Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit involves

1. a brief history of criticism and critical approaches;
2. weekly examination of reviews and, where possible, comparison of the judgements of reviewers with reviews of the current show in Melbourne; and
3. examination of longer, sustained pieces of writing about art and its theoretical underpinnings. The focus of the unit is the critical examination of the genre; however, it has the consequence of discovering the aspects of art which are most likely to gain the attention of the public eye.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, students will:

1. have a critical perspective of the selection of the voice, motives and bias of art reviews and reviewers;

2. be able to develop critical responses to reviews which uncover faults of logic and ideological prejudices and engage the imagination;

3. appreciate criticism as a genre of writing, with the unique cultural and practical contingencies acting upon it, and understand the variety of art writing which it comprises;

4. consider cultural paradigms such as 'benign collusion' or 'police mentality' which might best characterise criticism in its relation with the art that it praises or damns; and

5. consider the parallels between movements in criticism and those in fine art and the other arts and develop intuitions about the likely future directions of the genre.

Assessment

Gallery Review (1000 words): 30%
Class Presentation (equivalent 1000 words): 20%
Research Essay (2000 words): 40%
Class Participation: 10%

Chief examiner(s)

Daniel Palmer

Contact hours

One 1 hour lecture and one 2 hour tutorial per week.

Prerequisites

A first year sequence in TAD units for students enrolled in a Faculty of Art and Design course or permission.

Prohibitions

TAD3602