Spring 2025

An in-depth look at the art, politics, and cultural impact of several Japanese filmmakers including Isao Takahata, Hayao Miyazaki, Satoshi Kon, Mamoru Hosoda and Makoto Shinkai.

European art and its legacy in the Americas. Painting, sculpture, architecture and other visual media considered in relation to social and cultural history.

Survey of the art, architecture, and visual culture of Latin America from the colonial period to the present, focusing on connections to culture and society.

An introduction to the art and material culture of the European Middle Ages (ca. 400-1400), exploring topics of politics, religion and global interconnection.

Explores the visual, material and performative aspects of Italian culture in the expression of power and the construction of identity in the Renaissance.

A survey of art and architecture in Britain from the age of Hogarth to Art Nouveau. Among the artists studied are Constable, Turner and the Pre-Raphaelites.

Questions of social engagement and political structure address this examination of major international movements in art since 1940.

A world-wide perspective of architectural history as a product of social, cultural, religious, and political dimensions, a: 4500 BCE to 1500 CE.

Lecture-studio course on the theory and history behind contemporary art, design, and visual communication; students also create work, informed by ideas from the lecture.

A loosely chronological, thematic survey of art, visual culture, design, and critical theory from the early modern period through modernism (1500 1950).

An overview of the evolution of computer graphics in modern media.

Gateway to majors and minors in cinematic arts. Technique, aesthetics, criticism, and social implications of cinema. Lectures accompanied by screenings of appropriate films.

Analyzes issues of race, class and gender in contemporary American culture as represented in the cinema.

Detailed investigation of source material and how it translates to screen. Special attention paid to character, genre and story as relates to intellectual property.

Examination of the role of dance in popular culture in a classroom setting. Studies of dance styles and their evolution in recreational and professional contexts through research, observation, and practice.

Gateway to the minor in dance. An interdisciplinary overview of dance relating to the aesthetic and art in various subjects. Applications of the elements of dance studies, art criticism, and viewing productions to explore topic such as architecture, photography, poetry, technology, cinematic arts, sports, medicine, and more.

Introduction to the history and practice of Urban Folk Dance including hip hop, freestyle, street dance and the relevant social dances of the 20th century.

Exploration of the discursive foundations, political motivations, and aesthetic strategies of dance writers and artists whose works have enabled the category of "black dance."

Examining the role that vernacular dance and music play in the creation of Jazz Dance, taught in lecture format; practical studies in Jazz Dance, from recreational to professional settings.

An overview of the creative design process and introduction to techniques to solve visual problems.

A comprehensive study of visual communication focusing on graphic design from 1900 to the present. An introduction to design thinking, language and principles including political and cultural implications.

Survey of Korean film, the film industry and critical issues from the colonial period to the present.

The multifaceted history of the creative act, its analysis, production, and context as a representation of human experience. (Satisfies GE-A, The Arts) Open only to Freshmen.

The multifaceted history of the creative act, its analysis, production, and context as a representation of human experience. Offered by a USC professional school.

A history of jazz music and the styles of music considered antecedents to jazz.

Exploration of music and cultures of the world. Engagement with international musicians, global issues, field work and musical diasporas in Los Angeles.

Exploration of musical styles and elements, creative process and social context through active listening and engagement with live performances on the USC campus.

An introduction to Western art music and culture from the Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern eras through reading, listening, analyzing and writing about music.

A uniquely American genre, the Broadway musical serves as a catalyst for inquiry into human diversity, cross-culturalism, and significant social and political issues.

The origins and development of EDM and its relatives such as disco, house, techno, rave and electronica, focusing on cultural and technological influences.

A chronicle of the musical contribution of Africans and African Americans to American society and to the foundations of musical genres and styles throughout the world.

A history of hip-hop music from its inception to the present: its musical processes and styles, as well as attendant social, political and cultural issues.

An exploration of musical practices and styles which reflect and shape national identities and which focus on those created in response to political turmoil in many forms.

Historical survey of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie that explores their contributions to contemporary notions of "masculinity," "Empire," and "classic rock."

Introduction to the theater and its relationship to society through major plays in film versions. Separate screenings to be arranged.

Introduction to the formalized plays of William Shakespeare as texts for performance through reading, viewing and analysis of selected plays in textual and film versions.

Comedy and Performance traces the history of comedy in performance from its earliest incarnations to the present day.

An exploration of the phenomena of stardom and celebrity across media, entertainment, sports and social influence, ranging from early modern theatre to current day.

The analysis of a range of plays from different times and cultures with a consideration of the roles of actor, director, dramaturg and designer.

The examination of the intersection between athletes and actors through the study of plays, musicals, feature films and TV series that depict athletic worlds.