AP 163 History of Art (1st Semester, 2021-2022)

Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University

Course Syllabus
Credits: 3 (3 - 0 - 6)
Prerequisite: None
Duration: 13th August 2021 – 26th November 2021
Class Meeting: Friday 13:30 – 16:30 / Microsoft Teams & Zoom (Online)
Instructors: Natre Wannathepsakul (Course Coordinator email: natrew@ap.tu.ac.th
Winyu Ardrugsa, PhD email: ardrugsa@ap.tu.ac.th
Guest Lecturer: Asst. Prof. Thanathorn Kittikant, PhD email: thanathorn.k@bu.ac.th

Teaching Assistants: 1 Sirirak Settachaisri (Bua)

2) Boonsita Boonkua (Meen)
3) Natnicha Sangsetthee (Punch)
4) Hatairat Teeravorawan (Snow)

Course Description:
The visual arts convey ideas—be they philosophical, political or religious—at least as
forcefully as the written word. The cliché "A picture is worth a thousand words" is not without
foundation. We hope that in this course you will learn to interpret the meanings of works of art for
yourself.
AP 163 History of Art is designed to introduce you to some of the principal works of
Eastern and Western art and architecture and teach you how to think visually. The course takes a
chronological approach to the history of art and architecture from some of the prominent
civilisations and cultures around the globe. We will explore some of the major movements of art
and learn how and why styles and techniques change over time. Generally speaking, the goal of
this course is to help you understand how artefacts are made, who makes them, why they are
made, and for whom. In doing so, we believe that you will learn not only about the works of art
themselves, but also about the times and cultures in which they were produced.
Students will have the opportunity to explore, in depth, the history of art from ancient
times to the present. Through readings, research, slides, videos, and virtual museum visits,
students will view significant artworks from around the world. Writing skills will be important in the
description, analysis and comparison of these works. Students should keep a notebook to record

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class discussion on significant historical events, art periods/styles, specific artworks and
issues/themes that connect these artworks.

Context:
This is a survey course that has its own challenges in terms of its broad chronological and
geographical coverage of thousands of years of history both in the Eastern and Western
hemispheres. In order to teach such an expansive history of art in a meaningful way, we have
limited the scope of this course to just a few highlights of the history of art. Those who are
interested in the subject are encouraged to take advantage of the university’s and other online
resources to broaden their knowledge.

Contents:
Lectures
The lectures are designed to allow you to study major monuments and works of art in
some depth and should act as demonstrations of how to look and analyse works of art in detail
and what kind of visual and contextual information is necessary to understand a piece of art or
artefact.
Another kind of information accompanying the lists of works is terms. "Terms" are technical
words that you should understand. Please inform the instructor should you find any of the terms’
meanings unclear to you from the lectures.

Teaching Approach:
A major approach of the course is to teach you to think visually. To extract meaning from
a work of art you are to use your eyes as you probably have seldom used them—to analyse visual
material. At the same time that you learn to use your eyes analytically, you will need to master a
new vocabulary. Many of the specialised terms used to talk about art will be unfamiliar; it is
imperative to learn them as if you were learning vocabulary in an introductory language course.
You will also need to learn numerous names and some general dates.
Students are encouraged to explore artworks of their own interest and which are outside
of the course material through group assignments and to carry out their own research and
demonstrate their understanding of how to find relevant information for analysing and
understanding works of art throughout history and across the globe.

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Course Objectives:
1) Students will develop skills in identifying, describing, and analysing works of art.
2) Students will learn to identify common characteristics among diverse artworks based on
periods/styles and themes.
3) Students will develop writing skills for describing, analysing, and comparing works of art.
4) Students will cultivate an appreciation for all styles of art.
5) Students will relate works of art to their proper cultural and historical origins.

Expected Learning Outcomes:

Numerical,
Interpersonal skills &
Morals and Ethics Knowledge Cognitive Skills Communication and
responsibilities
IT skills
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4

○ ○ ● ○ ● ○ ○ ● ○ ○ ○ ● ○ ○ ○ ○ ● ●

1) Students acquire a perspective on history and an understanding of the factors that shape
human activities.
2) Students display knowledge about the origins and nature of contemporary issues and develop a
foundation for future comparative understanding.
3) Students are able to critically assess the reliability of their sources of information

Expected Class Contact:

Lectures: 42 hours
Self-study: 84 hours
Total for the semester: 126 hours

Assessment:
Assignments: 50 %
Quizzes: 50 %

1. Quizzes
Students should be prepared to complete a quiz every week in the second half of the
semester, the content of which will be covered in the previous week’s lecture. Students
will need to complete and submit the quiz within the allocated time. With allowances for
permitted absences per university regulations and technical glitches already factored in,

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 there will be NO late submissions and make-up quizzes under any circumstances.

2. Assignments
All assignments and related requirements and deadlines will be announced in the course’s
MS Teams and Line groups. Communication is paramount: we understand that in these
times students may face difficulties beyond their control and should you have any such
problems with the assigned tasks or deadlines, please notify or consult with the course
coordinator or TAs as soon as you can.

Grading System:
A=≥80, B+=75.0-79.9, B=70.0-74.9, C+=65.0-69.9, C=60.0-64.9, D+=55.0-59.9, D=50.0-54.9, F<50

Requirements and Regulations:

Attendance
Attendance is required as per university regulations. All classes are mandatory and students should
notify the course coordinator in cases of prolonged medical emergencies as soon as they are able
to.
Course Materials
The lectures are intellectual property of the lecturers. You are on your honour NOT to share any
lectures, or part thereof, without first securing the permission of the lecturers.
Note:
Should you have any questions or concerns, please voice them directly to the lecturers or TAs.
Your opinion on the contents and pedagogy of this course is welcome and taken seriously in order
to improve the quality of the course.

Statement of Academic Honesty:

As an institution fundamentally concerned with the free exchange of ideas, the Faculty of
Architecture and Planning at Thammasat University has always depended on the academic
integrity of each of its members. In the spirit of this free exchange, the students and faculty of
APTU recognise the necessity and accept the responsibility for academic honesty.
A student who enrols at APTU thereby agrees to respect and acknowledge the research,
design, and ideas of others in his or her work and to abide by those regulations governing work
stipulated by the instructor. Cheating, plagiarism, unauthorised collaboration or paid assistance,
deliberate interference with the integrity of the work of others, fabrication or falsification of data,

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and other forms of academic dishonesty are considered serious offenses. Any student who breaks
these regulations, misrepresents his or her own work, or collaborates in the misrepresentation of
another's work has committed a serious violation of this agreement for which disciplinary penalties
will be imposed.
Students and faculty are to report violations and alleged violations of this agreement.
Such reports are to be submitted to the Student Honour Committee. This committee is
responsible for determining the guilt or innocence of the accused person or persons, and for
recommending appropriate punishments to the Dean.

Guidelines:
The basic rules of attribution require that:
1. Indebtedness to the specific ideas of others must be acknowledged by a note stating the
source.
2. Every instance of the use of others’ research, computer programs, designs, images, ideas,
information, or other material must be acknowledged by a note.
3. Even the use of a student's own previous work must be acknowledged; thus, a student must
obtain the prior permission of all instructors concerned before submitting substantially the same
work in more than one course.

References: (To be updated

Updated references will be provided in the course’s MS Teams.

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Class Schedule:

Week Date Lecture Topic Lecturer

1 13 AUG 21 Course Introduction Natre

Introduction to Western Art Wannathepsakul
Art's Early Manifestations
2 20 AUG 21 Ancient Greek and Roman Art and Architecture Natre
Wannathepsakul
3 27 AUG 21 Early Christian and Medieval European Art Natre
Wannathepsakul
4 3 SEP 21 Early Italian and Northern Renaissance Art Natre
Wannathepsakul
5 10 SEP 21 16th – 18th Century European Art Natre
Wannathepsakul
6 17 SEP 21 The Modern World: European art from the late 18th Natre
to Early 20th Century Wannathepsakul
7 24 SEP 21 Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction: 20th Natre
Century Wannathepsakul
**Public Holiday (No Synchronous Class)
8 26 SEP 21 – No Midterm Exam (No Class
3 OCT 21
9 8 OCT 21 Intro to Eastern Art: Ancient Civilisation and Art in Thanathorn Kittikant
Mesopotamia
10 15 OCT 21 Hindu Art in India and Southeast Asia Thanathorn Kittikant
11 22 OCT 21 Public Holiday (No Class
12 29 OCT 21 Buddhist Art in India and Its Subcontinent Thanathorn Kittikant
13 5 NOV 21 Buddhist Art in Southeast Asia: Indonesia and Thanathorn Kittikant
Myanmar
14 12 NOV 21 Chinese and Japanese Art and Architecture Thanathorn Kittikant
15 19 NOV 21 Islamic Art Winyu Ardrugsa
16 26 NOV 21 Thai Art Winyu Ardrugsa
17-18 29 NOV 21 - No Final Exam (No Class
17 DEC 21

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