Module Descriptors
UNDERSTANDING CONTEMPORARY ART
COST40091
Key Facts
Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies
Level 4
15 credits
Contact
Leader: Graham Coulter-Smith
Email: G.Coulter-Smith@staffs.ac.uk
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 24
Independent Study Hours: 126
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
- CLASS-TEST weighted at 100%
Module Details
Module Resources
Data projector
Slide projector
Audio, VHS, DVD playback,
Room with blackout
Library
Slide library
Student word-processing facilities
Internet access.
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.
Slide projector
Audio, VHS, DVD playback,
Room with blackout
Library
Slide library
Student word-processing facilities
Internet access.
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.
Module Texts
Archer, Michael. 2002. Art since 1960. London: Thames & Hudson.
Benjamin, W. 1973. 'The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction'. In Illuminations. London: Fontana.
Bishop, Claire. 2005. Installation art: a Critical History. London: Tate.
Cotton, Charlotte. 2004. The Photograph as Contemporary Art. London: Thames and Hudson.
Crow, Thomas E. 2004. The rise of the sixties : American and European art in the era of dissent. London: Laurence King.
Grosenick, Uta, Burkhard Riemschneider, Lars Bang Larsen eds. 1999. Art at the Turn of the Millennium. Cologne: Taschen.
Grosenick, Uta, Burkhard Riemschneider eds. 2002. Art Now: 137 artists at the rise of the new millennium. Cologne: Taschen.
Paul, Christiane. 2003. Digital art, World of art. London, New York, N.Y.: Thames & Hudson.
Rush, Michael. 2003. Video art. New York: Thames & Hudson.
Benjamin, W. 1973. 'The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction'. In Illuminations. London: Fontana.
Bishop, Claire. 2005. Installation art: a Critical History. London: Tate.
Cotton, Charlotte. 2004. The Photograph as Contemporary Art. London: Thames and Hudson.
Crow, Thomas E. 2004. The rise of the sixties : American and European art in the era of dissent. London: Laurence King.
Grosenick, Uta, Burkhard Riemschneider, Lars Bang Larsen eds. 1999. Art at the Turn of the Millennium. Cologne: Taschen.
Grosenick, Uta, Burkhard Riemschneider eds. 2002. Art Now: 137 artists at the rise of the new millennium. Cologne: Taschen.
Paul, Christiane. 2003. Digital art, World of art. London, New York, N.Y.: Thames & Hudson.
Rush, Michael. 2003. Video art. New York: Thames & Hudson.
Module Additional Assessment Details
A class test will measure all learning outcomes [1, 2, 3]
Module Learning Strategies
Lectures
Online resources
Readings
Seminar sessions
Independent study
Online resources
Readings
Seminar sessions
Independent study
Module Indicative Content
This module will treat a wide variety of visual texts including: painting, photography, sculpture, installation, video and digital art.
The module is directed towards students having a sound basis for an understanding of the evolution of contemporary art practice as well as fundamental theoretical concepts. Basic issues in contemporary art will be addressed such as the rise of photography and video as major fine art media, the evolution of sculpture into installation art, and increased emphasis on concept and process rather than product. The impact of such developments on the traditional media of painting and sculpture will also be addressed. Students pursuing this module will be afforded a broad understanding of contemporary fine art at precisely the right point in the structure of their award.
The module will treat both still and moving images and will have direct relevance to students' practice by increasing awareness of importance of discursive frameworks and the inherent rhetorical characteristics of different media.
The module is directed towards students having a sound basis for an understanding of the evolution of contemporary art practice as well as fundamental theoretical concepts. Basic issues in contemporary art will be addressed such as the rise of photography and video as major fine art media, the evolution of sculpture into installation art, and increased emphasis on concept and process rather than product. The impact of such developments on the traditional media of painting and sculpture will also be addressed. Students pursuing this module will be afforded a broad understanding of contemporary fine art at precisely the right point in the structure of their award.
The module will treat both still and moving images and will have direct relevance to students' practice by increasing awareness of importance of discursive frameworks and the inherent rhetorical characteristics of different media.