90615 - Forms and Functions of Contemporary Art (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have acquired a detailed knowledge of the main artistic movements and main players in the art history of the 19th and 20th century. Students will possess the skills and methodologies to carry out autonomous research and the tools to investigate scientifically the work of contemporary artists. Students will also be able to critically evaluate. Furthermore, students will be able to analyze the processes of exchange and interaction between individual authors and artistic currents.

Course contents

The course can be included in the curriculum by both first-year and second-year students in different ways:

if the course is chosen in the first year, the student will have to take the entire integrated course History of Contemporary Art A (6 CFU FORMS AND FUNCTIONS OF CONTEMPORARY ART + 6 CFU THEORIES AND PRACTICES OF PHOTOGRAPHY);

if the course is chosen in the second year, the student may follow the course individually, or take the 6 cfu exam

The course Forms and Functions of Contemporary Art aims to examine some passages of recent production that are significant for the entire development of contemporary art. In particular, we will try to analyze historically the evolution from the concept of participatory and relational art through artists and/or exhibitions focused on these characteristics. In this journey we will try to identify both the roots of this phenomenon and the developments that, since the 1980s, have characterized many of the recent artistic manifestations.

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography for attending and non-attending students:

Bishop C., Inferni Artificiali. La politica della spettacolarità nell’arte partecipativa, Sossella, Milano 2015.

Bourriaud N., Estetica Relazionale, Postmedia Books, Milano 2010.

A knowledge of the works referred to in the books is also required, in particular those that will be present in the pdf to download on Virtuale 

Only for attending students, instead of the book, it is possible to opt for a handout with some essays on the topics of the course, that will find in the material of the Virtuale at the beginning of the lessons.

Suggested reading:

H. Foster - R. Krauss - Y.A. Bois - B. Buchloh, D. Joselit, Arte dal 1900, Modernismo, Antimodernismo e Postmodernismo, Zanichelli, 2017.

Teaching methods

Lectures with the aid of projection of images and videos.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of an interview to evaluate the critical and methodological skills acquired by the students. Students will be assessed especially considering whether they have acquired ability to orientate within the visual and written sources recommended in the bibliography and on the Virtuale platform, for finding useful information to illustrate topics and issues by connecting them.

What will be assessed: - Mastery of the contents - the ability to historically frame artists, exhibitions and movements - The ability to analyse themes and concepts - The ability to express oneself adequately and in a language appropriate to the subject being dealt with.

It will be assessed as excellent the performance of those students achieving an organic vision of the course contents, the use of a proper specific language.

It will be assessed as average the performance of those students showing mostly mechanical or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, not articulated synthesis and analysis capabilities, a correct but not always appropriate language, as well as a scholastic study of the topics of the course. It will be assessed as barely sufficient the performance of those students showing learning gaps, inappropriate language, lack of knowledge of the recommended bibliography. It will be assessed as insufficient the performance of those students showing learning gaps, inappropriate language, no orientation within the recommended bibliography and inability to analyse the discipline.

 

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

As already reported in the bibliography, the PDFs will be available online with the images projected during the lectures. In addition, further relevant materials relating to the course contents may be added.

Office hours

See the website of Roberto Pinto