This course introduces students to contemporary visual culture and its historical roots. It examines avant-garde modern art movements and the impact of new technologies. Topics include international exhibitions, art and popular culture, and relationships between words and images. The mixed-mode course includes both online and in-person components, with students required to attend on-campus meetings on Thursdays. Student evaluation is based on attendance, online discussion posts and assignments, reading quizzes, and exams. The course covers art from the Stone Age through modern movements like Fauvism and Abstract Expressionism.