High Politics and Low Humour: the Satirist’s Art 1707-1795 (U03985)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : ACE-4-U03985

Often rude, frequently crude and always impolite, satirical prints are a hugely enjoyable object of study. They are also significant documents of contemporary debates, attitudes and anxieties. Drawing on materials from what has been called the ‘golden age’ of caricature, this course investigates the work of satirists such as Hogarth and Gillray.
The targets of their satire were diverse: prostitutes and clergymen, dilettantes and debutantes, princes and politicians; almost no-one was safe. We’ll explore this world of laughter, wry humour and occasional sombre seriousness to reveal how sophisticated a form of art practice visual satire is. This course will develop your visual attentiveness, foster your powers of description and encourage you to develop understanding of the historical circumstances in which these prints were produced.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : A pass in either History of Art 2 or Architectural History 2a and 2b

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

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Tutorial	Friday	09:00	10:50	Central

? Additional Class Information : There will be two tutorials on Fridays. One, as above, from 0900-1050 and the other from 1110-1300. Students will be required to attend one of these.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

This material can be quite challenging to students at first because of its relative unfamiliarity and its use of complex visual/verbal strategies. Thus it provides a real opportunity for students to enhance their visual and descriptive skills. As well as a broad knowledge of eighteenth-century British satirical prints, the course will give students experience of working in an inter-disciplinary way, because these works of art cannot be understood without engaging closely with their social and political contexts. Students will have plenty of opportunities to practice their skills in critical reading, writing and presentation.