Admission requirements
Identical to admission requirements for the BA Art History / BA Arts, Media and Society.
Description
In this course, we will examine the interactions between art and society. From ancient practices of employing a dramatic performance as religious or political enactment, to medieval religious art as visual exegesis of the bible, 19th century ideas on realism in art, to art as political and societal activism in the 21st first century: the interactions between art and society have always been very close. Yet, every historical period or cultural era has its own diverse and multiple understandings of art and its role within society: Art has been claimed to be different from or even opposed to other cultural and societal practices (think of conceptualizations of ‘autonomous art’ in the 18th century); it has been used to actively engage with societal issues and concerns; finally, art practices have often turned out to be a social practice themselves. In this course, we will focus on the various interactions between art & politics, art & religion, art & technology in ancient and modern societies. Looking at the historical continuities and discontinuities of these interactions will help us to understand the specific characteristics, risks, chances and challenges related to our contemporary society. What does it mean for us when it is not clear at all, whether an object belongs to the sphere of art or not? What is the impact and value of artistic practices that are closely related to societal life? And what does this mean for the future?
The course will include the following subjects:
What is art? Theoretical approaches from antiquity to the 21st century; ‘art’ versus ‘non-art’; transitions, transgressions, conflations (e.g. illusion); theoretical approaches on experiencing art (e.g. kátharsis); experiencing cruelty (delightful horror).
Literature
To be decided
Course objectives
Students become familiar with the mutual influences of the arts, politics, religion and technology in selected societies.
Students become familiar with aesthetic theories.
Students acquire knowledge of (modern) theories on aesthetic experiences.
Students get acquainted with and learn to make use of selected texts on the topic of the social and cultural implications of the introduction and advance of new forms of art.
Students gain insight into what is essential for a critical assessment of secondary literature.
Students acquire the necessary skills to analyze the results of scholarly research, to construct arguments and to formulate conclusions.
Timetable
Please note: for the final schedule refer to Collegeroosters / Timetable BA Art History and AMS
Mode of instruction
- Lecture
Course Load
Course load in summary: 5 ects (140 hrs)
26 hours: Attendance of the lectures: 2 hrs weekly x 13 weeks
24 hours: Lecture preparations
40 hours: Required readings (c. 280 pages à 7 pages/hrs)
25 hours: Preparing and writing the written assignment
26 hours: Preparation of a final written exam
—
140 hrs
Assessment method
Midterm assignment (Q&A): answering questions on Blackboard. This counts as a practical exercise (and is therefore mandatory). Students are not allowed to do the final assignment without having finished the Blackboard Q&A component.
Final assignment (100%): essay (paper).
Compensation: The mark for the final examination (or the main assignment) must be at least 6.0 at (= a pass).
Resit: A resit/ rewrite can be done for examinations which are failed. As far as applicable all resits/ rewrites take place at the same time, after the final (constituent) examination
Exam review: 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 be organized.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for:
Providing texts and PowerPoints
Uploading papers (Turnitin)
Discussion board
Reading list
A selection of readings (to be announced).
Registration
Via uSis.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch.
Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Study in Leiden website for information on how to apply.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Registration Studeren à la carte
Registration Contractonderwijs
Contact
Prof. dr. Robert Zwijnenberg Prof. dr. Antje Wessels
Or send an e-mail to the study coordinator of the BA Art History / Arts, Media and Society
Arts, Media and Society student administration, Huizinga Building (Doelensteeg 16), room 1. Tel. 071 5272687; [osz-oa-huizinga@hum.leidenuniv.nl](mailto: osz-oa-huizinga@hum.leidenuniv.nl)
Remarks
None.