Introductory description

The module is a thematic survey formed by a series of lectures and related seminars that address the fundamentals of creation in art and architecture through an exploration of practices, places and politics from 1700 to the present. These will not be limited to Western art and architecture but will take a more global and comparative approach. The lectures will follow a broadly historical sweep, while the related seminars will concentrate on issues of technique, terminology, meanings and interpretations.

Module aims

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.

Landscape
Enlightenment
Revolution
Romanticism
Technology and mass media
Modern City
Modern Empire
Modernity and Spirituality
Art and Modern War
The Global Avant-Garde
Abstraction and Utilitarianism
Design and the Built Environment
Art and Politics
Decolonisation
Conceptual Art
Institutional Critique
Information and Ecology

Learning outcomes

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

• Demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of a diverse range of key artworks, monuments and artistic movements from the eighteenth century to the present day.
• Examine art processes in their historical and cultural contexts (i.e. social, political, economic, religious).
• Use specialist vocabularies and methodologies relating to the movements, art works and monuments studied.
• Identify and discuss materials and techniques used by artists and architects in the modern and contemporary periods.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Specific reading list for the module

Research element

Completion of Art Historical Study Skills course run concurrently with this module

Subject specific skills

• Demonstrate understanding of key images, architecture and key developments in art from the eighteenth century to the present.
• Demonstrate an ability to situate these ideas and works within a broader cultural context.
• Demonstrate familiarity with a range of analytical tools to engage with more specialised, period- or genre-specific courses in the second year.
• Demonstrate visual literacy.
• Demonstrate critical analysis of cultural artefacts in their context.

Transferable skills

• With guidance, the ability to gather, select, organise and synthesise visual and textual information.
• Present an argument, initiate and sustain group discussion through intelligent questioning and debate.
• Demonstrate academic skills: 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.
• Demonstrate understanding of historical context and evidence.
• Think conceptually and critically.
• Show understanding of diverse viewpoints.
• Ability to find, select, organize and synthesize evidence.
• Ability to formulate a sustained argument.
• Demonstrate bibliographical and other academic skills