| Unit name | Twentieth Century Art: Paris 1900 - 1939 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HART30004 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Cervantes |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of History of Art (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Concentrating on the importance of Europe and particularly Paris as a magnet for international artists, this unit will focus on key creative figures such as Picasso, Valadon, Matisse, Chagall, Modigliani, Goncharova, Man Ray, Sonia and Robert Delauney, and Dalí. The emergence of Fauvism and Cubism, the influence of Futurism and Dada, the post war ‘rapelle à ordre’ the Jazz age, Art Deco, Purism, Abstraction and Surrealism, the influence of the Ballet Russes, the high octane debates between L’ecole Francais and L’ecole de Paris, will all be examined in the context of the changing political, cultural and aesthetic concerns of the period. Film, photography and the impact of the major international exhibitions will all be addressed.
On successful completion of this unit students will have (1) developed a detailed knowledge and critical understanding of the development the main artistic currents in Paris between 1900 and 1939; (2) in-depth understanding of their political, aesthetic and cultural contexts; 3) demonstrated the ability to analyse and evaluate a variety of different visual media; (4) demonstrated the ability to identify and evaluate pertinent evidence/data in order to illustrate/demonstrate a cogent argument. Additionally, as part of a level H/6 unit, students will be expected to (5) display high level skills in evaluating, analysing, synthesising and (where apt) critiquing images and ideas.
1 x 2-hour seminar per week.
One summative coursework essay of 3-4000 words (50%) and one unseen examination of two hours comprising 2 questions out of 8 (50%). Both elements will assess 1) knowledge and understanding of the main artistic currents in Paris between 1900 and 1939; (2) understanding of their political, aesthetic and cultural contexts; and 3) the ability to analyse and evaluate different visual media. The coursework essay in particular will offer students the opportunity to demonstrate ILOs (4) and (5).
• Eliel, Carol. L’Esprit Nouveau: Purism in Paris 1918-1928, Abrams, 2001. • Fer, Briony, David Batchelor & Paul Wood. Realism, Rationalism, Surrealism: Art Between the Wars, New Haven & London 1993. • Golan, Romy. Modernity and Nostalgia: Art and Politics in France Between the Wars, New Haven and London, 1995. • Green, Christopher. Art in France 1900-1940, Yale, 2000. • Perry, Gill. Women Artists and the Parisian Avant-Garde: Modernism and ‘Feminine’ Art, 1900 to the late 1920s, Manchester 1995. • Silver, Kenneth. Esprit de Corps: The Art of the Parisian Avant-Garde and the First World War 1914-1918, London 1989.
