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Unit information: Approaches to the Artist (Reflective Art History Unit) in 2013/14

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Unit name Approaches to the Artist (Reflective Art History Unit)
Unit code HART30007
Credit points 20
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
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

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will consider the idea of the artist as a part of the discussion of the culture and of the cultural products of any given historical era. What art historians think they know about ‘the artist’ as a category is open to constant scrutiny within the discipline, and new approaches to the idea of ‘the artist’ (or of any given artist) can substantially change the ways in which artists and their works are considered. As well as this, academic and popular views of particular individual artists, or groups of artists, can shift and change, producing further new interpretations and frameworks within which they and their works can be considered. This unit encourages students to examine the theoretical issues presented by studying artists – as a category or individually – and to consider the changing receptions in academic and popular culture of particular artists and groups of artists.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit students will have (1) developed a detailed knowledge and critical understanding of the development of the idea of the artist; (2) in-depth understanding of the changing ways in which the works of an artist or group of artists may be viewed over time; 3) demonstrated the ability to analyse and evaluate theoretical issues presented in studying artists (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 material and ideas.

Teaching Information

1 x 2-hour seminar per week.

Assessment Information

1 x 24 hour take-home examination (100%). The extended form of this unseen assessment provides the opportunity to assess the depth and detail of students’ understanding and attainment of ILOs (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) at level H/6.

Reading and References

• Ames-Lewis, Francis, The intellectual life of the early Renaissance artist, New Haven/London, Yale University Press, 2000. • Barker, Emma et al (eds.), The Changing Status of the Artist, New Haven/London, Yale University Press/Open University, 1999. • Goldstein, Carl, 'The Image of the Artist Reviewed' in Word and Image vol.9, no.1, January-March, 1993. • Vasari, Giorgio, The Lives of the Artists (edited and translated by G. Bull; first published in 1550) Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. • Woods-Marsden, Joanna, Renaissance self-portraiture: the visual construction of identity and the social status of the artist, New Haven/London,Yale University Press, 1998.

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