AP Art History Poses Students With Unique Challenges and Rewards

If you have ever stood in front of a painting and asked yourself, “What am I even looking at right now?”AP Art History might just have the answer, or at least 250 different artworks to help you out. 

One of the distinctive APs offered at Walls, the course immerses students into a 30,000 year history of art and architecture which surveys everything from ancient Greek sculptures to modern performance pieces. The College Board course is able to cover so much content by requiring that all students memorize the identifiers (name, artis, date, location, material, etc.) of 250 different art objects across ten units.  Just as the class dives into the who, what, when, and why of a wide range of art, it attracts a wide range of students with their own unique backgrounds and reasons for taking the class.

Meet Olivia. Olivia Hamilton (‘27) entered AP Art History with a family legacy and a sense of curiosity. “My father went to art school, and my aunt took the course in high school,” she said. “It was also one of the few APs not dominated by seniors, so I knew I had a good chance of getting in. However, the course took a surprising term. “I thought we’d explore art’s origins, how it impacted culture, how it served as a historical record,” she explained. “But it’s more memorization-based: names, dates, styles. That made it less enjoyable for me.”

Still, the experience was not without rewards for Hamilton. “It’s changed my appreciation for art. I can analyze it now and understand some deeper meanings,” Hamilton added. “Even if it’s not useful day-to-day, it’s still valuable.” Her one sentence summary of the course? “Tedious and mildly interesting. Only take the course if you have a deep passion for art and are planning to pursue it.”

Meet Avril. Avril Graffe (‘27) had simple motivation: “I thought it would be an interesting class, and I really like art. What Graffe did not expect was the level of independence required. “We didn’t even discuss half the objects in class,” she said. “It’s a lot of individual work, you have to keep up with the readings and no one is keeping you accountable for it. You have to be a good independent worker for this class.” Still, the content kept her invested., especially the units of the course which dealt with ancient artwork . “I really liked the Egyptian objects. I think they’re a lot of fun as they all have very interesting backstories.” Graffe cited an ancient Egyptian limestone relief, known as “Akhenaten, Nefertiti and their three daughters,” as particularly interesting for the way its style reflected broader political and social change in ancient Egypt. 

Her advice for the course? “Start the readings early, we basically don’t do anything for the first month. Do a little every day and don’t pay attention to if you’re ahead or not just keep going to make sure you’ll be on track. Also use breaks to your advantage. During Christmas break, I finished like 30 objects.” And how would she sum up the course? “Absolute chaos, but so much fun as long as you can stay on top of your work.”

Meet Mr. Bullock. Mr. Jason Bullock has been teaching AP Art History for five years, and brings a unique blend of passion, intellect, and authenticity to the classroom. “I want students to build intrinsic motivation,” he said. “The goal is to cultivate curiosity. We don’t think enough about the role culture plays in our lives, and how it affects how we see ourselves, others, and our power in society. Art reflects all of that. That’s why it matters.”

Mr. Bullock’s love for the subject is deeply rooted in his personal and professional history. Before teaching, he worked with arts organizations across the country in community-based economic development. Before that though, he worked in microbiology. “I left science for art,” he said. “Because art matters.” As for his students, he credits their curiosity and wit as his favorite part teaching the course. “They’re sharp, they’re funny, and they’re interested, which makes my job a joy.” One piece that always gets a reaction? Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain, a porcelain urinal submitted as art in 1917 for an exhibit that was held by the Society of Independent Artists. “Everyone’s mad at it,” Bullock laughed, “But it still does the work. It still asks the question: What is art?” AP Art History is far from a typical class. It’s heavy on memorization, light on hand-holding, and requires a true love of learning. But for students who enjoy unraveling culture and examining human nature through objects, it offers a rare and meaningful academic experience. You won’t just learn about paintings, you will learn about architecture, clothing, politics, trade routes, and revolutions. And maybe, if Mr. Bullock has anything to say about it, you will leave with a better understanding of yourself. As he puts it, “Art is the mirror we use to see each other. The more you know about it, the more agency you have in shaping that reflection.”