Studiegids

nl en

Framing AMS Case Studies

Vak
2025-2026

Admission requirements

The following course needs to be passed:

  • AMS on Site

Description

This course will provide the basis for students to develop an ability to make an informed and motivated choice about their research approach and method. By becoming acquainted with and by trying out different theories and methods that are common in research specifically into the visual arts, media, and in the humanities in general, students discover how theoritically informed approaches and methods impacts yielded insights and results. Therefore, the course aims at developing an awareness of how theories and methods “frame” a case study and can bring into focus, delimit, and omit information, considerations and decisions. During year 1 and 2 AMS students have already been introduced to numerous case-studies and methodological approaches bespoke to art, artifacts, media, writings, and other materials. They also have become familiar with the gestures, actions, and logic of exhibition spaces. In “Framing AMS Case Studies” students will be presented with case-studies which will be discussed from how they are approached from a specific scholarly perspective. Furthermore, learning from such practices, each student will for the midterm assignment select a case study themselves, and will then make an informed and motivated choice, drawing from the different methodological techniques that they have been introduced to in this course and throughout their study. They will thus develop the methodological awareness necessary for writing their thesis.

Course objectives

Aims:

  • To prepare for writing the final thesis in the second semester.

  • To learn how to ‘frame’ cases or objects.

  • To learn how to motivate the relation between research question, object of study and methodology.

  • To creatively engage with case studies and related materials.

  • To practice skills of (inter)disciplinary methods.

Timetable

The timetables are available through My Timetable.

Mode of instruction

  • Lectures

  • Group work

  • Blog posts (groups)

Assessment method

Assessment

  • Midterm: paper (1500 words, excl. Footnotes and bibliography). You will be asked to select an artwork/object/phenomenon and analyze it through a prism of one theory from the first part of the course.

  • Final: written exam on the material of the entire course.

Non-graded assignments
In addition to these graded assignments, you will have one non-graded but compulsory assignment, whihc is an abstract (100-150 words) explaining what you are going to do in your midterm paper.

Weighing

The final mark for the course is established by (i) determination of the weighted average combined with (ii) additional requirements, being: the mark for the final examination must be at least 6.0 and the mark for the midterm paper must be at least 6.0.

Resit

In case of an insufficient grade for the midterm paper, a rewrite can be done. In case of an insufficient grade for the written exam, a resit can be done.

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Reading list

Assigned Literature:

  • Readings will be posted on Brightspace or made available at the library.

Registration

Enrolment through My Studymap (Login | Universiteit Leiden) is mandatory.

General information about uSis is available on the website

Contact

  • For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.

  • For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Student administration Arsenaal

Remarks

Not applicable.