HA1AB: History of Art and Architecture Workshop

Module Provider:

History of Art

Number of credits:

20 [10 ECTS credits]

Level:

C (Certificate)

Terms in which taught:

Autumn and Spring

Module Convenor:

Dr JP Davies

Pre-requisites:

Co-requisites:

HA1AA

Modules excluded:

Module version for:

2007/8

Aims:
This module introduces and discusses key skills, categories and methodologies used in the study of history of art and architecture. It aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the problems, of description and visual analysis. It will encourage an understanding of style and iconography and how form and content might relate to one another, both in art as well as architecture. There will also be a discussion of historical themes and issues that affected both the production of art and the study of art history, such as the notion of the artist as an individual genius or the concept of pictorial genres. Taking these issues further the course will also introduce and analyse art historical methodologies through case studies and close analysis of key texts. This will include, among others, connoisseurship, iconology, marxism, feminism and semiotics. At the end of the course students should be aware of the skills and methods available to the art historian.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to:

Additional outcomes:
Research and IT skills will be developed by the use of library and relevant Web resources and databases.

Outline content:
The course will start with a demonstration and discussion of art historical key skills, especially description and visual analysis, introducing students also to the use of the appropriate terminology. During the first weeks of the autumn term students will also develop their writing and referencing skills. The discussion of other skills, such as the identification of subject matter and stylistic analysis will lead to an introduction of historical themes and concepts that determined the production as well as study of art objects and architecture. Building on the course will increasingly be discussing art historical methodologies, both through case studies as well as through close readings of seminal texts.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
One one-hour lecture per week in the autumn and spring terms and three one-hour seminars in the autumn term. Students are expected to visit museums or galleries on their own initiative.

Contact hours:

Assessment:

Coursework
Students write two assessed essays of 1,500 words. The first essay is to be submitted by the end of the sixth week of the autumn term and the second by the end of the sixth week of the spring term. The coursework mark is an average of the marks obtained for the two assessed pieces of work.

Relative percentage of coursework: 50%

Penalties for late submission
Unless a written request for an extension has been agreed in advance with the module convenor, essays that are late by one week or less are subject to a 10% penalty, and essays that are more than one week late will be awarded a mark of zero. Extensions are only granted where evidence is provided of medical or exceptional personal circumstances.

Examinations
One one-and-a-half-hour paper requiring three questions to be answered, taken as a Part 1 examination.

Requirements for a pass: A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements
Re-examination in August. Coursework will be carried forward if it bears a confirmed mark of 40% or more. Otherwise it must be resubmitted by 1 September.