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Semester 2

Analysing Art History: Texts, Objects, Institutions, Part Two (HIAR10170)

Subject

History of Art

College

CAHSS

Credits

20

Normal Year Taken

3

Delivery Session Year

2023/2024

Pre-requisites

Visiting students must have completed 3 History of Art courses at grade B or above, and please note that we will not consider History courses unrelated to Art, or practical Art courses, towards these pre-requisites. We will only consider University/College level courses. Please see Additional Restrictions below.

Course Summary

This course is designed to support your development of independent research skills and the writing of your independent Analytical Project(s). It is co-taught by a team of lecturers in History of Art, through a programme of regular one-hour lectures, supported by workshops and individual or small-group supervisions.

Course Description

Art History: Texts, Objects, Institutions, Part Two offers an introduction to the study and analysis of the objects and institutions of art history. Lectures and workshops will focus on how to approach the analysis of different types of objects, including the analysis of form, materials and techniques, and how to investigate the social and historical meanings of objects. Lectures and workshops will also introduce topics such as critical study of museums and galleries, the idea of 'institutional critique', and the study of curatorial strategies of display. The course allows you to frame your own area of investigation, through choosing a particular object, institution or display for close analysis. It is assessed by a 4,000 word Analytical Project, in which you will analyse your choice of EITHER: An object (e.g. painting, sculpture, monument, illustrated manuscript or book, suite of prints or drawings, applied arts object, relic, etc.) from any period or geographical region (you are encouraged to think creatively about visual and material culture and what exactly constitutes an 'art object') OR: A particular exhibition or museum display. You should develop your project in consultation with an academic supervisor, who will meet with you in TWO supervisions of up to half an hour each and who will offer you feedback on your plan and bibliography. For those who need it, it will be possible to sign up for a THIRD supervision, towards the end of the semester, to discuss any problems or questions arising as you prepare to submit your project. Throughout the course there is an emphasis on the development of individual research and study skills. You will be guided and advised by your supervisor to choose the focus for your Analytical Project, and supported by them in developing a list of key readings and resources. In this way, the course is designed to help you develop the independent study skills you need to prepare for your final-year dissertations. For students taking this course whilst studying abroad (e.g.,modern languages students), lectures are recorded and made available on-line, and supervisions are by email and/or Skype.

Assessment Information

Written Exam 0%, Coursework 100%, Practical Exam 0%

Additional Restrictions

Unless you are nominated on a History of Art exchange agreement, visiting students are only permitted to enrol in one 3rd year History of Art course each, per semester, before the start of the relevant semester’s welcome period – and spaces on each course are limited so cannot be guaranteed for any student. Enrolment in a second course from this group will depend on whether there are still spaces available in the January Welcome Period, and cannot be guaranteed. It is NOT appropriate for students to contact staff within this subject area to ask for an exception to be made; all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. This is due to the extremely limited number of spaces available in this very popular subject area.

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