Affiliated Departments & Programs
Sarah Blick teaches courses on medieval and Asian art history. In addition to her intermediate courses on early medieval art, Romanesque and Gothic art, late Gothic art, and art of China, she offers more specialized upper-level courses, such as "Parish Church in Late Medieval England" and "Used Books: Medieval Manuscripts and Incunabula."
She has published widely on pilgrim souvenirs and the cult of St. Thomas Becket of Canterbury Cathedral. She enjoys editing and has published (as editor) several volumes of scholarly essays devoted to late medieval art and Peregrinations: Journal of Medieval Art & Architecture for the International Society for the Study of Pilgrimage Art. She is co-editor of "Art and Material Culture of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance," a book series published by Brill Press, Leiden. Her current research focuses on late Gothic parish church baptismal font covers and devotional practices.
Areas of Expertise
Medieval art history, Asian art history.
Education
1994 — Doctor of Philosophy from Univ Kansas
1990 — Master of Arts from Univ Minnesota Minneapolis*
1985 — Bachelor of Arts from Univ Akron
Courses Recently Taught
This course surveys Western art and architecture from the Paleolithic era to the end of the Middle Ages. Training in visual analysis is emphasized, as are the historical context, religious beliefs and social conditions in which the artwork was produced. This is primarily a lecture class, though discussion is encouraged. Requirements include examinations and short papers. This counts toward the introductory course requirement for the major. No prerequisite. Offered every semester.
This course introduces students to the visual, material and architectural heritage of Asia. It is not intended as a survey or comprehensive study of all the arts of Asia. As an introduction to the discipline of art history, this course aims to teach students how to analyze images, objects and the built environment through their formal and visual qualities, their material characteristics and how they structure — and are structured by — the space around them. We consider how objects and spaces functioned within their respective cultural, religious and political contexts. This counts toward the 100-level introductory course and Asia place requirements for the major. No prerequisite.
This course concerns the arts of medieval Europe from the fourth to the 10th centuries. The class learns about the major forms of architecture, sculpture, painting and the decorative arts of the Middle Ages. Style and iconography are considered within the cultural context of large societal movements, including monastic reform and pilgrimage. The secondary focus is on information literacy and how to develop and write a research paper. The class format consists of lecture, discussion, debate and presentations. This counts toward the Europe and Americas place and the 600-1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: any 100-level ARHS course.
This course concerns the arts of medieval Europe from the fourth to the 10th centuries. The class learns about the major forms of architecture, sculpture, painting and the decorative arts of the Middle Ages. Style and iconography are considered within the cultural context of large societal movements, including monastic reform and pilgrimage. The secondary focus is on information literacy and how to develop and write a research paper. The class format consists of lecture, discussion, debate and presentations. This counts toward the Europe and the Americas and the 600-1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: any 100-level ARHS course.
What does "made in China" mean to you? Come discover the broad range of the arts of China from the Paleolithic period (4000 B.C.E.) to the present moment. The class learns about the rich traditions of ceramics, jade, bronzes, lacquer, painting, calligraphy, sculpture, textiles and the built environment within their cultural context. We consider how the visual and material arts expressed ideas about politics, class, gender and religion across Chinese history, while also asking, "What makes an artwork 'Chinese?'" This counts toward the 200-level intermediate course requirements and the Asia place requirement for the major. Students who have completed coursework related to Chinese studies are encouraged to contact the instructor for permission. Prerequisite: any 100-level ARHS course.
This course explores the arts of medieval northern Europe from the mid-13th through the early 16th centuries. The class learns about the rich traditions of architecture, sculpture, painting and the decorative arts from the Late Gothic period. Style and iconography are considered within the cultural context of large societal movements, including literacy, pilgrimage and chivalry. The class format consists of lecture, discussion, debate and class presentations. The secondary focus is on information literacy and how to develop and write a research paper. This counts toward the Europe and the Americas place and the 600-1800 time requirements for the major. Prerequisite: Any 100-level ARHS course.
Honors is for students with demonstrated ability to work on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member. A minimum 3.33 cumulative grade-point average and a minimum 3.5 GPA in the major are required. Students undertaking an honors thesis must have had at least one (and preferably two) intermediate or advanced courses at Kenyon in the topic area. Endorsement of the project by the proposed thesis advisor is mandatory before submitting an application for honors. Previous completion of a research paper in art history (preferably in the area of honors specialization) is essential. Meeting the minimum GPA does not automatically qualify a student for honors. Typically, if a student has written an exceptionally well-researched and well-written art history paper, and meets the other criteria for acceptance into honors, a professor might suggest that the student undertake a related topic as an honors thesis. Alternately, students can discuss pursuing an honors thesis with their academic advisor and a potential thesis advisor. The project must be supervised by an art history professor who agrees and is available to serve as the honors thesis advisor and whose interests and expertise coincide with the proposed project. In either case, the student then works closely with the thesis advisor to develop a project proposal to be submitted to the art history faculty. Departmental approval must be obtained during the spring semester preceding work on the thesis. Permission of instructor and department chair are required.
Honors is for students with demonstrated ability to work on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member. A minimum 3.33 cumulative grade-point average and a minimum 3.5 GPA in the major are required. Students undertaking an honors thesis must have had at least one (and preferably two) intermediate or advanced courses at Kenyon in the topic area. Endorsement of the project by the proposed thesis advisor is mandatory before submitting an application for honors. Previous completion of a research paper in art history (preferably in the area of honors specialization) is essential. Meeting the minimum GPA does not automatically qualify a student for honors. Typically, if a student has written an exceptionally well-researched and well-written art history paper, and meets the other criteria for acceptance into honors, a professor might suggest that the student undertake a related topic as an honors thesis. Alternately, students can discuss pursuing an honors thesis with their academic advisor and a potential thesis advisor. The project must be supervised by an art history professor who agrees and is available to serve as the honors thesis advisor and whose interests and expertise coincide with the proposed project. In either case, the student then works closely with the thesis advisor to develop a project proposal to be submitted to the art history faculty. Departmental approval must be obtained during the spring semester preceding work on the thesis. Permission of instructor and department chair are required.