Prospectus

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World Art Studies

Course
2017-2018

Admission requirements

Same as admission requirements for the BA Art History.

Description

Visual art is a worldwide phenomenon that has deep roots in time. Indeed, art is found in all human societies, both past and present, with the oldest evidence of artistic activity going back 100,000 years. How do we study the global phenomenon of art? This is the central question of the emerging field of World Art Studies, to which this lecture series provides an introduction. The course does not provide a survey of the art of the world. Instead, it raises fundamental questions concerning the panhuman occurrence of art and discusses various approaches that attempt to answer these questions. The course is structured around three core themes that are relevant to the study of art as a worldwide phenomenon: the origins of art, intercultural comparison of art in its context, and interculturalization in art, meaning the artistic cross-fertilization between cultures.

In addition to attending the weekly classes, students will independently read various texts on art as a worldwide phenomenon.

Course objectives

  • Having developed a sense of the visual arts as a panhuman phenomenon in both space and time.

  • Knowing the basic questions to be addressed when analyzing art as a worldwide phenomenon and capable of applying appropriate methodology when answering such questions.

  • Understanding both commonalities and cultural differences in the creation, use, and perception of art across the globe.

  • Basic knowledge of the sociocultural contexts in which the visual arts are produced and deployed.

  • A sense of the dynamics of art, especially the mutual exchanges between various art traditions.

Timetable

  • Monday 17:15-18:45 hrs (draft)

The timetable is available on the Art History website
or the core curriculum

Mode of instruction

  • Lecture

Course Load

Total course load 5 EC x 28 hours= 140 hours

24 hrs: Attending lectures (2 hrs weekly x 12 weeks)
24 hrs: Lecture preparations (reading texts)
90 hrs: Studying the literature (450 pp à 5 pp/hr)
02 hrs: Exam
—-
140 hrs

Assessment method

  • Mid-term written assignment (40% of the grade): essay 1500 words

  • Final exam (60% of the grade): written exam (essay questions)

Weighing

Compensation: the weighted average mark should be at least 6.0 (rounded at one decimal).

Resit

One resit per insufficient mark.

Exam review

Date and place will be announced on Blackboard

Blackboard

Blackboard will provide course materials. Both power points with illustrations and reading materials will be made available.

Reading list

World Art Studies: Exploring Concepts and Approaches, ed. Kitty Zijlmans & Wilfried van Damme. Amsterdam: Valiz, 2008.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.

General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Registration Studeren à la carte

Registration Contractonderwijs

Contact

Prof.dr. W.J.L.M. (Wilfried) van Damme

Remarks

Not applicable.