THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Art

Undergraduate Course: Body As Artistic Material (ARTX08072)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course explores different approaches to the body in the context of current post-media practice, informed by earlier forms of convergence between visual arts and performance practices, such Neo-Dada, Performance Art in USA and Live Art in the UK. The course will be delivered through a combination of lectures and workshops, and students will be expected to produce practical projects supported by critical documentation.

Course description When artists such as Vito Acconci started using their bodies as part of their artworks halfway through the 20th century, an important change took place in visual art practices. Artists' bodies became a type of artistic material equivalent to paint, stone etc, and new opportunities opened up for the role of the body, both in visual and performing arts. Since 2010, there has been a renewed curatorial interest in this area, evidenced in a series of exhibitions about performative practices in major venues around the world (such as the Hayward Gallery and Barbican Centre in London, ZKM in Germany and Tramway in Scotland), which encourage new and more radical explorations of the body as artistic material.

In this course, we will approach the body as artistic material through experiments informed by:

* Key artistic contexts and groups which addressed the body as material in their explorations during the 20th century (such as Black Mountain, Fluxus and Judson Dance Theater)
* New concepts of the body as introduced by artists/theorists (such as Yvonne Rainer and Robert Morris), curators/theorists (such as Andre Lepecki) or philosophers (such as Brian Massumi)
* New approaches to art historical narratives informed by an emphasis on cultural issues (such as the role of multiculturalism in British Live art)
* New curatorial concerns and possibilities as evidenced in current artistic work about the body presented in major festivals (such as Documenta and the Venice Biennale)

The course will be delivered through lectures, seminars, workshops and individual research leading to project proposals, followed by a period of supervised project development and production leading to exhibition of works exploring body as material. Students will be encouraged to use the course content and practical workshops in order to explore their interests through engaging with any medium (and combinations of media). Students could work both collaboratively and individually. In both cases they will be expected to produce high quality documentation in online research journals. Finally students will be participating in some form of workshop every week, alongside the lecture and will be receiving informal feedback about their work during the weekly workshops and also in relation to their weekly postings in their online research journals.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements This course is open to any student with enrolments managed on a first come first served basis until the course is full (quota is 20). To allow students to attend the academic fair and consider their options note that this course will remain closed until Wednesday 12th September. If you wish to enrol please sign up for the course after this time. Do this via your your own School (they will advise if this is done your Personal Tutor, SSO or Teaching Office). Please note that we do not keep a waiting list.

Additional Costs Students are expected to pay for Art Materials and Equipment. Specific materials and equipment costs will vary depending on students' individual choice of method of production.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Present evidence of research and investigation into current and historical responses to the body in creative practice.
  2. Present evidence of having engaged in a range of working methods articulated through personal practice.
  3. Present a resolved work that articulates a personal response to the subject.
Reading List
Gareis, Sigrid et al (ed)(2013), Moments: A History of Performance in 10 Acts, Exhibition Catalogue (bilingual), ZKM, Karlsruhe, Germany: Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther Konig

Goldberg, RoseLee (ed) (2009), Everywhere and All at Once: An Anthology of Writings on Performa 07, Zurich, Switzerland: jrp/ringier

Rosenthal, Stephanie (2010) Move. Choreographing You, Exhibition Catalogue, Hayward Gallery , London, UK: Hayward Publishing

Yee, Lydia et al (2011) Laurie Anderson, Trisha Brown, Gordon Matta-Clark: Pioneers of the Downtown Scene, New York 1970s, Exhibition Catalogue, New York: Prestel
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills * Development of observational and analytical skills
* Development of abilities of planning and resolving a personally motivated project, as well as collaborative practice of working
* Development of research skills, library and location based and through the use of a variety of personal and institutional resources
KeywordsBody,movement,performance,Fluxus,neo-dada,intermedia,post-media,experimental dance,Live Art
Contacts
Course organiserDr Sophia Lycouris
Tel: 0131 221 6291
Email: s.lycouris@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Clara Fraser
Tel:
Email: clara.fraser@ed.ac.uk
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