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Module Catalogue

HA1B2-15 Contemporary Art

Department
SCAPVC - History of Art
Level
Undergraduate Level 1
Module leader
Danielle Stewart
Credit value
15
Assessment
60% coursework, 40% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

This module introduces students to key movements and themes in contemporary art since c. 1960. We will explore transformations in the media, institutions, and themes of art, from performance and video to conceptual and participatory practices.

Module aims

The module examines the role of avant gardes and art institutions (the art school, the gallery and the museum) in determining how we look at and understand contemporary art. It traces the effects of ruptures and innovations as they are responded to, rejected and re-thought across time. Themes will include the artist’s body, process art, conceptual practices, installation art, participation and performance, as well as photography, film, video and the internet. The module focuses on understanding the processes behind making works of art as well as close study of artworks and critical texts. It aims to build skills in visual analysis and critical thinking, and to foster your ability to analyse artworks independently and critically and provide you with skills necessary for more advanced work.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Ready-made
Chance
Found obect
Monochrome
Collage and Assemblage
Installation
The viewer
Public space

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate a broad knowledge of key traditions and developments in twentieth-century art
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the key changes in these traditions and developments
  • Analyse and discuss a wide variety of images and objects
  • Undertake research and to write up the results in the form of a well-structured argument at an appropriate level
  • Perform essential ICT skills
  • Collaborate effectively with others
  • Understand of diverse viewpoints
  • Formulate a sustained argument
  • Think conceptually and independently at an appropriate level
  • Demonstrate sophisticated visual analysis
  • Demonstrate bibliographical skills at an appropriate level
  • Demonstrate critical analysis of cultural artefacts in their context
  • Discuss the development of global art networks

Indicative reading list

Terry Smith. What is Contemporary Art?, University of Chicago Press, 2009.
Yves-Alain Bois, Benjamin Buchloh, Hal Foster and Rosalind Krauss, Art Since 1900: Modernism, Antimodernism, Postmodernism, 2nd ed., London: Thames and Hudson, 2012 [2005 edition NX 456.A7]
Charles Harrison and Paul Wood (eds), Art in Theory 1900-2000: An Anthology of Changing Ideas, Oxford: Blackwell, 2003 [N 6490.A7]
David Hopkins, After Modern Art 1945-2000, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000 [N 6490.H6]
Kristine Stiles and Peter Selz (eds), Theories and Documents of Contemporary Art, Second Edition, Berkley, Los Angeles, London: University of California Press, 2012 [1996 edition N 6490.T4]

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

  • Demonstrate a broad knowledge of key traditions and developments in twentieth-century art
  • demonstrate knowledge of the key changes in these traditions and developments
  • analyse and discuss a wide variety of images and objects
  • Demonstrate sophisticated visual analysis
  • Demonstrate critical analysis of cultural artefacts in their context

Transferable skills

  • present an argument, initiate and sustain group discussion through intelligent questioning and debate at an appropriate level
  • ability to undertake research and to write up the results in the form of a well-structured argument at an appropriate level
  • familiarity with essential ICT skills
  • ability to collaborate effectively with others
  • show understanding of diverse viewpoints
  • ability to find, select, organize and synthesize evidence
  • ability to formulate a sustained argument
  • think conceptually and independently at an appropriate level
  • Demonstrate bibliographical skills at an appropriate level

Study time

Type Required
Seminars 10 sessions of 2 hours (91%)
Fieldwork 1 session of 2 hours (9%)
Total 22 hours

Private study description

Required and recommended reading for seminar preparation, research for written assessments and revision for examinations.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group D1
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
1500 word essay 40% No

Assessed Essay
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Engagement 20% No
Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Online Examination 40% No

~Platforms - WAS

  • Online examination: No Answerbook required
  • Photographs
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Written feedback and dedicated feedback tutorials.

Past exam papers for HA1B2

Courses

This module is Option list A for:

  • Year 1 of UHAA-V401 Undergraduate History of Art

This module is Option list B for:

  • Year 1 of UHAA-V3R3 Undergraduate History of Art with Italian

This module is Option list C for:

  • Year 1 of UHAA-V3R3 Undergraduate History of Art with Italian