Life At Duke: The Arts: Departments & Programs

ART AND ART HISTORY DEPARTMENT

The Department of Art and Art History offers an innovative curriculum that focuses on design and the history of art. Design courses allow students to produce art in many forms: sculpture (metal, stone, and wood), printmaking (intaglio, silkscreen, lithography, and monotype), photography, drawing, and painting.

Art history courses engage students in explorations and analyses of painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, and experimental art as they relate to cultural, religious, historical, and social factors and traditions. Students are exposed to visual cultures from all over the world, and they understand that the history of art is not confined to museums.

DANCE

Duke's Dance Program faculty seeks to instruct students in the complexities and nuances of this ancient art form by offering a wide range of dance experiences, as well as courses in the theory, history, and composition of dance.

Half-credit studio courses are available for modern dance, ballet, jazz, African, and repertory, and most take place in The Ark, a spacious studio on East Campus. Other dance opportunities include independent study projects, the Duke in New York Arts Program, and the chance to watch and interact with professional dancers. Performance ensembles include The Ballet Repertory Ensemble, The African Dance Ensemble and The Modern Dance Ensemble. Students also have opportunities to take part in classes, performances, and workshops through the annual American Dance Festival, in residence at Duke.

FILM/VIDEO/DIGITAL PROGRAM

Duke's Film/Video/Digital Program is an interdisciplinary course of study that introduces students to emerging technologies in film, photography, and television. Available courses include Hollywood Film Music, Film Animation Production, Design for the Movies, and Politics and the Media. The program integrates the study of communication technologies with anthropology, literary theory, popular culture, economics, art history, dance, and music.

Although Duke does not offer a major in film/video/digital, the undergraduate major in literature has a concentration in the field, and Duke has a certificate program in film/video/digital studies. Students working in production have access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, and advanced students can use the Duke Recording Studios.

MUSIC

Whether you're a composer, a pianist, a singer, or a theorist, Duke's Department of Music will satisfy and inspire you. The program is designed for the student who wants to pursue a broad range of musical interests: performance, history, theory, and composition are considered integral to the training of a musician.

Duke's program is small and intimate, with few students in each class and many opportunities for personal interaction with the talented and experienced professors. Advanced students have the opportunity to design an individualized curriculum to match their interests through Program II. Duke also is home to 13 vocal and instrumental performing groups, which are open to majors and non-majors alike.

THEATER STUDIES

Classes are small, energy is high, and passionate risk is encouraged. At Duke, students learn the about the theatre by studying as well as practicing it.

Courses in acting, directing, dramatic literature, design, playwriting, management, and technical theatre are offered with numerous production opportunities, so that students can apply what they learn in a hands-on setting. A major area of interest among faculty members is the development of new theater by both students and professionals, so students are encouraged to write plays, many of which are presented annually. Students are also encouraged to produce and direct their own projects and to pursue off-campus opportunities in the Duke in New York, Los Angeles, or London programs. Duke's Mainstage and Professional Workshop Productions have included works by Eugene O'Neil, Jose Rivera, and Nilo Cruz.