course description
This course will focus on a number of important developments through the history of all art disciplines. This ranges from realized and unrealized artworks to concepts and artistic approaches. These developments will be studied in order to get a better understanding of creative thought in past and present, and to learn applying those to personal points of view.
The aim of the course is to extend your knowledge about art, to build a foundation to approach your work from an artistic perspective, and to develop your creative research capabilities regarding various cultural contexts.
course architecture
The course is structured on the basis of two lines of focus used in creating works of art. The first line focuses on five ways to focus on creative material: structuralism, minimalism, conceptualism, immersion, and representation. These represent different points of view towards the form of creative process. The second line presents various models of communicating works of art to an audience: generative, interactive, deconstructivist, social, and locative. These models represent forms of creative communication.
During the course, the first line (artistic process) is used to divide each course. Various examples of the second line (artistic communication) are given for each form of process in the respective courses.
The different terms used in this course (like structuralism or minimalism) are to be defined in their philosophical/linguistic context, not in their context of eventual art movements of the same name — which are usually too restrictive, due to their specific cultural connotations, in relation to the general overview which is presented in this course.
assignments
For each class, choose one of the works discussed during the last class. Think of an existing work that on one hand relates to the chosen work, but on the other hand has a conflicting artistic approach to it. Write a short essay comparing the two works. This text should explore and debate the differences as well as the similarities in an original way. Half to one A4 of text is expected.
grading
The grading will be based on the understanding of the topics discussed during the course, on the originality of the chosen approach, on the quality of the argumentation (all as reflected in the essays), and on compulsory class attendance.
help & contact
For any additional information, or any help with the assignments, contact:
evdheide |at| liacs |dot| nl
tawstolk |at| liacs |dot| nl