Art Since 1940
MIT OpenCourseWare offers this survey of art movements from World War II to the present, covering painting, sculpture, and new media primarily from the United States alongside work from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Lectures trace major developments such as Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, Minimalism, and contemporary practice, while also examining art produced outside the mainstream critical press but central to its own community. Readings and discussions ask what function art serves in different cultures and why it becomes a flashpoint for political debate. Materials include the syllabus, lecture topics, and assignments used in the MIT classroom version of the subject. No certificate is offered, but all course materials are free to access and reuse under a Creative Commons license.