This course will introduce key concepts in art history and art theory by examining how images and objects produce ways of seeing and knowing the world, and by discussing how they construct and perpetuate cultural meaning through narrative, space and form. The Western classical tradition will be a particular focus, along with contrasting periods and styles including the Gothic, Baroque and Rococo, and non-Western art and design. The relevance of historical art to contemporary concerns and art practice will be a consistent theme of the course considered through a wide range of media, including digital media, film, and architecture.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Identify and apply the defining methodologies of art history and theory.
- Analyze the visual and theoretical aspects of a broad range of visual culture.
- Identify major themes and trajectories in World art.
- Research and access information about art history and theory.
- Present written and oral arguments about the ideas that inform art and design from a wide range of periods and cultures.
Research-Led Teaching
Most lecturers from the Centre for Art History and Art Theory will offer lectures during this semester. Each individual will speak from a position of research expertise based on their substantial experience in the field.
Field Trips
Attending an exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia.
Additional Course Costs
Materials necessary for producing essays and tutorial presentations.
Required Resources
No resources additional to the student contribution amount or tuition fees.
Staff Feedback
Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course: written comments on essays and other written assessment, verbal comments to the whole class, to groups and to individuals, as required and appropriate.
Student Feedback
ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.
Other Information
Referencing Guidelines for essay writing and further information on how and why to cite your sources can be found at: http://art-cass.anu.edu.au/current_students/referenceguide.php
Information about how to upload your assignments on to WATTLE can be found here: http://cass.anu.edu.au/intranet/eds/resources
Class Schedule
Week/Session | Summary of Activities | Assessment |
---|---|---|
1 | What is Art History and Theory? The birth of the art museum | Tutorials begin |
2 | Australian First Nations visual art and culture pre-contact Art in Ancient Greece and Rome | Research Questionnaire posted on Wattle |
3 | Art and aesthetics in ancient India and China Classical art in East Asia | |
4 | Christian art in Europe Islamic art and architecture | Research Questionnaire due |
5 | Renaissance painting The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood | Tutorials at National Gallery of Australia |
6 | Baroque and Rococo Design and decorative arts of the European Courts | Research Questionnaire returned Essay questions posted on Wattle |
7 | Mughal art and architecture Art and architecture in Southeast Asia | |
8 | Art, science and trade in Britain and the Americas (17th and 18th centuries) Neo-classicism and history painting in Europe | |
9 | Decorative art and design in the 19th century Exploration and the art of contact | Essay due |
10 | Realism Impressionism | |
11 | Lens and plate: art and the birth of mass media Settler and colonial art in Australia | Essay returned |
12 | Course summation: historical traditions and modern practice | |
13 | Exam period | Take-Home Exam |
Tutorial Registration
Students must register for one of the available tutorial times via Wattle
Assessment Summary
Assessment task | Value | Due Date | Return of assessment | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tutorial Presentation | 15 % | 12/03/2019 | 04/07/2019 | 4,5 |
Research Questionnaire | 25 % | 19/03/2019 | 02/04/2019 | 1,4,5 |
Take-home visual analysis exam | 25 % | 11/06/2019 | 21/06/2019 | 2,3,5 |
Research Essay | 35 % | 07/05/2019 | 21/05/2019 | 1,2,4,5 |
* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details
Policies
ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:
- Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
- Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
- Student Surveys and Evaluations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
Assessment Requirements
The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.
Moderation of Assessment
Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.
Examination(s)
This course does not require a formal examination. A take-home examination is required.
Assessment Task 1
Learning Outcomes: 4,5
Tutorial Presentation
Details of task:
Student presentations will begin in tutorials from week 3 onwards. Select a particular object, or small set of objects, and explore some of the key historical and theoretical ideas relating to it. The set reading and further readings supplied on Wattle provide a good starting point for you to research the object, and additional readings will ensure that you are well informed and better able to answer questions from your peers.
You might like to choose a work in the National Gallery collection, one that is either currently on display or in the permanent collection that can be accessed online through Collection search. https://nga.gov.au/
The presentations will be informal and should not be read from a script. They can take any form you choose, and you can be as creative as you like – you may wish to lead discussion by posing a series of leading questions, set a pop quiz, devise visual analysis exercises for the class, or you may set a broad polemical question to challenge entrenched ideas about your object(s). You will be assessed on how well you engage the class as a whole and stimulate lively debate and discussion around key ideas raised in the course.
Value: 15%
Presentation requirements: see details of task above.
Assessment Task 2
Learning Outcomes: 1,4,5
Research Questionnaire
Details of task:
This exercise is designed to establish some basic research patterns which you will use in the future and to assist you in distinguishing between websites associated with legitimate institutions (which contain much useful material) and others that are not legitimate. Complete a PDF questionnaire that requires you to find information about one of the objects listed. The questionnaire can be downloaded via Wattle. Note that all references and the bibliography should be set out according to the Chicago style:
http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-1.html
Word limit (where applicable): 1,000 words
Value: 25%
Presentation requirements: complete questionnaire on Wattle and submit by 19 March
Estimated return date: 2 April
Hurdle Assessment requirements (where applicable): N/A
Individual Assessment in Group Tasks (where applicable): N/A
Assessment Task 3
Learning Outcomes: 2,3,5
Take-home visual analysis exam
Details of task: You will be given one week to answer three questions framed around objects, images, buildings, and themes from the course. The first two of these questions
will ask you to compare and contrast two specified works of art and/or architecture studied in the course.
You will be required to answer these questions focusing on the object, image, or space crafting your response with careful visual analysis to demonstrate the key skills of visual literacy that you have acquired over the previous weeks. The third question will ask you to address a particular theme or idea discussed in the course through the analysis of an artwork, building or monument of your choice. This exam is intended to test your skills of visual analysis. It is not a research exercise and does not require the scholarly apparatus of footnotes and bibliography. If, however, you do quote from another source then you should provide a footnote to indicate this.
The questions will be released through the course Wattle page on:
As this is an exam no extensions will be granted and late submission will not be accepted.
Due date: 11 June
Estimated return date: 21 June
Word limit (where applicable): 1500 words
Value: 25%
Presentation requirements: upload to WATTLE
Assessment Task 4
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,4,5
Research Essay
Details of task: Essay topics will be based upon the Research Questionnaire. Your essay must include a bibliography, and notes citing the sources of all quotations, paraphrases, and references to specific ideas and arguments. Essays should be 2000 words long.
Essays will be assessed according to the criteria set out in the rubric attached to this document and posted under this document on Wattle.
The essay should demonstrate skills you have developed over the semester and your ability to research, observe, analyse and construct arguments in relation to visual materials. Your essay must answer the question in the form of an argument.
Thorough iconographic and visual analysis of artworks, buildings, or objects should be the major source of evidence to support your argument. However, it is important to write a tight and informed argument, rather than a broad overview of a theme, so you should focus on a few key works in depth (rather than trying to cover an artist’s oeuvre or a whole period). Essays much be formatted in 12 point font, and double-spaced. You must cite the sources of your ideas with footnotes, and a bibliography.
Assessment Rubrics: Assessment Rubric available on WATTLE.
Word limit: 2,000 words
Value: 35%
Presentation requirements: upload to WATTLE
Estimated return date: 14 May
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.
Online Submission
You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) as submission must be through Turnitin.
Hardcopy Submission
For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.
Late Submission
Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.'
Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.
Referencing Requirements
Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.
Returning Assignments
Work submitted electronically will be responded to on Wattle.
Extensions and Penalties
Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.
Resubmission of Assignments
Students who fail to score a pass, but are marked between 45 and 49% will have the opportunity to resubmit.
Privacy Notice
The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.
Distribution of grades policy
Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.
Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.
Support for students
The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).
- ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
- ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
- ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
- ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
- ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
- ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
- PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students
Convener
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Research InterestsModern and contemporary art in Asia; art and nationhood; relationships between tradition and contemporaneity; art and urban development |
Dr Chaitanya Sambrani
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Instructor
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Research Interests |
Dr Chaitanya Sambrani
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Instructor
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Research Interests |
Dr Keren Hammerschlag
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