History of Art 1: Introduction to the Discipline

The History of Art 1: Introduction to the Discipline module is designed with a threefold teaching strategy introducing the learner to a methodological toolkit to critically engage with works of art from the past. Learners will primarily explore various ways of approaching the study of historic works of art and architecture; secondly considering the authors and historiography of the discipline and thirdly applying these approaches to understanding and making contemporary art.

The lecture series will draw on diverse achronological examples predominantly from Western European art from antiquity to Medieval, Renaissance, Mannerist, Baroque periods and beyond with an emphasis on the cultural contexts of art production. Significant authors of art history will be referenced and their contribution and approach will be critiqued, drawing the learners’ attention to how art history has been written and presented and highlighting changes within the discipline in the modern era.

Auxiliary workshops will encourage learners to discuss their understanding of the lecture content and will expand the topics to discuss how a study of the history of art can inform the production of contemporary art. The workshops will stimulate active learning through discussion and participation in exercises and dialogue. Workshop size is based on a maximum of 18-20 students to facilitate group work and discussion. Workshops take place in a seminar room with blackout facilities, PC and digital projection of AV and online resources.

The importance and vitality of experiential learning by viewing actual works of art and architectural space will be embedded in the module with guided field trips to the National Gallery of Ireland and local cultural sites including the Galway City Museum and the medieval architecture of St. Nicholas collegiate church. This compulsory element of the module fosters student access to national and local resources and the continued potential that these repositories of visual culture offer to students.

A range of links to ATU library resources, audio visual materials, activities and discussion forums will be available to module participants on the ATU virtual learning environment, Moodle.

The Introduction to Art History module aims to deepen the learners understanding of art; to provide a foundation for learners to independently and critically investigate, analyse, evaluate, discuss and write about works of art; to empower further study in the discipline and ultimately to augment their own development as artists.

1. Write and present a factually and critical reflection on a topic from the lecture series, employing academic methods of research and citation.

2. Demonstrate correct use of specialist vocabulary from the lecture series to describe, analyse, document and critically evaluate works of art

3. Acquire critical skills in describing, interpreting, contextualizing and evaluating historic works of art and architecture, using relevant terminology and specialist insight.

4. To contextualize art production in the broader socio-economic and ideological historic circumstances

5. Recognise and refer to important authors of art history introduced in the lecture series and independently access the literature and learning resources of the discipline from libraries and online resources