HUAS77005 - Art and Design in the Atomic Age

Course Description

The invention and detonation of the atomic bomb reshaped the world, and the development of nuclear technologies in its wake ushered in a new era of scientific and industrial innovation—along with mounting geopolitical anxiety and terror in the aftermath of unprecedented human devastation. Art and design during the postwar period responded to both the tremendous possibilities and fears brought by new technology, and in turn played a significant role in how this new world looked and functioned. This course focuses on case studies from Chicago and the Midwest region as well as the emergence of art movements in the United States, Europe, and Japan that directly engaged with the “atomic age.” Works from both high art and popular culture that reflected the complex political, social, and aesthetic circumstances of the era will be examined, including painting, sculpture, graphic design, industrial objects, architecture, and film.