VSA4074

Australian postmodernism

Leigh Astbury

10 points - 2 hours per week - Second semester - Clayton

Objectives Upon completion of this subject students will have an historical understanding of the development of postmodernism; engaged with major theoretical issues in the area; developed skills in writing art criticism.

Synopsis The recurring issues of regionalism and internationalism will be addressed in architecture and painting/sculpture, as will interpretations of Australia as the site of international congruence and influence. The subject will move from discussion of the American context of The Field exhibition of 1968 to the 'pluralism' of the 1970s: minimal art, performance art and feminism, and, in architecture, to a renewed monumentality and contextualism. The focus on the 1980s and 1990s will address some of the following: neo-expressionism in painting, sculpture and architecture, rationalism and neo-classical approaches in architecture, aboriginality, publication and publicity, theoretical issues and the current status of Australian art, including recent developments in abstraction, installation, gay art and 'angry women'.

Assessment First seminar paper (2000 words): 25% - Second seminar paper (2000 words): 35% - Essay (3500 words): 40%

Back to the 1999 Arts Handbook