| Unit name | Art and Internationalism |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HART30059 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Brockington |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of History of Art (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
This unit is about a particular moment in the late C19th and early C20th when it seemed possible to imagine a different world. Specifically, it is about the reimagining of the world without nation-states, insular national cultures, or war; and about the role of art and artists in these debates. The unit presents an opportunity to drill deep into a period of enormous cultural and political change and to understand how art intersects with global politics. It is also an opportunity to ask questions about how Art History has developed as a discipline. Why are ‘national schools’ so important to the ways in which we think about art? Could theories of internationalism offer us a differ methodological model? Many of the issues and ideas discussed in this unit are still current. There is an opportunity here to develop a deep historical understanding that connects with the challenges of the present day.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Special Subject seminars build on your previous units by allowing you to focus on a particular area in greater depth. This unit helps you consolidate and expand your existing knowledge on the programme, enabling you to develop fresh perspectives on your existing knowledge and make new connections based on recent developments in the broad historical field. You will further your understanding of specific geographical and temporal contexts; hone your critical skills, including visual analysis; and develop greater confidence with primary sources and complex concepts to support your independent research.
An overview of content
This unit explores new approaches to art in the wake of the 'transnational turn' in historical studies. It focuses particularly on the period known as the 'long fin de siècle', the years between about 1870 and 1920, when both nationalism and internationalism were on the rise and locked into fierce debate about the future of civilisation. We will examine the careers of artists who were cosmopolitan in their approach to art (eg. Picasso, Sickert, Kandinsky, Whistler, Crane), and at the exhibitions, journals, societies and movements which promoted their art internationally. Key themes for discussion could include: the idea of art as a universal language; the sites of internationalism - the question of where a cosmopolis should be located; political theories such as anarchism and their impact on modern art; and the impact of the First World War on cultural internationalism in Europe.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of this unit?
It will introduce students to important debates in the field of modern art, which will help them gain the confidence to make their own critical interventions. This will enable students to develop sophisticated arguments, working with primary sources and drawing on relevant contexts, concepts, and secondary literature. This unit will boost students’ ability to approach art historical methodologies and theories with greater precision, as you apply these approaches to a specific historical and cultural context.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
Classes will involve a combination of short-form lectures, class discussion, investigative activities, and practical activities. Students will be expected to engage with readings and participate on a weekly basis. This will be further supported with drop-in sessions and self-directed exercises with tutor and peer feedback.
Tasks which count toward your unit mark (summative):
Individual Digital Presentation (25%) [ILOs 1-6]
Timed Assessment (75%) [ILOs 1-6]
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the format or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are confirmed by the School/Centre shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. HART30059).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
