B5649 - CONTEMPORARY ART APPRECIATION

Learning outcomes

The student is expected to learn the frameworks of visual art produced by artists from the last decades and living today. In this perspective, contemporary art responds to a global system that is culturally diverse, multifaced, and technologically advanced. This ample focus wants to evidence critical methods for the comprehension of various contemporary art styles, through developing a deep understanding of their historical background. At the end of the course, the student will be able to - apply methodologies for analysing works of art - examine the contemporary art scenario.

Course contents

This course is an exploration of contemporary visual art forms and their international cultural connections for the student with little experience in the visual arts and history of contemporary art. It includes a brief study of art history of the last three decades, and in-depth studies of the elements, media, and methods used in creative thought and processes. The course aims to take into the latest visual expanded scenarios in which visual art is engaged with sociological and anthropological practices of now. The course intends to underline the many possibilities of our post modern and post contemporary actuality inside and outside the museum.
This course defines the meaning of aesthetics and its relationship to cultural conventions, describes specific processes used by visual artists, art as a social activity and a singular creative act, historical forms of artistic training.

This course develops in three fundamental moments. The first unit (10 hours) tries to introduce a theoretical deepening in order to identify the Contemporary Art History. The second unit (10 hours) is dedicated to deepening of some contents of contemporary art. The third unit (10 hours) is an immersive experience into different artistic spaces (galleries, museum, art association, temporary art practices), including the city, where it’s possibile now to meet contemporary art.

Readings/Bibliography

Miwon Kwon, One place after another. Site - specific art and locational identity

Seth Price, Dispersion, 2002, https://anthology.rhizome.org/dispersion

Enrique Vila-Matas, The Illogic of Kassel, New Directions Paperbook, 2015

Claire Bishop, Partecipation. Documents of contemporary art, The WhiteChapel Ventures Limited, London, 2006

Teaching methods

Teaching will be carried out in "traditional" teaching mode, that is, through face-to-face lectures.

The students will be able to discuss with the teacher the different arguments

Assessment methods

The exam will be a conversation about the arguments focused during the lessons and the books suggested in the bibliography

Grading system:

• <18: fail
• 18-23:sufficient
• 24-27: good
• 28-30: very good
• 30 e lode: excellent

Teaching tools

The teaching tools are images, videos, sounds and excursions to various art exibitions.

The course will also offer the opportunity to meet professionals in contemporary art (artists, curators, director museums)

Office hours

See the website of Fabiola Naldi