AJL17088 / AJL27095: Murals of North America:
 

A Century of Social and Political Commentary
 

Course Objectives
 

For the past century, visual artists have turned to public outdoor and
indoor murals to provide social and political commentary. This minicourse
will survey some of the major highlights of this vibrant tradition
in North America. It will look at three major developments that have made
durable contributions to 20th and 21st century art history generally and
to socially conscious art specifically. The three areas are Mexican
muralism of the early to mid-20th century, U.S. social and political
murals from the Works Progress Administration during the New Deal in the
1930s and beyond, and the American Mural renaissance from the late 1960s
to the present
.

Course Schedule (UPDATED)


October 3 – November 2, 2022 | online via Zoom
 

Twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays: 8:00–9:40pm (20:00–21:40
)

Course Requirements
 

1. ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to be present for all classes, be
on time, and above all, to actively participate in class discussions.
 

2. ASSIGNMENTS FOR CLASSES: There are no readings or assignments to
complete between class sessions throughout the week.
 

3. FINAL PAPER: At the end of the semester, students must present an
essay (3-4 double-spaced pages) on any topic reasonable related to the
themes raised in the class sessions. Should you have any questions,
the instructor will explain this in greater detail during the first
session. You are likewise welcome to consult potential essay topics
during or after classes. Final research papers must be uploaded into
the IS vault by January 15, 2023.
Prof. Paul Von Blum
 

African American Studies and
Communication Studie
s

University of California
Email: pvonblum@ucla.ed
u