Curriculum Information

This academic module will concentrate on key periods of western art history to demonstrate their relevance to contemporary art practice, providing students with historical and contemporary, theoretical and critical contexts in which they operate as artists and create their own work.

The format of the lessons will focus on a different time period and theory each lesson, introducing artworks and associated ideas through lecture and seminars.

Students will be introduced to a survey of Global art, with emphasis on periods of significance and how they relate to contemporary practices to gain an understanding of the relevance of theory and criticism in contemporary art. Subjects to be focused on include:

·       Iconography

·       The Gothic

·       The Everyday

·       The Naked & the Nude

·       Art in Wales

·       Globalisation & Inclusivity

·       The Virtual & the Real

·       The Value of Art

Through engagement with these subjects, students will develop the study skills and basic methodologies appropriate to this level of study, with which to interrogate art’s objects, histories, and critical contexts. Research and reading skills will be developed. Written responses to research and reading will develop an academic voice and skills such as referencing using the Harvard format. Discussion and presentation of ideas will be central as students research set texts provided in an anthology, in class and respond in chaired discussions in order to scaffold and share understanding.