Art and Society

ART AND SOCIETY

Site: Central London
Level: 4
Assessment: 100% coursework

SUMMARY OF CLASS CONTENT
This module is an introduction to the visual culture of London, including painting, architecture, photography and contemporary media. Students will visit the major art galleries to examine how art works and cultural practices can be understood within wider social and cultural contexts. The sessions also include a study of museum displays and historical sites, such as the British Museum and St Paul?s Cathedral. The classes will explore how these institutions reveal the complex cultural identity and history of London. The module develops students? skills in visual analysis and critical thinking about culture. [£40 required to cover the cost of special exhibitions.]

MODULE AIMS
The module is designed to:
* Examine how London can be explored though its cultural resources
* Examine some of the main periods and movements in the history of fine art that can be seen in London;
* Examine how museums and galleries can explore the cultural, social and political contexts of London
* Develop skills in the reading and analysis of visual texts;

LEARNING OUTCOMES
On successful completion of the module, the student will be able to:
* Demonstrate ability to make a visual analysis of works of art
* Demonstrate an understanding of some of the main movements in the history of the visual arts
* Demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which historical displays and sites can be related to a political, social or cultural context
* Discuss the role of London as a cultural centre.
* Develop appropriate skills in academic presentation and writing.

INDICATIVE SYLLABUS CONTENT
* Iconic buildings and national heritage: St Paul?s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey
* Enlightenment and the birth of the museum collection: the British Museum and Sir John Soane Museum
* Looking at master paintings: the National Gallery
* Multi-cultural London: the representation of race, gender and sexuality in art and culture C17th ? C21st
* Impressionism and Post-Impressionism: the Courtauld Gallery
* Modernism and Post-Modernism in architecture and the fine arts.
*Tate Modern: a contemporary art museum for the 21st century
* How museums represent historical narratives: The Museum of London

TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS
*The module is taught in an intensive mode over three weeks during the Summer School.
* Class sessions include lectures, seminars, site visits and group work.
ASSESSMENT RATIONALE
The assessment is designed to give students the opportunity to develop skills in the reading of visual texts, to develop contextual arguments, and to relate primary and secondary material.
* The group presentation aims to enable them to demonstrate their analytical and reflective skills within the context of teamwork.
* The essay aims to enable them to produce a researched and academically developed piece of work.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Detailed assessment criteria are given in the handbook.
The assignments will be assessed on the ability of the students:
* to discuss a range of material
* to reflect upon their responses to individual works of art
* to contextualise the examination of visual material to cultural and historical contexts
* to develop coherent arguments

ASSESSMENT METHODS AND WEIGHTINGS
Group presentation 25%
Essay (2500 words) 75%

SOURCES
Required Reading
(Chapters will be selected from the following texts)
Michael Archer Art Since 1960 London: Thames & Hudson, 2002
David Britt Modern Art: Impressionism to Post-modernism, London: Thames and Hudson, 1999
Ann Saunders The Art and Architecture of London London: Phaidon Press, 1994
Andrew Wilton Five Centuries of British Painting London: Thames & Hudson, 2002
Further Reading
David S. Bindman Hogarth London: Thames & Hudson, 1985
Roger Dixon & Stefan Muthesius Victorian Architecture London: Thames & Hudson, 1985
Fiona Donovan Rubens and England New Haven CT: Yale University Press, 2004
James Hall Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art London: John Murray, 1974 / Boulder Colorado: Westview Press, 2007
Timothy Hilton The Pre-Raphaelites London: Thames & Hudson, 1993
Richard Humphreys The Tate Britain Companion to British Art London: Tate Publications, 2002