111-109 Introduction to Art History A: The Work of Art

Credit Points

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject introduces the study of art history by examining four major themes from Classical Art to Contemporary Art: (a) the nature of the work of art (its materials and physical context); (b) art and the ideal (the capacity of the work of art to create meaning); (c) myth and narrative (art as a storytelling medium); (d) ideology (art as a vehicle for social and political ideas). Students will encounter various art historical methodologies such as stylistic analysis, iconography, the investigation of historical context, gender theory, postcolonial theory and museology. Emphasis is placed on looking at works of art in Melbourne.

Assessment

Written work totalling not more than 4,000 words.

Prescribed Texts

• Thomas Carpenter, Art and Myth in Ancient Greece. London: Thames and Hudson, 1991.
• Alison Cole, Art of the Italian Renaissance Courts: Virtue and Magnificence. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson 1995.
• Loren Partridge, The Renaissance in Rome, 1400-1600. London: Weidenfield & Nicolson, 1996.
• Paul Smith, Impressionism: Beneath the Surface. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1995.
• Brandon Taylor, The Art of Today. London: Weidenfield and Nicolson, 1995.