Yale's Curriculum Changes Spark Political Instrumentalization of Art History

Gabriella De Marco, professor of contemporary art history at the University of Palermo, critiques the political backlash against Yale University's Department of Art History for revising its introductory survey courses. The changes, which adopt a comparative approach rather than a Eurocentric one, have been seized upon by Italian and US politicians as a threat to the teaching of Italian Renaissance art. De Marco argues that these criticisms are instrumental and lack scholarly basis, noting that the revisions only affect introductory semester courses and do not eliminate the Renaissance. She draws parallels to previous instances where art was politicized, such as the 2018 controversy over the Museo Egizio in Turin and the misuse of Massimo Sestini's World Press Photo-winning image by Trieste's deputy mayor. De Marco emphasizes that the concept of a canon is historically constructed and subject to change, citing the acquisition of Filippo Tommaso Marinetti's archive by Yale's Beinecke Library as evidence of Italy's own neglect of its cultural heritage. The article, published on Artribune, reflects on the public use of history and the need for new questions in art historiography.