Theories of Art II

Key information

Start date: 25 September 2023
End date: 15 December 2023
Year of study: Year 2
Duration: Term 1
Module code: 154900206
FHEQ Level: 5
Credits: 15

Module overview

This second year, team-taught module will build incrementally on the first year core module Theory in History of Art and Archaeology , to give robust theoretical and methodological training in History of Art and Archaeology. Co-taught by faculty members, the module offers students a series of key transferable skills and a range of analytical, theoretical and practical approaches to the study of art and archaeology. Students are encouraged to adopt a critical perspective in applying these methods to the study of material culture in Asia and Africa. The module will comprise four thematic blocks, the themes of which will vary each year but may include, for example: Situating the Discipline; Perspectives on Art History; Art and Perception; and Art and Interpretation. Lecture topics may include: Material Culture, Architecture and Space, Context and Value, Museology, Yoruba Aesthetics, Art History in China, Gender, Interpreting Archaeology, Semiotics, Phenomenology, Hermeneutics and Deconstruction and others. The module will prepare second year BA History of Art and Archaeology students for further research, equipping them with the skills they will need to successfully complete their degree, and encouraging them to establish and articulate their position within a range of disciplines.

Teaching will comprise a two-hour lecture-seminar per week. In addition to essay assessments, alternative assessments methods will include group projects, literature reviews and research journals.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the module

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

Demonstrate fluency in a range of theories and methodologies in the disciplines of History of Art and Archaeology.
Appraise the various approaches, key issues and concerns in this field, with particular concern for their application in Asian and African contexts, and for decolonising the discipline.
Apply methodologies and conceptual frameworks appropriate to their own research and professional interests.
Demonstrate a range of skills necessary for successful academic and vocational pathways, including general research and transferable study skills.
Appreciate a variety of cultural values and explore their implications for equality issues such as class, “race”, gender, sexual orientation, age and disability.

Workload

2 hours per week

Scope and syllabus

Sample content/structure – for example only

Thematic Block 1: Situating the Discipline

The History of Art History
Geographies of Art and Archaeology
Material Culture
Art, Anthropology and Cultural Studies

Thematic Block 2: Perspectives on Art History

Yoruba Theories of Art
Chinese Theories of Art
Arabic Theories of Art
Hindu Theories of Art
Race and the Visual
Art and Queer Theory

Thematic Block 3: Art and Perception

Reception Theory
Art and Post-colonial Theory
Performance Art and the Body
Phenomenology

Thematic Block 4: Art and Interpretation

Interpreting Archaeological Evidence: Technology, Environment and Trade
Interpreting Archaeological Evidence: Society and Culture
Semiotics
Digital Art and Hermeneutics
Text and Image
Deconstruction

Method of assessment

One two hour exam - 30%
One 750 word literature review/annotated bibliography - 20%
One 1,500 word essay - 40%
Lecture/seminar participation and attendance - 10%

Convenor(s)

Professor Ashley Thompson

Disclaimer

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules