The Making of Contemporary Korean Art

Key information

Start date
End date
Year of study
Any
Duration
Term 2
Module code
15PARH060
FHEQ Level
7
Credits
15
Department
School of Arts & Department of History of Art and Archaeology

Module overview

This module addresses the development of Korean art and visual culture in the 20th and 21st centuries.

The material may address a particular theme or period and may assess art produced on the Korean peninsula – North and South - as well as that by the Korean diasporas in Asia, Europe and the USA. By placing local production of the arts within a wider understanding of key issues, such as modernity, nationalism, globalisation and gender, the development of a Korean visual aesthetic will be addressed.

The material examined may include paintings, sculpture, textiles and/or ceramics, produced in North and South Korea as well as by the Korean diaspora in addition to recent developments within the art world including the use of performance, installation and video art. 

Objectives and learning outcomes

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

  • Examine the production and use of art within its cultural, social and/or political contexts in modern and/or contemporary Korea. 
  • Assess key themes in the study of the arts of modern and/or contemporary Korea. 
  • Critically evaluate different approaches to understanding the art and visual culture of modern and/or contemporary Korea.

Workload

  • Lectures: 1 hour per week
  • Seminars: 1 hour per week

Method of assessment

  • 2,000-word essay (worth 70% of marks)
  • Open book object analysis test (worth 30%)

Suggested reading

  • Chung Hyun-min. Modern Korean ink painting. Elizabeth, NJ ; Seoul : Hollym, 2006.
  • Kim Youngna [Kim Yŏngna]. Tradition, Modernity and Identity: Modern and Contemporary Art in Korea. Seoul and New Jersey: Hollym, 2005
  • Portal, Jane. Art under control in North Korea. London : Reaktion Books, 2005,
  • Sinsheimer, Karen and Anne Wilkes Tucker with Bohnchang Koo. Chaotic harmony : contemporary Korean photography. Houston : Museum of Fine Arts, 2009.
  • Starkman, Christine and Lynn Zelevansky. Your Bright Future. 12 Contemporary Artists from Korea. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. 2009.

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules.

Key staff