Lectures
Seminars
Tutorials
Group critiques
External Visits
Practical Classes and workshops
Academic workshops
Online resources
Readings
Independent study in support of your project work
Short exercises and assignments that help you to apply and evaluate your learning

Illustrated essay (1,000 words) within the area of a specified research topic Weighted at 50%. (Learning Outcomes 1-6)

A digital research folder of primary and secondary research as a basis for the contextualisation of the student’s own work in historical and contemporary terms. Word count 1000 equivalent.
Weighted at 50%. (Learning Outcomes 1,2,3, 5 & 6)


And illustrated essay (1,000 words) within the area of a specified research topic Weighted at 50%. (Learning Outcomes 1-6)

This module introduces you to the skills needed to research, evaluate and present information - skills on which the professional practice of art and design now depend. You will be introduced to resources both within and outside the University, which enable you to gather information. You will learn the conventions employed to organise information and explore some of the techniques (and technologies) now used to present information in written, verbal and visual forms. The emphasis is very much on acquiring skills through practice. In addition to illustrated talks and informal discussion groups, you will participate in exercises designed to help you understand the methods and conventions by which you can research, evaluate and communicate your interest in both the practice and history/theory of art. You will learn how to use faculty-based (e.g. library) and external research resources. You will also acquire the IT skills you need for the gathering and presenting of information in an academic context. You will carry out a research-based, specialist project, which will be presented as a digital research folder. You will be encouraged to identify the ways in which this new knowledge is informing your developing studio practice. You will reflectively document the process of researching, evaluating the impact of this activity on your developing practice in your research folder and essay.

This module will involve a wide variety of visual texts including: painting, photography, sculpture, installation art, video and digital art.

The module is directed towards students having a sound basis for an understanding of the historical and theoretical evolution of contemporary art practice. Basic issues in contemporary art will be addressed such as the rise of photography and video as major fine art media, the evolution of painting and sculpture into radically expanded forms (e.g installation art) which question traditional notions of fine art and the relationship of these to broader areas in society and culture. The increased emphasis on concept and process rather than product 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 where the experimental emphasis on studio-based practice will begin to yield new and exciting expressive outcomes that relate directly to contemporary art practice in the 21st century. In order to evaluate your own work, it is important that your knowledge of historic and contemporary art is adequate to the stimulating shifts in emphasis that will inevitably take place in your own practice in a manner that will motivate your creative ability to a higher level.

Study visit to Museum or Art gallery
Lecture Theatre
Seminar room
Data Projector
Audio, VHS, DVD playback,
Design Collection
Library
Student word-processing facilities
Internet access.
Blackboard virtual learning environment
Microsoft Teams

1. DEMONSTRATE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESEARCH SKILLS.
(Enquiry, Knowledge & Understanding)

2. EXTRACT RELEVANT INFORMATION FROM RESEARCH RESOURCES AND ANALYSE AND QUESTION THIS INFORMATION.
(Analysis, Knowledge & Understanding, Learning)

3. ANALYSE SPECIFIC VISUAL ART ARTEFACTS AND ASSOCIATED IDEAS, ASK QUESTIONS AND DRAW CONCLUSIONS USE THIS DISCIPLINE TO INFORM AND CONTEXTUALIZE YOUR DEVELOPING STUDIO PRACTICE.
(Analysis, Knowledge & Understanding, Visual Analysis)

4. USE THE CONVENTIONS OF ACADEMIC WRITING TO PRESENT INFORMATION IN THE FORM OF AN ESSAY. DELIVER A RESEARCH FOLDER THAT LOCATES YOUR OWN PRACTICE IN A HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY CONTEXT.
(Analysis, Communication, Knowledge & Understanding, Problem Solving, Reflection, Visual Analysis)

5. DEMONSTRATE A KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE EVOLUTION OF CONTEMPORARY FINE ART PRACTICE AND KEY ASPECTS OF CONTEMPORARY ART THEORY. USE THE CONTENT GATHERED ABOVE TO LOCATE YOUR DEVELOPING STUDIO PRACTICE.
(Knowledge & Understanding, Learning, Visual Analysis)

6. DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF THE BREADTH OF STRATEGIES USED IN FINE ART PRACTICE. IDENTIFY THOSE STRANDS OF FINE ART PRACTICE THAT ARE CURRENTLY INFORMING YOUR OWN STUDIO PRACTICE.
(Knowledge & Understanding, Learning, Visual Analysis)

Barson, T., Gorschlüter, P. & Tate Liverpool 2010, Afro modern: journeys through the black Atlantic : exhibition at Tate Liverpool, 29 January until 25 April 2010, Tate Liverpool, Liverpool.
Bishop, Claire. 2005. Installation Art: A Critical History. London: Tate.
Tate 2017, Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power, Tate Publishing , London (on order for the library)
Hopkins, D. 2018. After Modern Art 1945-2017. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (previous edition in the library, updated version on order)
Catherine Lord and Richard Meyer,2014 Queer Art and Culture. Phaidon, London (new material on order at the library)
Reckitt, H. 2012, Art and feminism, Abridg, revis and updat []. edn, Phaidon Press, London.
Robertson, J. & McDaniel, C. 2016, Themes of contemporary art: visual art after 1980, 3rd edn, Oxford University Press, New York. 4th edition – with updated material on Digital Art ( On order for the library as a physical copy, if not e-book)
Williams, G. 2014, How to write about contemporary art, Thames and Hudson, London.