Art history
Stories of Art I: Shaping Art
Module code: V4041
Level 4
15 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Lecture
Assessment modes: Coursework
Stories of Art I is an 11-week lecture-based module. The module aims to provide you with a solid grounding in the history of art, introducing you to many of the key topics, ideas and works of art that occupy the core of our discipline. The module is also intended to introduce the key study skills required as an Art History undergraduate. The chronological approach aims to help you situate works of art in relation to each other and the societies that produced them, while also encouraging you to think about some of the issues and ideas that recur across different periods.
The emphasis placed on the stories of art is intended to get you to think critically about the ways in which history is narrated and to reflect on who possess the authority to make the types of value judgement any effort to construct a history involves. By choosing audiences and patronage as the overarching theme for Stories, we set out to reflect on works of art not only as the consequence of decisions taken by artists, but as objects rooted in specific historical and cultural circumstances and within a network of parties that includes patrons and viewers.
Module learning outcomes
- Understand the basic concept of art having multiple histories.
- Demonstrate knowledge of underlying principles of art history through evaluating key artistic moments and objects.
- Be able to interpret key art objects in terms of historical relations between makers, patrons and audiences.
- Demonstrate awareness of changing interpretations of works of art across different periods and places.