What is the best way to approach the research, writing, and display of works of art, artefacts, and material culture? What are the ideas that underpin the kind of projects that we undertake as art historians and curators? Approaches to Art History and Curatorial Studies provides an overview of methods and theories that allow us to answer those questions. The course provides students with essential tools that will equip studies to develop a focussed individual research project, with assessments that will encourage students to develop and pursue their own interests. We will explore various approaches and examine in depth the methodological strategies and institutional critiques adopted by art historians and curators. These include iconographic, semiotic, formalist, and socially/ethically engaged methods; critical theory, queer theory, feminist, and post-colonial critiques.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- critically examine approaches to art history and curatorial studies;
- engage with contemporary art historical and curatorial methods and theories for research project design;
- engage with contemporary art historical and curatorial methods and theories for writing; and
- speak with confidence about the latest approaches and ethics of art history and curatorial studies, and to defend particular view points.
Indicative Assessment
- Identifying a research question (1000 words) (25) [LO 1,2]
- Research plan (500 words) (15) [LO 2,3]
- Research proposal presentation (10 mins) (25) [LO 4]
- Extended research proposal (2000 words) (35) [LO 1,2,3]
The ANU uses 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. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures and 12 hours of tutorials; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Not applicable
Preliminary Reading
Altshuler, Bruce, Collecting the new: museums and contemporary art, Princeton, NJ, 2005.
D’Alleva, Anne 2010, How to Write Art History, Laurence King, London
Janes, Robert R., and Richard Sandell, Museum Activism, Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge, 2019
Minor, Vernon Hyde 2000, Art History’s History, 2nd edn, Prentice Hall, New York
O’Neill, Paul, The Culture of Curating and the Curating of Culture(s), The MIT Press, Cambridge, 2012.
Preziosi, Donald (ed.) 2009, The Art of Art History: A Critical Anthology, Oxford University Press, Oxford
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8324 | 27 Jul 2026 | 03 Aug 2026 | 31 Aug 2026 | 30 Oct 2026 | In Person | N/A |