fun.

I really enjoyed the thematic approach in this survey of modern art.

so far really good

Very informative and helped me develop my knowledge! Well worth it

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