The Department of Visual Arts teaches courses in two major areas: the history and theory of art and architecture, and film and television studies. Minor sequences, major sequences and honours studies may be undertaken in either of these broad areas, or a combination of the two. The first-year subject VSA1000 (Introduction to visual culture: back to the future), is designed to provide a foundation for all subsequent studies in the department. In 1998, students may choose to complete a first-year sequence by taking VSA1010 (Contemporary visual culture) or VSA1050 (Contemporary popular film), or both, in second semester.
In subsequent years, students may decide to specialise in one or more aspects of visual culture, or to develop a broadly based study of the field. Art history and theory subjects involve historical and critical interpretation of a wide range of major phases of Australian, European and American art, photography and architecture, with special attention to recent and contemporary visual culture. Film and television studies cover Australian, Asian and European national cinemas, contemporary popular Hollywood and its institutions, alternative film and video, documentary and television studies.
Qualified students may enter a fourth, honours year, and undertake postgraduate studies at graduate diploma, MA and PhD level. There is also a specialist MA in Australian art. For details of postgraduate subjects, please refer to the Arts graduate handbook for 1998.
Throughout the course of studies, emphasis will be given to a variety of critical and theoretical methods of analysis appropriate to the study of visual culture, including formal, semiotic and psychoanalytic approaches, consideration of issues to do with the intersection of ideology and culture, the representation of gender, race and class, and questions concerning the relations between visual culture and technology.
Students are encouraged to consider combining their visual culture studies with other relevant and compatible disciplines and subject areas taught in the Faculty of Arts. Examples are performing arts, comparative literature and cultural studies, history, women's studies, and a range of relevant Asian and European languages. Particular attention is drawn to the following subjects:
A minor sequence in visual arts consists of twelve points (two subjects) at first-year level followed by sixteen points (two subjects) at second-year level.
The major sequence consists of twelve points at first-year level followed by second-year subjects to the value of sixteen points, and third-year subjects to the value of twenty-four points.
Normally, entry into second and third-year level visual arts subjects is dependent on completion of appropriate first and/or second-year level subjects. However, in special circumstances, it may be possible for students who have completed appropriate equivalent studies to enter these subjects, with the approval of the head of department.
Honours coordinator: Deane Williams
Normally, the minimum requirement for admission to fourth-year will be completion of a major sequence in visual arts, with credit grades or higher in subjects to the value of twenty-four points at second and third-year levels combined, of which sixteen must be at third-year level. Mid-year entry is offered by this department.
Combined honours may be taken in visual arts and another discipline, provided that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines, and subject to the approval of both departments/centres.
Departments may grant an extension of time for submission of the honours thesis or for final coursework up to the last day of the examination period of the semester in which the work is due. Applications for extensions beyond this date must be made to the Committee for Undergraduate Studies.
Graduate supervision in the MA and PhD is available in most fields of visual arts (art history and criticism, and film and television studies). A postgraduate diploma and a faculty certificate in visual arts are also available, allowing specialisation in art history or film studies, or a combination of both fields. Specialist MA courses in both Australian art, and gallery and museum studies, are also available. For full details of all postgraduate courses offered by the Department of Visual Arts, please refer to the Arts graduate handbook for 1998.
Fourth-year honours students will be required to write a minor thesis (VSA4000) worth eighteen points, and to take three seminar subjects. Full-time honours students entering at the beginning of the year are advised to undertake two seminar subjects in the first semester and one in the second semester. Part-time honours students normally take two seminar subjects in the first year, and the third subject plus the thesis in the second year.
Fourth-year subjects available in 1998 are as follows: