hard, but interesting class

No Comments

Gives too many slides to memorize.

Never boring. Teaches more in one class than many learn all through college.

very interesting professor, knows his stuff! Learn more in this class than in many others.

Great lecturer, very passionate about his subjects and highly knowledgable. Hard course, but worth it!

talks too much but at least knows what he is talking about. probably the only class that is going to teach me something

Everyone in college must take a class with this man. He is brilliant! A must, especially this day in age. A truly sincere and passionate mind. You will learn much with this fine professor!

Great teacher. Enormous insight into the material and amusing anecdotes. Class was difficult but very interesting. I never skipped and enjoyed every part of the class. Walter was also very nice and approachable.

No Comments

superb teacher with seemingly neverending knowledge of the subject (expect to take lots of notes). learned more, worked harder, and enjoyed it more than any class ive taken since.

excellent detailed teacher, yet requires a lot of work.

amazingly intelligent and interesting professor, but rambles on too often and talks too fast

Best teacher on campus. Hard course but easier than many because the material is so interesting. Lectures are the best.

Very hard and dense class, but he is very knowledgable. Wouldn't recommend as a gen ed, too hard for that.

Enthusiastic professor who is passioniate about his field of study and cares for his students.

very lively and interesting professor; makes art history more than intriguing; definitely would recommend

Is willing to work w/students who are struggling in the course ( I know from personal experience). Adds humor to what would otherwise be boring as all hell. Appears very unapproachable at first but is an EXCELLENT mentor/professor/person...my best yet!

hmm, lots of mixed opinions. YES the class is hard. But, he is a very interesting and smart guy, lectures are usually interesting. Gives VERY DETAILED instructions for papers, so it's hard to screw up. go to class, spend 1 to 2 hrs/wk reading the text

Although many students complain that Professor Denny carries on in class and that he expects too much from students, I think he is just super. His lectures are always exciting and he is very knowledgeable and helpful! I want to be just like him when I grow up.

Let's get one thing straight, kids-- Walter Denny knows his stuff. And UMass students are lucky to have him. I took the second half of his Islamic Art History class; it was definately not easy, but the Prof was totally accessible and helpful. He is completely passionate about his field of study and that resonates through the course.

No Comments

PHENOMENAL!!! this guy really knows what he's talking about and his lectures are so entertaining- a great mix between fascianting information and witty humor. expect a lot of work, but this is college so its understandable.

Talks very fast, but knows his stuff right to the core. A really intelligent guy. I have no problem with memorization, even though we only had to memorize 30 images, so its a breeze. His handouts are very helpful, and his lectures are interesting and enjoyable to attend. You really have to pay attention if you want to do well.

I love Walter Denny. I think he is THE MAN actually. Yes, his class is hard but it is one of the most enjoyable if not the most enjoyable I am taking because his lectures are filled with passion and interest. I reccomend this class if you are interested in Art History or want to learn more. He fits a lot into one semester.

This is a hard class, but if you go to lecture, pay attention, and do the work you can get a lot from it. Do not take if you want a super-easy GenEd

Great class, but challenging. The papers were interesting, and his lectures are too. He spells too fast, and sometmes gives references numbers too fast, but overall, Excellent.

Faschinating teacher, works you like a mule.

Walter Denny is very entertaining, funny, and KNOWS HIS STUFF. He is very passionate about what he teaches and does his job very well. He does stutter a lot and spells words too fast, but it's not a big deal at all. On the other hand, WAAAAAAY too much is expected in this class. It is EXTREMELY difficult, and should not be a gen ed course.

He really is a great guy, and a good teacher, but at least in ArtHist 115 there was not enough time to write down all of the information he crammed in. Information that you WILL need on the exams. Grading changes a lot with the TA's you get.

Denny is a great professor, he explains everything in a way that makes his lectures interesting and easy to take in. Listening to him speak is the only easy thing about the class though. This semester I have written 3 papers all over 8 pages and have taken two exams which require you to know the date, artist, style period and context of 130 slides!

Great professor! Great class! if you like art-his, you have to take him. he teaches 38 yrs, and he knows what he want to say w/o notes, he knows EVERYTHING. if you don't like art-his, it's still a pretty interesting class. but the bad thing is, there are so many info need to memorize. if you work hard, you will get good grade even didnt do good.

extremely knowledgeable professor; he will help you if you ask. Sit up front it helps! class is what you put into it if people would stop complaining and do the work; although it is heavy at times, you'll do fine i studied for exams and took time on the papers and got an a- in the class with this being my first art history class ever.

This was a tough class but worth it. The exams require memorization and details and the cathedral paper is a lot of work, as well. HOWEVER, I think Walter Denny is incredibly intelligent and passionate. I was so glad that I took his class. In all, I highly recommend it for those who are up for a challenge!

Before attending this class I had hardly any interest in the arts but Prof. Denny changed my mind quickly. This is not an easy course by any means but is very manageable as long as you attend lecture daily. This class is what you put into it and if you are looking for an art gen ed then go for Walters.

This class isn't for people who can't handle real college courses. The material is dense, and difficult to memorize at times, but if you are looking to actually learn something substantial about art history, then this is THE BEST CLASS for you to take. Walter Denny is an amazing prof who really knows what he is talking about.

This class is hard, but worth it. And the cathedral project is actually quite interesting, very unique. Architecture is a huge part of art history, so of course he talks about it in some lectures, but he does not just teach Islamic architecture, like the previous person said!! Just go to class and take good notes, and get to know your TA!

He is an amazing professor, should aleast have him once during your time at umass!

Denny is brilliant. He's the reason I declared an Art History minor. This class is HARD. Don't take it as a gen ed unless you love art. The papers are hard but rewarding. Get to know your TA! They grade everything.

Excellent professor. He's really the reason why I became interested in art history. He has an amazing ability to excite students about things they may have never otherwise become interested in. Very difficult and expects a lot, but his high standards come from his belief in his students. He's also hilarious. Come prepared to laugh.

Walter Denny is a good instructor if you just show up for all the lectures and take some notes then you don't have to read the book at all. However, there are a lot of names and dates that you need to memorize. Talking to your TA helps a huge amount!

Great prof/class imo, straightforward with expectations (serious but not crazy high) of the class from the start. 3 papers and two exams were all fine if you don't procrastinate too much (still doable if you do). Lectures on individual artists towards the end of the course were fire. Nice and very knowledgable/passionate professor, keeps it real.

This was definitely not an easy class, but the material covered was really interesting to learn about, especially with Walter's long history in the subject. You can tell he's really passionate about art and teaching it. I was scared by the other reviews before the class, but give ArtHist 115 a chance if you're at all interested in art and history!

Walter was my favorite prof this semester. Though there is a lot of work, it's clear that he wants his students to learn. He is passionate. I've been told that it can be tricky to take notes on his lectures by people who have had him as a guest, but that was not my experience. I wouldn't recommend as a gen ed but great option for art or AH majors.

I took this course when Walter was teaching it for the final time. Though the amount of memorization was immense, and the content difficult, he truly is one of the greats. He is funny, shares half a century's worth of stories, and knows what he's talking about. Not for everyone, but he genuinely loves Islamic art so much.