This module is inactive in the selected year. The information shown below is for the academic year that the module was last running in, prior to the year selected.

2016/17 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ARTF3156 The 'Rematerialisation' of Art? (circa 1960 - present)

20 creditsClass Size: 18

Module manager: Dr Gail Day
Email: G.A.Day@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2016/17

Pre-requisite qualifications

PRE-REQUISITES: At least 20 credits from any ARTF-coded module or appropriate equivalent in a relevant discipline. In the latter case, students are advised to get in touch with the module leader to discuss eligibility prior to enrolment.

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

PRE-REQUISITES: At least 20 credits from any ARTF-coded module or appropriate equivalent in a relevant discipline. In the latter case, students are advised to get in touch with the module leader to discuss eligibility prior to enrolment.The disappearance of medium-specific art has been a reality since the mid 1960s, and it has been claimed that we entered a ‘post-medium age’. The module reflects on the question of medium and the distinct, but often, coincident category of materiality. ‘Materiality’ ranges from implying art’s literal materials and processes through to emphases on social and political materialities. Traversing these developments, the module addresses the recurrent discussions over the ‘predicament’ of contemporary art. Thus our central focus is on the debates provoked by the discussion of art, rather than on the artworks themselves (although, obviously, the latter remains important for understanding the arguments). Particular emphasis is placed on the careful study of primary texts.Issues addressed may include: the debates on ‘shape’ and ‘objecthood’; literality and the pictoral; art and non-art; changing modes of address, spectatorship and attention; ‘dematerialisation’, ‘deaestheticisation’, ‘dedefinition’, ‘dedifferentiation’ and anti-form. The second part of the module focuses on the influential, and much-criticised, thesis on ‘relational aesthetics’, and the emergence of politicised ‘post-relational’ practices. To what extent can connections be drawn between the earlier practices and debates of the 1960s and the examples of current ambitious art - links that might concern ‘structuring principles of thought’, ‘implicit logics’, distinct aesthetic attitudes, the conceptualisation of artistic problems or relations. Has art, since the 1990s, as Bourriaud argues, ceased ‘to take shelter behind the sixties’?Through your weekly readings and preparation, your contributions to class discussions, and the research towards your essays, you will become familiar with a body of theoretical and art-critical texts. You will develop your knowledge of contemporary art practice, and be able to assess and discuss the legacies for current art of key figures and discourses of the 1960s and 1970s, and be able to undertake analyses of specific works.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should have developed their knowledge of contemporary art practice, become familiar with a body of theoretical and art-critical texts and developed their understanding of (selected) key debates in emergence of contemporary art, and be able to assess and discuss the legacies for current art (1990s-present) of key figures and discourses of the 1960s and 1970s.

Skills outcomes
- Textual analysis of primary and secondary sources.
- Analysis of art
- Written communication, structure and organisation.
- Research.
- Critical engagement and construction of arguments.
- Verbal and written fluency in constructing a logical and coherent argument.
- Participation in group discussions
- Co-ordination and dissemination of a range of historical, contextual visual information
- Using bibliographies and databases.

Syllabus

The disappearance of medium-specific art in favour of practices presented as anti-form, conceptual or 'dematerialised' art has been a reality since the mid-1960s.

The module:
- reflects on the 'predicament of contemporary art'; on the questions of medium/post-medium, materiality (dematerialisation/rematerialisation, object/objecthood, 'literality') and relationality (situational, site-specificity) in the debates on contemporary art; and
- considers the extent to which connections can be drawn between the earlier practices and debates (60s and 70s) and examples of current ambitious art. Has art, since the 1990s, as Nicolas Bourriaud argues, ceased 'to take shelter behind the sixties'?

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	10	2.00	20.00
Private study hours			180.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

- Directed study of key texts in preparation for seminar discussions
- Optional study visits to selected exhibitions (equivalent of ca 3 days' commitment, with tutor present at specified times)
- Preparation, writing and research of project report (assessed)
- Preparation, writing and research of essay (assessed).

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- participation in class discussion
- mid-semester assessment task.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,800- 3,200 words	70.00
Report	1,400- 1,600 words	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 24/03/2017

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD