Undergraduate Course: Art in Context 4 (ARTX10070)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
| Course type | Dissertation |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Art in Context 4 builds on your skills in researching, analysing and articulating ideas about contemporary art. You will take these to the next level in writing a dissertation, on a topic of your own choosing, with the support and guidance of a tutor. |
| Course description |
In Art in Context 4 you will write a dissertation of 4,500-5,000 words. You will select and refine your research focus in dialogue with a tutor, who will also offer feedback on the draft writing that you share, according to a suggested timetable.
A dissertation is an extended piece of scholarship, shaped on the basis of your own interests, together with the input of a member of the teaching team. It is characterised by the depth of investigation, analysis, comprehension and critique demonstrated. Creativity in your approach to this academic work - for instance, developing a research element through practice, finding a means of performing some of your learning in words, or carefully defending a bold claim - is encouraged. To this end, you should keep abreast of contemporary writing about art and modes knowledge representation in the field.
There is a general meeting for all students about dissertations during Semester 2 of the preceding year. At this point, you will be invited to identify a provisional topic, which you should outline for the Course Organiser (following the guidance given) before the end of the semester.
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Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 3,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5,
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
186 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
This course has 1 assessment component.
1. Dissertation (4,500-5,000 words), 100%, Week 11 - December Exam Diet
The dissertation is assessed against all Learning Outcomes, which are equally weighted.
The resubmission arrangements for this course are as follows:
The Dissertation (4,500-5,000 words), 100%, must be resubmitted.
Students will receive further resubmission information as per University regulations as necessary. |
| Feedback |
Formative Feedback
You will give an oral presentation of your dissertation topic to a small plenary during the first three weeks of the course. You will receive oral feedforward advice to shape your dissertation from your tutor from this alongside comments from your peers.
You will receive formative feedback in each of your individual tutorials, evenly spaced through semester one, with your tutor, covering your research plans and your developing dissertation.
Summative feedback
Summative written feedback will also be provided by your tutor on the basis of your submitted dissertation.
Summative feedback will be provided according to University regulations. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Research contemporary art and relevant ideas, drawing on expertise developed in earlier Art in Context courses but now applying a specialist focus.
- Analyse contemporary art in relation to relevant ideas that are complex and/or professionally pressing.
- Convey ideas about contemporary art convincingly to informed audiences through rigorous - and perhaps creative - means to deepen their understanding of your specialist focus.
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Reading List
DeSouza, Allan. How Art Can Be Thought: A Handbook for Change. Durham: Duke University Press, 2018
Haylock, Brad and Megan Patty (ed.). Art Writing in Crisis. Berlin: Sternberg Press, 2021
Liese, Jennifer (ed.). Social Medium: Artists Writing, 2000¿2015. New York: Paper Monument, 2016
Rose, Gillian. Visual Methodologies: An Introduction to Researching with Visual Materials. Fifth Edition. London: Sage, 2022
Taylor, Gordon. A Students Writing Guide: How to Plan and Write Successful Essays. Cambridge University Press, 2009
Thoburn, Nicholas. Anti-book: On the Art and Politics of Radical Publishing, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2016 |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Curiosity: Through planning your dissertation, you will ask searching questions about your topic, while considering a variety of perspectives. The course of your research you will lead you to discover new sources and learn ways of contextualising them, while allowing them to challenge prior assumptions or frameworks.
Critical Thinking: Your research will lead you to discover appropriate evidence, evaluate its relevance, and reflect on your own standpoint. Meanwhile, you will consider not only the positions of others, but the gamut of modes of reason presented in the field of art theory, both through individual writers and artists and through institutions.
Individuality: By designing and carrying out your own research project you will strengthen those skills which have personal, discipline and professional significance, while nurturing your own specific talents within the field. In particular, you will take an individual approach to the presentation of your research in ways that reflect not only its object but your own thinking.
Communication: Through your oral presentation you will develop your ability to convey effective meaning and message which create shared understanding with your peers. Through the presentation of your research in your dissertation, you will communicate complex, new ideas and debates in contemporary art. |
| Keywords | Contemporary Art,Research Project,Dissertation,Extended Essay |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Lucy Steeds
Tel:
Email: Lucy.Steeds@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mx Hannah Pennie Morrison
Tel: (0131 6)51 5763
Email: Hannah.PM@ed.ac.uk |
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