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AH2001: WHAT IS ART? (2024-2025)

Last modified: 05 Aug 2024 14:46


Course Overview

‘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’.   

 

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 2
Term First Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Seren Nolan

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • Programme Level 2

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

‘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. 

  


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Source analysis

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

1,500-word Source Analysis essay. Written feedback; in-person feedback on request 

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyDemonstrate an awareness of the intersections of artistic productions and art writing, developed through class discussion and measured through written assessments.
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate an understanding of the historically contingent nature of the category ‘art’.
ProceduralAnalyseDevelop ability to search for and critically appraise relevant primary and secondary sources

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 60
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Written feedback; in-person feedback on request 

Word Count 2500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyDemonstrate an awareness of the intersections of artistic productions and art writing, developed through class discussion and measured through written assessments.
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate an understanding of the historically contingent nature of the category ‘art’.
ProceduralAnalyseDevelop ability to search for and critically appraise relevant primary and secondary sources

Tutorial/Seminar Participation

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 10
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

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Feedback

Written feedback, oral feedback if requested.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualApplyDemonstrate an awareness of the intersections of artistic productions and art writing, developed through class discussion and measured through written assessments.
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate an understanding of the historically contingent nature of the category ‘art’.
ProceduralAnalyseDevelop ability to search for and critically appraise relevant primary and secondary sources

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Written feedback; in-person feedback on request 

Word Count 3500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralAnalyseDevelop ability to search for and critically appraise relevant primary and secondary sources
ConceptualApplyDemonstrate an awareness of the intersections of artistic productions and art writing, developed through class discussion and measured through written assessments.
ConceptualUnderstandDemonstrate an understanding of the historically contingent nature of the category ‘art’.

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