Introduction to Contemporary Art Theory

This module concentrates on the main themes and debates surrounding modern and contemporary art. It introduces key skills in visual analysis, the contested nature of meaning in art, the tensions between fine art and popular culture, and the changing status of the artist. The core theme is that it is not possible to understand why contemporary art takes the form it does without an appreciation of the themes and debates of earlier 20^th C art. In order to achieve this, an intersectional approach will be used to explore the key themes of decolonization, decisnormatization, and sustainability in the dosciuses of contemporary art practices. The teaching strategy is based on the UDL principles, and the teaching and learning methods will involve a combination of lectures, readings, class discussion and case-study analysis. A range of audiovisual materials will be presented in the lectures, with adjacent textual resources, links and activities posted on Moodle.

1. Understand the key themes and debates defining modern and contemporary art.

2. Acquire critical skills in describing, interpreting and evaluating visual artefacts.

3. Attain an understanding of the tensions between fine art and popular culture.

4. Acquire an understanding of the changing status of the artist from the early Renaissance to the present.

5. Use core skills in critical analysis and thought through an understanding of the essay format, demonstrating a basic understanding of the history of aesthetic ideas.