The Spaces of Contemporary Art(VS1) (U03076)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : ACE-4-HSpaces

This course is not a survey of contemporary art in Britain, but an enquiry into its meaning. It is in essence a social and political geography, which aims to answer the following questions: where and how is art produced? Where is it exhibited? What kind of experience is its exhibition now supposed to produce in the viewer? Where and how is it critically validated? Where is it sold? What kind of relationship does contemporary art have with political power? These questions will be addressed through studies of Tate Modern, the commercial galleries of London's East End, the Saatchi gallery and collection, the Turner and Becks competitions, art in the news media, and the education of artists. London's situation as the centre of the British art world is set in the context of the experience of other art world centres: New York, Paris, Scotland. A basic knowledge of contemporary art will be expected, as well as an interest in up-to-date methodological approaches to the history of art. The course is primarily taught through image and texts available at Edinburgh University. There will be visits to galleries and museums in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Entry Requirements

? This course is only available to part year visiting students.

? This course is a variant of the following course : U01151

? Pre-requisites : Equivalent of History of Art 1 and 2

Subject Areas

Home subject area

History of Art, (School of Arts, Culture and Environment, Schedule A)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

This course uses approaches from sociology, geography and
anthropology as well as art history to develop a sophisticated and critically aware view of contemporary art. By the end of the course students will
(1) understand the contemporary art world in Britain as a
network or system;
(2) have thorough knowledge of the geographical places in which the art world exists in Britain;
(3) understand the range of political meanings communicated by major public art institutions such as
Tate Modern;
(4) be able to discuss the nature of visitor experiences at exhibitions of contemporary art; (5) be able to discuss problems around the media representation of contemporary art;
(6) have a sophisticated awareness of the disciplinary boundaries between art history, art criticism, and other areas dealing with contemporary art;
(7) be able to demonstrate a critical approach to the analysis of contemporary art in Britain, using appropriate and explicit critical methodologies;
(8) have developed appropriate essay writing techniques.