Instructor Spotlight

Modernism and Postmodernism in the Visual Arts

Study Modern Art in DTLA

Dahn Hiuni

We are pleased to offer a new art history course at our Downtown Los Angeles location.

Modernism and Postmodernism in the Visual Arts helps students to better understand the two main cultural paradigms of our times: modernism and postmodernism. The course will examine the ways in which they represent a continuity, as well as their extreme ideological and aesthetic divergences. Study includes trips to the nearby MOCA and Broad Museums.

The course is taught by Dahn Hiuni. We spoke with him about his goals for the course.

Your course investigates modernism and postmodernism; what about these movements interest you, and what can students expect to learn in your lectures?

The 20th Century was certainly a fascinating one. I am interested in how cultural shifts get reflected in the art of the time. The shift from modernism to postmodernism is quite a dramatic one, worthy of investigation. Because it is so recent and still part of our epoch, students may find it useful to understand the pervasive references to these terms. By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of the differences between the two movements.

What museums are you planning to visit, and why?

The Broad is a wonderful new addition to the LA art scene. It has fine examples of both modern and postmodern art, and the building itself is a great example of postmodern architecture. MOCA invariably has wonderful exhibits of contemporary art, allowing us to view and discuss the latest in cultural production.

What do you feel is something unique Los Angeles has to offer art lovers?

LA is a world class art capital. The many museums and galleries support any study of art. Many artists continuously move to LA from other parts of the country, making it a most vibrant and dynamic art scene.

Which collections or works are you looking forward to sharing with your students?

I am particularly looking forward to the visit to the Broad Museum. Not only for its excellent collection, but for the building itself.

 

 

Man painting in his studio

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UCLA Extension Visual Arts offers individual courses in design, user experience, art history, photography, and fine art. In addition, we offer certificate programs in Design Communication Arts, User Experience (UX) and Photography.

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