Within AP Art History, students will explore the interconnections between art, culture, and historical context using critical analysis through the critical lenses of artistic expression, cultural awareness, and purpose. Using a defined art historical skill set and reflective learning, students will analyze relationships across cultures with a global lens. The examination of how people have responded to and communicated their experiences through art will enable students to think conceptually about art ranging from prehistoric to contemporary. Students will be active participants, engaging with art and its context as they read, research, and collaborate to learn about art, artists, art making, and responses to and interpretations of art.
Gallery One—Introduction to Art History
Gallery Two—Indigenous Americas
Gallery Three—Asia
Gallery 4—The Pacific
Gallery 5—Ancient Near East and Africa
Gallery Six—Ancient Mediterranean
Gallery Seven—Early Europe and Colonial Americas
Gallery Eight—Early Modern Atlantic World
Gallery Nine—Later Europe and Americas
Gallery Ten—Global Contemporary
AP Course & Exam Registration Requirements
College Board requires students to register for AP exams no later than November 13th (individual schools may set earlier deadlines).
All VLACS AP students are required to enroll in the “course only” section in My AP. Instructions for joining My AP will be posted on each VLACS course page and instructors are available to help with this process.
Students who plan to take the corresponding AP exam must arrange to take the exam at a local school that administers it. To register for an AP Exam, the local school will enroll the student in an “exam only” section in My AP. Students should follow these steps:
Please note that, if a school allows a student to register after the 11/13 deadline, there will be a $40 late exam fee. There will also be a $40 canceled/unused exam fee if a student registers and then cancels his/her exam or if the student does not show up on test day.
More information is available on the College Board’s website: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/
Students will demonstrate an understanding of art historical analysis by explaining the elements of works of art, evaluating the use of universal themes in art across time periods, comparing formal and contextual analysis, and summarizing the process for critiquing artistic works.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of cultural and artistic characteristics in art and architecture by analyzing cultural characteristics in art, analyzing artistic characteristics in art and explaining the function of architecture in cultures.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of religious reflections in art and architecture by explaining the reflection of religion in sacred art and architecture, explaining the use of religious art and architecture to reflect political support and explaining the cross cultural influence from trade reflected in art and architecture.
Students will demonstrate symbolic representations in art and architecture by explaining symbolic representations of human forms in art and architecture, explaining symbolic representations of animal forms in art and architecture, and explaining the characteristic materials of a region reflected in the art and architecture.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of representations in art and architecture by explaining the representations of power and authority in art and architecture, explaining the representation of cultural beliefs in sacred spaces and rituals, and explaining the representation of historical visual evidence in art and architecture.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of stylized influences on art and architecture by explaining the representation of culture through stylized elements in art and architecture, explaining stylized characteristics of funerary art and architecture, and explaining the stylized representation of the human figure through cultural shifts.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the influence of patronage and pilgrimage by explaining the impact of pilgrimage on sacred architecture, explaining the impact of patronage on icons of faith, and explaining the impact of cultural exchanges on luxury arts and art design sensibilities.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the impact of historical events on art and architecture by explaining the impact of contemporary philosophies on the interpretation of art and architecture, explaining the impact of events on the emotion of art and architecture, and explaining the impact of war or anti-war propaganda on demand for secular art work.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the influence of modern world innovations on artists by explaining the influence of technological innovations on artists’ production, explaining the influence of modern society on artistic freedom from tradition, and explaining the influence of photography on the role of art.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of global contemporary art and architecture by explaining interactions with environmental installations and site-specific artworks, explaining social commentary within global contemporary artworks, and describing formal qualities and themes explored in global contemporary artworks.