Dr. Lindsay Dunn Q&A

Teaching in the MLA since:				2016
Specialty/Area of Research:				Art History
MLA Courses Taught:				Power and Authority in European Art Artists at the Movies Women and Creativity Paris in Pop Culture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How many years have you been teaching in the MLA program and what class or classes have you taught?

I have taught in the MLA program for around 8 years, off and on. I have taught Power and Authority in European Art, Artists at the Movies, Women and Creativity, and Paris in Pop Culture.

 

Tell us a little bit about your specialty or area of research?

I am an art historian specializing in eighteenth and nineteenth century European Art, women artists, and aristocratic portraiture.  My research examines representations of aristocratic women and how these women navigated their political, social, and cultural roles both publicly and privately, across national boundaries, and during a time not generally welcoming to women.

 

 

How does your background inform your teaching and scholarship?

I am an art historian, so I encourage students to acquire a life-long appreciation for material culture and the cultures that created them in my course.  My classes all encourage students to integrate various forms of media, including film, paintings, advertisements, sculptures, etc., to understand what these items tell us about the past and present.

 

How do you try to make the material in your class engaging considering most students complete their MLA degree 100% online?

I work hard to facilitate student engagement and collaboration in the online environment.  My assignments often require engagement with course colleagues through group discussion and group assignments.  I truly believe that students who do not feel involved in the course will not perform as well as students that do.

 

What is an interesting fact about yourself that you like to share with your students?

I am a Francophile, and I lived in France for an academic year while completing research on my Ph.D. dissertation. I welcome all opportunities to talk about French history, food, fashion, film, and of course, art.

 

What do you hope students walk away from your class having learned or gained?

I hope that students in my course walk away with the ability to analyze all forms of media. This skill is particularly important today, as we are constantly bombarded with images.