107-419 Theory and Discourse in Art History

Admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in art history.

This subject will examine the historical and theoretical foundations of art history, and the new art historical methods that have arisen out of critiques of them. Seminars will trace the roots of art history in enlightenment models of vision, knowledge and history and the diversification of art history into multiple paths in recent years (poststructuralism, feminism, psychoanalysis, postcolonialism, queer theory, post-Marxist theory). Throughout, analysis will return to central methodological concepts, including style, authorship, visuality, hermeneutics, explanation, progress, intention, value. Seminars will consider both the theory and practice of art history, with seminar leaders discussing specific projects and case studies.