Arts and Architecture in Europe III: The Early Modern to the Contemporary (10 credit points)

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous knowledge required.

Content of Course

1. Counter-Reformation and the Baroque

This class gives key elements about the European artistic creation in the 17th century to understand better what Baroque is about.

2. Classicism and Academies

This class allows for discussing what artists of Classicism and academies acknowledged from the past, and how some artists have challenged shared references.

3. Romanticism

The class gives an overview of the artistic creativity developing throughout Europe around the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries inspired by the values which Romanticism conveyed.

4. Realism

The class gives an outline of what characterized Realism in the middle of the 19th century, with a particular emphasis on the French context.

5. Impressionism

The class focuses on Impressionism, how it relates to other previous movements, what it involves formally.

6. Post-Impressionism

The class invites to engage with artists who became the most memorable after the dissipation of the impressionist group and developed new research into visual representation.

7. Modernism I

The class gives an overview of Modernism from the beginning of the 20th century until the late 1930s, keeping a focus on the relations between art and science.

8. Modernism II

By contrast with the previous session, this class takes a different approach to Modernism, with a focus on the relations between art and nature.

9. "Popular, transient... mass-produced..."? Western Art after WWII

This class focuses on the Western artistic creativity developing from the late 1940s to the 1960s. How does it relate with the Western artistic tradition? How did artists free themselves from the latter?

10. Post-Modernism and Beyond: Contemporary or Just Contemptible?

This class focuses on some of the latest developments in visual arts, with a special emphasis on the diversity of media and issues involved in artistic creativity.

Teaching method(s)

Lecture based with class discussion.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, through attending classes and outside reading, students should be able to:

• Discuss complex issues that are particular to each period;

• State and justify what period and what geographical area a work of art could belong to;

• Understand stylistic differences in Western art and outline the evolution of Western art from the 17th century to the present day.

 

Sources

Core Readings

Essential:

• Eisenman, Stephen F. 1994. Nineteenth Century Art: A Critical History. London: Thames and Hudson

• Honour, H. and Fleming, J., 2001. A World History of Art. 5th ed. London: Laurence King

• Minor, Vernon Hyde 1999. Baroque & Rococo: Art & Culture. London: Laurence King

Recommended:

• Edwards, S. ed., 1999. Art and its Histories: A Reader. London: Open University / Yale University Press.

• Stangos, N. ed., 1988. Concepts of Modern Art. London: Thames and Hudson.

• Waldberg, P., 1978. Surrealism. London: Thames and Hudson.

• Lippard, L., 1970. Pop Art. London: Thames and Hudson.

Web Sources

Metropolitan Museum of Art Timeline of Art History
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/

Artlex Art Dictionary
http://www.artlex.com/

The Tate Glossary ‘designed to explain and illuminate some of the art terminology’
http://www.tate.org.uk/collections/glossary/

Class Handouts

Handouts will be provided.

Assessments

10 credit courses have one assessment. Normally, the assessment is a 2000 word essay, worth 100% of the total mark, submitted by week 12. To pass, students must achieve a minimum of 40%. There are a small number of exceptions to this model which are identified in the Studying for Credit Guide.

Studying for Credit

If you choose to study for credit you will need to allocate significant time outwith classes for coursework and assessment preparation. Credit points gained from this course can count towards the Certificate of Higher Education.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.