The turn of the 20th century saw an explosion of changes which in turn redefined our visual vocabulary. This course introduces the major artists and movements of 19th and 20th century western art. Avant Garde art of the 19th century, the rise of high modernism and its subsequent decline in the postmodern era will be examined. Issues considered are artistic intention, spirituality in art, the birth and development of abstraction, art with political agendas and the implicit historic contexts of modern art. Work will be viewed through slide presentation and videotape.