The extremely rich, complex system of art and mythology that has existed in Mexico for centuries has deeply influenced the cultural and political character of the Americas, as we know it. This course will analyze Mexico’s art and mythologies, beginning 4,000 years ago with the Olmec civilization; in addition, we will examine the myth and grandeur of Teotihuacán, the hallucinatory and visionary splendor of the Aztecs, the Spanish conquest and introduction of Spanish culture, and the emergence of a new hybrid culture in the Americas. The course will also explore the muralist movement and its key contributors, such as Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueiros, as well as pivotal American artists whom the movement influenced. Related topics will include the concept of human sacrifice, the use of blood in religion and myth, and the concept of space and time in Mesoamerican thought. Pathway: Art and Design History