Art history

From Decorative Arts to Material Culture

Module code: V4005
Level 6
30 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar
Assessment modes: Presentation, Dissertation

On this module, you'll examine the traditional separation of the arts into ‘fine’ and ‘decorative’ categories and its impact on scholarly approaches.

You'll explore how recent methodologies from material culture studies have revived interest in objects previously dismissed as applied art, uncovering overlooked aspects of their original contexts and functions.

Key themes include:

• historical conceptions of the relationship between different art forms
• methods used by art historians to study art objects
• the influence of these categorizations on museum displays.

You'll develop critical insights into how art forms are studied, understood and presented, challenging traditional classifications and encouraging broader perspectives.

Module learning outcomes

• Demonstrate detailed and coherent critical evaluation of specific visual culture relating to this subject and understanding of the significance of this theme to wider thematic debates in art history.
• Undertake sustained independent written research and develop in-depth argument taking into account a variety of scholarly perspectives.
• Synthesize complex scholarly information and independent research coherently in the form of oral presentation.
• Demonstrate critical understanding of some of the differing approaches of current art-historical scholarship about this subject and how specific examples relate to the overall issues of the topic.