This seminar will introduce students to major themes and issues in contemporary art through the lens of the 2009 Venice Biennale. This exhibition, the most renowned international contemporary art fair, comprises a large number of national pavilions in the Giardini (the Gardens), an international exhibition in the Arsenale (the old arsenal of Venice), as well as shows in sites scattered throughout Venice. This year the Philadelphia Museum of Art has been selected to represent the United States with an exhibition of the work of Bruce Nauman. We will speak to the curators organizing this exhibition, as well as to others involved in organizing or exhibiting work at the Biennale. Students will travel to the Venice Biennale over fall break to visit the exhibition. No prior experience with contemporary art is required. Students wishing to enroll in this class must be available for the fall break trip to Venice. The class will be limited in size. Students wishing to take this class should send a paragraph explaining their interest (hard copy only), to Professor Christine Poggi, Department of the History of Art, 3405 Woodland Walk, Jaffe Bldg., University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6208, by July 15, 2009. Interviews will take place during the first days of the fall 2009 semester.