Art Across Time, Volume 2, W/ Art CD-ROM

Art Across Time Vol. 1 was required for an art history class I was taking. I liked it so much that I bought Art Across Time Volume 2. I suggest considering purchasing both Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. It is consise easy to read informative and excellent art examples.

The vastness of the world art subject is daunting but I believe that Laurie Schneider Adams in Art Across Time successfully covers the most crucial aspects including areas of non-western art. Such examples as Mughal Art and the Baroque or 19th Century Impressionism and Japanese Prints or Gauguin and Oceania in Post Impressionism are invaluable for their strategic placing and representation of non-western models. There are also highlighted tables throughout the book about contextual history as is the one on Scientific Experiment in the Enlightenment. Furthermore, the introductory chapter contains key issues about art as well as stylistic terminology, and art historical methodologies which are a necessary part of art history for beginners. The plates are beautiful and are accompanied at times with plans and maps that are useful aids in the teaching process. The Art Across Time, volume one and two, are extremely important to those college instructors teaching Survey in two semesters, but the volumes are also useful separately. Schneider Adams writes in a flowing discourse that is facile for the undergraduate to understand and explains difficult ideas in precise, well organized formats that are easily assimilated. To be sure there are tiny flaws in Schneider-Adams' Art Across Time, but the book comes as close to perfection as one can get given the magnitude of this area. Finally, the publisher is extremely helpful to instructors providing such teaching aids as cds, slides and the images on the web for wireless environment classroom teaching.

After using Gardner's Art Through the Ages and Janson's History of Art for several years I found this book to be very refreshing. The sections on Eastern countries (India, China, Japan), although small, are better in introducing subjects not previously addressed in early Art History introductory texts. The inclusion of other historical elements adds to the text as well-such as the status of women in particular societies and information about different religions.