AHT3602 - Art criticism and curatorship - 2019

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Faculty

Art, Design and Architecture

Organisational Unit

Department of Fine Art

Chief examiner(s)

TBA

Coordinator(s)

Dr Helen Hughes

Not offered in 2019

Prerequisites

12 credit points at second year level in Art history and theory, or Theory of Art and Design, Visual Culture or permission from Unit Coordinator.

Prohibitions

AHT2602Not offered in 2019, TAD2602, TAD3602, TAD3612

Notes

This unit was formerly coded TAD3602

Synopsis

This unit explores the related practices of art criticism and curatorship and their role in communicating art to its publics. It offers a brief history of criticism/curatorship and critical/curatorial approaches, an assessment of reviews, including those of local exhibitions in Melbourne, and considerations of the theoretical underpinnings of critical reception. Students are invited to explore how they might themselves participate in the production of visual critique in the form of exhibition reviews, catalogue essays, curatorial statements, artist statements and so forth.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject students will:

  1. Have a critical perspective of the selection of the voice, motives and bias of art critics and criticism;
  2. 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;
  3. Understand the role of the curator as having a creative, political and active part in the production, mediation and dissemination of contemporary art;
  4. Identify and understand the developments specific to the rise of curator as an important cultural commentator, and the contemporary challenges faced by art criticism;
  5. Have developed their ability to think creatively and express their ideas clearly in written communication.

Assessment

Assignment 1500 words (40%)

Research essay 2500 words (60%)

Workload requirements

12 hours per week including 3 contact hours and 9 hours independent study or equivalent.

See also Unit timetable information