Nintendo looked to the prehistoric civilization of Jomon as inspiration for its newest game in The Legend of Zelda series: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Intricate flame-like patterns, one of Jomon’s signifying visual features, can be found all over the game on guardian robots, in dungeons, and on Link’s Sheikah Slate. Another relic from the Jomon era, Dogu (clay figurines), appears in the form of an oven named Cherry, who provides Link with armor and weapons for his journey.

This summer, students will visit Baltimore’s renowned museums and go on their own historic journey in ART 216: Studies in Visual Culture (Prehistory through the 1750s). This course aims to provide students with an understanding of how societies and their histories are shaped by art and visual culture. While experiencing the great collections of the Walters Art Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art, students will explore several significant moments in the history of world art dating from prehistory to the mid-eighteenth century. Architecture, painting, sculpture, religion, and philosophy are potential topics that may be discussed.

ART 216 is a six-week course offered during summer session 1. Classes will be held at the Lion Brothers Building in Baltimore.