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Kies de Nederlandse taal
Course module: UCHUMHAR31
UCHUMHAR31
Modern Art
Course info
Course codeUCHUMHAR31
EC7.5
Course goals
At the end of the course, students are able to:
  • describe the most important theoretical issues concerning modernism, post-modernism and the latest developments in the visual arts
  • explain that art and art theory function in the context of society and that both do not only reflect that society, but influence it as well
  • independently study, describe and evaluate the visual information/impact of a work of art
  • search independently for literature on specific topics and relate the information it provides to artworks, artist’s attitudes and movements
  • apply methods when discussing/writing about art-related topics in presentations and papers; if possible, formulate new ideas concerning these topics
  • present autonomously, via an evaluation of literature and artworks, an argued position/opinion concerning movements, ideas and particular artworks
  • critically describe and analyze an artwork in a way that contributes to a scholarly argumentation
Content
This course offers a survey of the most important art movements in the twentieth century. It builds on knowledge obtained in prior art history courses and will prepare students for advanced work in art history. Although engaging with non-Western artists and postcolonial critique, it focuses on developments in Europe and the US, addressing a wide range of methodological questions, including the role of the artist, the shifting relationship of high art and mass culture, and the impact of new technologies on cultural production (such as photography, design and advertising). Eventually, it will pinpoint some key possibilities and problematics of presenting art outside of the traditional exhibition space.
In a series of lectures and excursions the course examines a number of concepts connected to twentieth-century art and the changing art world. Part of the course considers the collapse of modernist concepts of culture and the emergence of theories of postmodernism. In the 1970s, the idea of dogmatic modernism was attacked; art was now made outside the canvas and often shown outside the museum. New ways of expression (performance, video art, conceptual art and land art) as well as new participants in artistic practices (women, racial and sexual minorities) emerged, changing the character of twentieth-century art. Students are encouraged to approach developments in modern visual arts from a wider angle, if possible with attention to impulses from other areas, such as science, cultural theory and/or social factors.

Format
The first of the two weekly sessions is a lecture which treats various movements, artists and themes, not necessarily in a chronological order. This offers the chance to open up new connections between key figures and to capture a cross-section of formal strategies pursued by artists in different times and places. The second weekly meeting is used for formal and content analysis of presented artworks that the students perform in class. Students are also expected to demonstrate their affinity with the weekly reading in classroom discussions on certain themes and artworks.
Excursions: There is a number of excursions taking place during the course. Destinations can include for instance
  • Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen and/or Kunsthal, Rotterdam
  • Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Picasso exhibition)
  • Van Abbemuseum , Eindhoven
Both midterm and final papers count 3000 words each. They are to be prepared in consultation with the lecturer and deal with a topic of the student’s own choice, demonstrating knowledge of the reading material for the course. Students are encouraged to write a critical essay on a contemporary exhibition relating it to the chosen art movement/artist/context/theme. Also exhibition reviews are appreciated.
All readings discussed in class have to be studied in preparation for the final written exam. Students have two hours to answer the questions and demonstrate ability in issues concerning visual arts. The written exam consists of five questions: 4 essay questions and one slide test. The images are chosen from the textbooks and lectures.
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Kies de Nederlandse taal