This lecture is an examination of one of the most unusual movements of the early modern times. Symbolism was the movement of decapitations and monsters, gold leaf and screaming figures, eroticism and exotic settings. The contributions from the major artists of the movement will be shown with PowerPoint and discussed by the class using formal and contextual criticism.  

“Murder by sudden or secret attack, often for political reasons.” This class will examine assassinations and assassination attempts, some of which dramatically altered the course of history. At the U.S. presidential level, we’ll trace targeted attacks from Andrew Jackson to Donald Trump. Beyond presidents, we’ll explore the killings of political figures sparked by motives ranging from anger, coups, glory, and ransom to organized crime—and even one assassin who claimed his mission was to keep redwood trees from falling over. Through it all, we’ll consider the motivations, circumstances, and lasting outcomes of these violent acts.