HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Learning outcomes of the course unit
The course intends:
- presenting to students fundamental chronological reference points and main methodological approaches, in order to introduce them to independent study of main trends of art and artists from Neoclassicism to today, throught textbook and indicated bibliography, as well as seeing and studying the artworks on display at CSAC
- focusing specifc topics and experiences of artistic panorama by an interdisciplinary approach will allow comparing different methods and sources, analysing of the historical and cultural backgroud and getting the tools for a critical and philological research
- focusing on the sculpture in Italy and abroad from second postwar period to ‘70s, in order to learn its leading role in development of artistic research during ‘60s and ‘70s, dematerialising art as result of conceptual and performative approaches.
According to Dublin Descriptors, the course intends to get:
. Knowledge and understanding:
knowledge and understanding History of Art from Neoclassicism to today, connecting them to the general cultural, historical social, political and economics enviroments of their time.
. Applaying knowledge and understanding:
applying knowledge and understanding got working on artworks, starting from seeing and studying them in museums, collections and exhibitions; applying knowledge in indentifying artists and artworks, as well as considering them within a chronological approach (synchronic and diachronic study); applying skills to get e and analyse data, informations and sources through a philological and critical approach
. Making judgements:
judgements skills for a self analysis of main cases study presented during the lessons and of history of contemporary art, setting it in a historical and cultural context.
. Communication skills:
communication skills to present knowledge, ideas, problems and solutions based on valid and right methods
. learning skills:
learning skills and self evaluation of own knowledge and skills, in order to autonomously develop the study of the discipline, in term of historical and theretical point of view.
Course contents summary
CONTEMPORARY ART HISTORY
Part 1 (30 h)
TEACHING UNIT A: Introduction to the History of Contemporary Art
Starting points and topics on History of Contemporary Art, focusing on
. chronology and different typologies of art works from Neoclassicism to today
. specifc topics and experiences of artistic panorama by a philological and critical approach will allow comparing different methods and sources, analysing of the historical and cultural backgroud
indicative programme:
1. Neoclassicism
2. Romanticism
3. Realism and landscape painting in Europe and Italy
4. Manet and Impressionism
5. Post-impressionism
6. Simbolism and Avant-gardes
7. Cubism e Futurism
8. Abstract painting
9. Art between World Wars in Europe and Italy
10. Post WWII: Informale, Abstract-Expressionism
11. Monocrome Painting, Nuova figurazione and Pop Art. Cinetic and programmed art, minimalism
12. From Duchamp to conceptual art and verbal and visual researches during ‘60s and ‘70s
13. Video art, land art, body art, arte povera, processual art
14. Public art in ’60s and ‘70s
15. Beyond Transavanguardia. From ‘80s to ‘90s
Part 2 (30 h)
TEACHING UNIT B: Sculpture: from postwar period to ‘70s
Monograpyc course on Italian and International sculpture from postwar period to ‘70s. During the lessons will be analised artists, artistic movements and exhibitions that had a turning point in the development of the artistic research in sculpture.
Indicative programme:
1. Preliminary introduction to the sculpture during first half of XX Century
2. Venice Biennial in 1948 and sculpture garden exhibitions at the beginning of ‘50s
3. Henry Moore
4-5. The three “M”: Martini, Marini, Manzù
6. Lucio Fontana
7. Sculpture “Informale” in Italy and abroad
8-9. The show Art of Assemblage (MoMA, NY, 1961) and the sculpture at the end of ‘50s
10. Pop art and sculpture
11-12-13. Sculpture in conceptual art, minimalism, land art and arte povera (‘60s-‘70s)
14-15. Sculpture and dematerialising art (’60s-’70s)
In addition to the lessons, attending the study day Sculpture and dematerialising art is strongly suggested. The study day, curated by C. Casero and D. Colombo, will be held at Aula Magna of University of Parma on November 8th and 9th 2018.
The students attending the study day will got 1 cfu.
Attending lessons of Teaching Unit A is requested for the exam of 6 cfu; attending lessons of Teaching Unit A and B is requested for the exam of 12 cfu.
Recommended readings
STUDY PROGRAMM
1. – Topics of the lessons
To help the study, the projected images will be available after the end of the lessons on Elly online platform (elly.dusic.unipr.it).
The topics of TEACHING UNIT A are offered in a blended mode with the support of online self access material available on elly.dusic.unipr.it. This material is part of the assignments for all students.
2. – Really good knowledge and understanding of main artists and most important developments of art from Neoclassicism to today.
Studying one textbook of History of Art for Secondary School is suggested; choosing among:
- C. Bertelli, G. Briganti, A. Giuliano, Storia dell’arte italiana, vol. IV, Milano, Electa-Bruno Mondadori, 2009;
- P. De Vecchi, R. Cerchiari, Arte nel tempo, vol. III, Milano, Bompiani (edizione originale integrale), 2003;
- G. Bora, G. Fiaccadori, A. Negri, A. Nova, I luoghi dell'arte. Storia opere percorsi, voll. V-VI, Electa-Bruno Mondadori, Milano, 2003 (or voll. IV-V della nuova edizione Electa Scuola, 2010.)
3. – Seeing and really good knowledge of contemporary art works (architecture, design, graphics, fashion, photography included) showed at CSAC, Abbazia di Valserena, Parma.
4. – Specific bibliography of TEACHING UNIT B: F. Poli, La scultura del Novecento, Editori Laterza, Roma-Bari, 2006 (and following editions)
Study programm at points 1,2, 3 is requested for the exam of 6 cfu; study programma t points 1, 2, 3, 4 is requested for the exam of 12 cfu.
Supplementary bibliography for students not attending the lessons:
Attending lessons is strongly suggested. Students not take part to the lessons, have to replace the point 1 of the program with 1 book in a list that will be communicated at the beginning of the lessons and will be published in Elly online platform.
Teaching methods
Different strategies and methods teaching:
- frontal lesson (by different approachs: analysis of single artworks, philological and archives paper-based analysis, studying historical, social and political background.)
- intercation during frontal lessons
- guide tour in museums
- seminars and study days
- the projected images will be available after the end of the lessons on Elly online platform (elly.dusic.unipr.it).
- the topics of TEACHING UNIT A are offered in a blended mode with the support of online self access material available on elly.dusic.unipr.it.
Assessment methods and criteria
Assessment of knowledge and skills is by oral exam
The evaluations in thirty.
Different kinds of questions and inquiries will evalute the level of learnig from students, according to Dublin Descriptors:
These will be avaluted:
- knowledge and understanding main trends and artists of History of Art from Neoclassicism to today
- applying knowledge and understanding in order to assert own arguments and idea about topics of the course (teaching unit A and B) and in order to solve historical and critical problems or pratical one too.
- making judgements analysing data, informations and sources about art from Neoclassicism to today through valid and appropriate approaches
- communication skills to present and assert knowledge, ideas and solutions during and oral examination
- learning skills and self evaluation of own educational in order to improve his own knowledge and skills
Level of evaluation:
A fail is determined by the lack of an understanding of the minimum content of the course, the inability to express oneself at the level of proficiency expected of students, by a lack of autonomous preparation, the inability to solve problems related to information retrieval and the decoding of images and topics of art, as well as an inability to make independent judgments and communicate content, analysis and judgments in well-argumented, competent and convincing ways.
A pass (18-23/30) is determined by the demonstration on the part of the student of having learned the fundamental and minimum contents of the course, according to the indicators listed above. The Middle-range scores (24-27/30) are assigned to the student who produces evidence of a more than sufficient level (24-25/30) or good level (26-27/30) in the evaluation indicators, (from 28/30 to 30/30 cum laude) are awarded on the basis of the student’s demonstration of a very good or excellent level.
