Undergraduate Course: The Aesthetics and Politics of Contemporary Art (HIAR10065)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | History of Art |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | What is contemporary art and how can we approach it as art historians? The course will take an elliptical route to answering this two-part question by examining five specific issues of exemplary relevance to the many and complex practices comprising the field of contemporary art. These five issues are: 1. The Rise (and Fall?) of Postmodernism. 2. The End of Art? 3. The Turn to the Moving Image. 4. The Aesthetics and Politics of the Everyday. 5. Art and Geography. We will devote one to two weeks to each of these issues. In general, the course does not attempt to prioritise specific media but is structured instead around concepts and ideas that have played an important role in defining or challenging our understanding of contemporary practice. In the course of examining these concepts and ideas, we shall have the opportunity to reflect on other topical issues such as the post-medium condition, advanced technology, art and documentation, (post)feminism, globalisation, relational aesthetics etc. For Week 1 you are asked to think of an artist (or group of artists) whose work exemplifies, in your view, ?contemporary art practice?. The questions you should begin thinking about are: a) what is it that makes this work ?contemporary?? and, b) given your knowledge of art history so far, if and how ?contemporary art practice? relates to practices of the past. You are also advised to read Julian Stallabrass?s book Contemporary Art: A Short Introduction, Oxford University Press. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2012/13 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: 20 |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Seminar | | 1-11 | | | 11:10 - 13:00 | | |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course students will:
? Have acquired knowledge of a body of work, key concepts and themes relating to contemporary art.
? Have an understanding of contemporary art as a complex field made up of both theory and practice.
? Be familiar with a selection of new trends and debates that have developed around them and have knowledge of specific issues within this context.
? Have strengthened their ability to successfully approach such issues as art historians and will be aware of the importance of critical art history for approaching contemporary art.
? Be familiar with both images and texts of relevance to the field of contemporary art.
? Have demonstrated their ability to engage in the critical analysis of texts and images both orally, through participation in seminars, and in writing.
|
Assessment Information
| 1 two hour examination paper (50%) and 1 extended essay of 2,500 words(50%). |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Angela Dimitrakaki
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Sue Cavanagh
Tel: (0131 6)51 1460
Email: |
|
© Copyright 2012 The University of Edinburgh - 6 March 2012 6:06 am
|
University Homepage