As the Advanced Placement (AP) Art History elective kicks into full swing, students are immersing themselves in the intersection of history and art, exploring historical narratives through captivating works of art from various periods, prehistoric to contemporary. The classroom buzzes with creative energy, offering engaging and innovative ways to learn.
This year, the elective has garnered increased interest, prompting North to expand the program by adding an additional section, ensuring more students can experience the class’s exciting opportunities and activities.
Due to the high enrollment levels of 48 students, the class is being taught in two sections this year. While the course is open to both juniors and seniors, only seniors are currently enrolled.
“I think the class gives you a really good overview of basic global history and it gives you knowledge about every major civilization up until now,” said senior Leah Gelfand, a teacher’s assistant for AP Art History. Gelfand took the class as a junior and said she enjoyed its intersection between art and history.
“I also love the teacher. She’s really good at making sure everyone understands the material and that it’s fun,” Gelfand added.
Of the course’s teacher Leslie Kepner, Fine and Performing Arts department head Todd Young said, “She’s a fantastic teacher who’s really dynamic. Ms. Kepner has really taken this class to the next level.”
Kepner said, “I think a lot of students see the value in taking an AP class, and I am going to be honest, this seems to be more fun than calculus.”
The AP Art History course follows the College Board’s AP curriculum and requires students to be prepared to discuss 250 works of art before 250 artworks the AP exam in May. However, students learn about these pieces in interesting and fun ways.
“We made Stonehenge out of Rice Krispie treats. We have one day when we are studying ancient Greece where we dress up in togas, everyone wears a sheet, and we pose like Greek statues. That always ends up being a highlight,” said Kepner.
She added, “Students do everything from reading and watching videos about artwork, to making models of artwork.”
According to Young, there are many reasons for the class’ uptick in enrollment. He said that in addition to Kepner’s dynamic teaching, students are very interested in the course curriculum.
Young added, ”This is a cool class—not an easy class—but the buzz is always around this great senior-year history course, especially if you’re into the arts. ”
According to senior Ava Qiu, “The class is very interdisciplinary. The class gives you a good base knowledge of global history, and the concepts of the class bring up countries and civilizations that are not normally talked about in a traditional history class. This class digs up the deeper meaning behind history.”
AP Art History also helps students engage with learning outside of class. “After taking the class, it is really easy to connect things you learn in the class to things around you,” said Gelfand. “I can recognize the types of buildings and things we learn in class, and going to a museum is more fun now.”
