Theory and Method in Art History

This module introduces postgraduate students to a broad spectrum of approaches and issues key to thinking and writing about art.

Bringing the work of art historians and artists, curators and critics, philosophers and cultural theorist into dialogue with 20th-21st-century debates surrounding race, gender, economics, postmodernism, postcolonialism and decoloniality, consideration will be given to how theory and method are, on the one hand, critical to the formation of authoritative chronicles and analysis but, on the other hand, part of a stratified and contested field sometimes prone to certain forms of partiality and erasure.

Drawing on an array of expertise from across the School of Arts, the module will enable students to broaden their knowledge of art and art history whilst developing critical skills for producing informed and nuanced analysis of art and its various histories. Topics explored will include the politics of the canon, delineations between the museum and academia, the artist and writer, commerce and art, visuality and representation, aesthetics and social commentary.

Putting theory into practice, the module will nurture a divergent range of scholarly interests, enabling students’ ideas and writing to flourish within a rigorous but supportive learning environment.

Objectives and learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module a student will be able to

• Identify important texts associated with the formation of the discipline and theories of art historical development, aesthetics, and interpretation.
• Demonstrate theoretical literacy across key concepts and discourses of art history.
• Assess methods and theoretical approaches relevant to the study of the arts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and their diasporas.
• Apply theory and method through spoken and written argumentation.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills applicable to art historical scholarship, curatorship, and other industry and academic fields.

Workload

• Lectures: 2 hours per week
• Tutorials: 1 hour per week 

Method of assessment

• 1,000-word essay (worth 30% of total mark)
• 2,000-word essay (worth 70%)

Suggested reading

• Dadi, Iftikhar and Salah Hassan, eds. Unpacking Europe: Towards a Critical Reading (Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, 2001)
• Chambers, Eddie. Things Done Change: The Cultural Politics of Recent Black Artists in Britain (Amsterdam: Rodopi, 2012)
• Gao Minglu. Total Modernity and the Avant Garde in Twentieth Century Chinese Art (Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 2011)
• Powell, Richard J. Black Art and Culture in the 20th Century , (London: Thames and Hudson, 1997)
• Reilly, Moura. Women Artists: The Linda Nochlin Reader (New York, New York: Thames & Hudson, 2015)

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.