Welcome to Modern Art & Ideas! This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about modern and contemporary art. Over the next five weeks, you will look at art through a variety of themes: Places & Spaces, Art & Identity, Transforming Everyday Objects, and Art & Society. Each week kicks off with a video that connects works of art from The Museum of Modern Art’s collection to the theme. You will hear audio interviews with artists, designers, and curators and learn more about selected works in the additional readings and resources.
This course is part of the Modern and Contemporary Art and Design Specialization
Offered By
Modern and Contemporary Art and Design SpecializationThe Museum of Modern ArtAbout this Course
220,268 recent views
Learner Career Outcomes
21%
started a new career after completing these courses
21%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
11%
got a pay increase or promotion
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Course 1 of 4 in the
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Beginner Level
Approx. 14 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Greek, Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish
Skills you will gain
CreativityArtHistoryArt HistoryArt Direction
Learner Career Outcomes
21%
started a new career after completing these courses
21%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
11%
got a pay increase or promotion
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Course 1 of 4 in the
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Beginner Level
Approx. 14 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Greek, Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish
Offered by
The Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is a place that fuels creativity, ignites minds, and provides inspiration. Join us in exploring the art, ideas, and issues of our time through the Modern and Contemporary Art and Design Specialization or through individual courses: Modern Art & Ideas, Seeing Through Photographs, What Is Contemporary Art?, Fashion as Design, and In the Studio: Postwar Abstract Painting. Learn about teaching with art in our three courses designed for K-12 educators: Art & Inquiry, Art & Activity, and Art & Ideas.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
1 hour to complete
Module 1: Introduction to Modern Art & Ideas
Be introduced to some of the overall benefits of studying modern and contemporary art through accessible and relevant themes.
1 hour to complete
1 video (Total 1 min), 5 readings
1 video
5 readings
Welcome to the Course!10m
What is Modern Art?10m
Suggestions for Making the Most of the Course10m
Resources: MoMA podcasts, art vocabulary, Magazine, and YouTube channel10m
Tell Us About You10m
3 hours to complete
Module 2: Places & Spaces
Discover some of the many ways that artists represent place and take inspiration from their environment.
3 hours to complete
12 videos (Total 26 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes
12 videos
Vincent van Gogh. The Starry Night. 18892m
Piet Mondrian. Broadway Boogie Woogie. 1942–431m
Gordon Matta-Clark. Bingo. 19741m
Norman Lewis. City Night. 19492m
Andrew Wyeth. Christina's World. 19481m
Salvador Dalí. The Persistence of Memory. 19311m
Claude Monet. Water Lilies. 1914–261m
Rachel Whiteread. Water Tower. 19982m
Edward Hopper. House By the Railroad. 19251m
Louis I. Kahn. Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh (Study for National Assembly Building). 1962–832m
Zarina. Home is a Foreign Place. 19992m
4 readings
Introduction to Places & Spaces10m
Slideshow20m
In Depth: Bernd & Hilla Becher30m
Optional Readings & Resources10m
2 practice exercises
Practice Quiz20m
Weekly Reflection30m
2 hours to complete
Module 3: Art & Identity
See how artists create works of art to express, explore, and question identity.
2 hours to complete
8 videos (Total 19 min), 5 readings, 2 quizzes
8 videos
Frida Kahlo. Self-Portait with Cropped Hair. 19402m
Andy Warhol. Gold Marilyn Monroe. 19621m
Pablo Picasso. Girl before a Mirror. 19322m
Marc Chagall. I and the Village. 19112m
Henri Matisse. The Red Studio. 19112m
Rineke Dijkstra. Almerisa series. 1994–20081m
Kara Walker. 40 Acres of Mules. 20152m
5 readings
Introduction to Art & Identity10m
Slideshow20m
In Depth: Frida Kahlo and Ellen Gallagher10m
Optional Readings & Resources10m
Mid-course survey5m
2 practice exercises
Practice Quiz30m
Weekly Reflection30m
2 hours to complete
Module 4: Transforming Everyday Objects
Discover how artists use everyday objects to challenge assumptions about what constitutes art and how it should be made. Explore a variety of artistic and design choices, and the creative acts of inventing and transforming everyday objects.
2 hours to complete
10 videos (Total 21 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes
10 videos
Marcel Duchamp. Bicycle Wheel. 19132m
Robert Rauschenberg. Bed. 19551m
Meret Oppenheim. Object. 19362m
Décolletage Plastique Design Team. Bic Cristal® Ballpoint pen. 19502m
Louise Nevelson. Sky Cathedral. 19581m
Mike Kelley. Untitled. 19902m
Jessica Rosenkrantz, Jesse Louis-Rosenberg. Kinematics Dress. 20131m
Doris Salcedo. Atrabilious. 1992–931m
Betye Saar. Black Girl's Window. 19691m
4 readings
Introduction to Transforming Everyday Objects10m
Slideshow20m
In Depth: Design Objects & Marcel Duchamp10m
Optional Readings & Resources10m
2 practice exercises
Practice Quiz30m
Weekly Reflection30m
Reviews
TOP REVIEWS FROM MODERN ART & IDEAS
by AMJan 14, 2018
It has been a very wonderful course. I love the museum as a cultural space and now I love it more for its commitment to online education and giving us the opportunity to learn in different countries.
by TTJun 7, 2020
Really enjoyed this course! Well organized/developed, and even for a museum buff, like me, offered great ideas, and perspectives in ‘looking’ and ‘understanding’ art, and particular artist’s process.
by AVOct 10, 2016
I really enjoyed this course and the way art was discussed based on theme rather than chronologically. My only issues with the class were the frustrations with the quizzes being graded incorrectly.
by BBJun 28, 2020
Very much enjoyed this course, I learned a great deal about what is encompassed in modern art, what was going on in the artist's mind when doing their art pirce, and what is considered modern art.
About the Modern and Contemporary Art and Design Specialization
This Specialization will introduce you to the art of our time. Through original films and audio, you will go behind the scenes to look closely at artworks and into studios to hear directly from artists, designers, curators and others. This Specialization is for anyone who would like to learn more about modern and contemporary art. No prior knowledge is required. Enroll to receive invitations to virtual events, gain exclusive access to MoMA resources, and share ideas with an international learner community.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
Is financial aid available?
Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
