Last modified: 31 Jul 2023 11:39
‘Art’ is a controversial category. In museums, you might see urinals and cardboard boxes exhibited – but what earns them this accolade? Is it about skill? Creativity? Beauty? Who decides what counts as ‘good’ art? And why are museums full of stuff made by white men? This course discusses these and related questions. It will introduce you to a wide range of historical definitions of art, and discuss key works, from antiquity to Instagram - many of which challenged the boundaries of ‘art’.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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‘Art’ is a controversial category. In museums, you might see urinals and cardboard boxes exhibited – but what earns them this accolade? Is it about skill? Invention and creativity? Beauty? Who decides what counts as ‘good’ art? And why are museums full of stuff made by white men?
This course discusses these and related questions. It will introduce you to a wide range of historical definitions of art, and discuss key works, from antiquity to Instagram - many of which challenged the boundaries of ‘art’.
Through analysis of texts and artworks, we explore the historically contingent nature of what counts as ‘art’. We will also address the ethical implications of the term, e.g. its Eurocentrism. The course also serves as an introduction to some of the key methodologies and critical debates that inform art-historical interpretation.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Written feedback; in-person feedback on request |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Demonstrate an awareness of the intersections of artistic productions and art writing, developed through class discussion and measured through written assessments. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate an understanding of the historically contingent nature of the category ‘art’. |
| Procedural | Analyse | Develop ability to search for and critically appraise relevant primary and secondary sources |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Written feedback; in-person feedback on request |
Word Count | 1500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Demonstrate an awareness of the intersections of artistic productions and art writing, developed through class discussion and measured through written assessments. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate an understanding of the historically contingent nature of the category ‘art’. |
| Procedural | Analyse | Develop ability to search for and critically appraise relevant primary and secondary sources |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Written feedback; in-person feedback on request |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Demonstrate an awareness of the intersections of artistic productions and art writing, developed through class discussion and measured through written assessments. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate an understanding of the historically contingent nature of the category ‘art’. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Written feedback; in-person feedback on request |
Word Count | 3500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Analyse | Develop ability to search for and critically appraise relevant primary and secondary sources |
| Conceptual | Apply | Demonstrate an awareness of the intersections of artistic productions and art writing, developed through class discussion and measured through written assessments. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate an understanding of the historically contingent nature of the category ‘art’. |
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