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2018/19 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ARTF1046 A Story of Art? 2

20 creditsClass Size: 130

Module manager: Dr Mark Westgarth
Email: m.w.westgarth@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The module is taught by a number of leading scholars in art history. Participating students will be asked to visit a number of arts institutions in and around Leeds during term time and respond in writing to a set of related questions. Their findings will be discussed in seminar groups led by junior researchers who work on art historical projects in the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies. Assessment will take the form of a written essay and an unseen exam. There are no pre-requisites or restrictions for this module, but students should not only be interested in the history and visual analysis of art and architecture, but also be prepared to engage with theoretical texts that go beyond the description of periods, artists and artworks.

Objectives

On completion of this module students should:
- be able to identify the salient visual and ideological characteristics of the art and artists studied;
- be able to explain in basic terms the geographically, historically, and culturally specific circumstances of production and use of the art studied;
- be able to identify and utilise some of the different ways of researching and writing art history;
- have begun to look critically at the various ideas of what art is, what it is made for and why, what an artist is, and what art histoy might be.

Students will have a broad historical perspective on the theories and methods of art historical analysis druing different historical epochs, its processes, institutions and discourses.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module students should have:
- An overview of the concepts Modernity, Modernisation and Modernism situated within a contextualised critical discourse
- An understanding of the relations between the concepts of Modernity, Modernisation and Modernism.
- A sense of the major cultural changes that condition and characterise Modernity, Modernisation and Modernism.
- An understanding of the institutional forces transforming the visual arts since 1789.
- An understanding of the technological forces transforming the visual arts since 1789.

Skills outcomes
- The capacity to analyse visual images; the confidence to undertake small-scale research projects in and around Leeds which involve direct encounter with art works;
- the capacity to write about visual art;
- the capacity to read critically interpretations and art historical analysis;
- development of skills in oral and verbal communication, analysis and synthesis.


Syllabus

Challenging the idea of a single, coherent narrative of the development of art since 1789 and tracing varied histories of artistic practice and production to the present, this module addresses the effects of modernisation on culture by identifying the key elements of Modernity, starting with revolution, urbanisation, changes to concepts of gender and sexuality, tourism, avant-gardism, the museum, architecture, technologies of representation and the formations of museums and exhibition systems.

Engaging with the recent developments in art historical interpretation of the formations of Modernism, Postmodernism and 'liquid modernity' culture in the global era, the module offers a critical reading of both the art since the French Revolution to the present and an introduction to critical terms of analysis of modern and contemporary art and architecture in its expanding forms and global environments.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Lecture201.0020.00
Seminar101.0010.00
Private study hours170.00
Total Contact hours30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

- Students are required to engage with the module readings,
- write weekly 200 word essays in preparation for discussion at seminars
- prepare a 1,500-word essay and
- revise for the examination.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The seminars ensure regular monitoring of participation and submission of formative coursework.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay1 x 1500 word essay50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)50.00

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


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)1 hr 00 mins50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)50.00

A resit for the MCQ Unseen Exam would take the form of a 1500-2000 word essay to be set by the Module Leader.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 26/09/2019

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