This module introduces you to key concepts, theories and ideas that have shaped, influenced or inspired the production, consumption and criticism/interpretation of art and culture over the last 150-200 years. You will get to examine a range of ‘isms’ in terms of ideologies and/or artistic and intellectual movements, along with selected styles and movements across a range of art forms and media and will study a range of fictional and critical texts across different contexts, genres and media (e.g. drama, film, literature) to develop an understanding of the relationship between ‘theory’ and practice’ and/or how to use critical ‘tools’ to analyse and/or create your own and/or others’work. Examples may include:


‘Keeping It Real’: Realism, Naturalism, Social Realism, Neo-Realism

‘Movements and Manifestos’: e.g. Surrealism, Dadaism, Futurism, Dogme 95, Serialism

‘Race and Ethnicity’: e.g. Postcolonialism, Interculturalism

Via the following indicative artefacts and works:


Realism, Naturalism, Social Realism, Neo-Realism: Ibsen, Ghosts; Strindberg, Miss Julie; Ken Loach, Cathy Come Home; Di Sica, Bicycle Thieves

‘Movements and Manifestos’: Surrealist Manifesto; Ball, Dada Manifesto; von Trier and Vinterberg, Dogme 95 Manifesto; Perec, A Void

‘Race and Ethnicity’: Shakespeare, The Tempest; Césaire, Une Tempête,

Academic study skills will thread through this module, support academic research and writing skills in readiness for both this module and all three years

ASSESSMENT 1 [LO 2, 3,4] The essay is in the form of a short literature review, indicating how you will go about researching your chosen topic and allowing for early feedback.


ASSESSMENT 2 [LO 1,3,4]


The presentation will be a critical response to the topics of each semester responding to an enquiry question. The form could also be a negotiated equivalent dependent on the student’s learning preference, such as a:

Vlog

podcast

presentation

Essay: critical analysis

Creative writing assignment

Negotiated assignment in consultation with the module tutor(s)

The aim will be to evaluate the student’s development and process across the module.


Individually assessed,

Students will be introduced via in-person and/or online sessions to the key ideas, movements, texts, and practitioners via workshops, readings, mini- and maxi-lectures, discussions, screenings and practical explorations.

This work will contribute to the assessed project portfolios.

1. Develop an appreciation of the relationship between ‘theory’ and ‘practice’ in creative and/or critical work

2. Identify the key features of artistic and intellectual movements and/or texts from the c19th-c21st

3. Interpret a range of texts from a variety of critical perspectives

4. Express analysis, interpretation and evaluation of a range of texts via an appropriate medium or format

Mixed mode teaching spaces with AV

VLE

Library and online resources (e.g. BoB)

Breton, A. (1972). Surrealist Manifesto. University of Michigan Press.

Césaire, A. (2002). Une Tempête. Oberon Books.

Eyre, R and Ibsen, H. (2013) Ghosts. NHB.

Fisher, M. (2015). How to Write about Theatre. Bloomsbury.

Perec, G. (2008). A Void. Vintage Classics

Shakespeare, W. (2008). The Tempest [RSC]. Red Globe Press.

Strindberg, S. (2006). Miss Julie. Bloomsbury

Tzara, T. (2013). Dada Manifesto. Alma Classics.

How did seismic shifts in in art and culture such as surrealism, feminism and ‘neo-realist’ cinema change how we make and consume stories? Studying key examples of ideas, artistic manifestos and significant works across literature, stage and screen, you will develop critical and creative skills using a variety of approaches. [50w]