Module Information
Module Identifier
AHM0900
Module Title
Artworld: Contemporary Practice in Context (for Students of Art History)
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Other Staff
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Literature review (2,500 words) plus bibliography of 15 sources. Review of current/recent literature, including an up-to-date bibliography of secondary sources relevant to one of the seminar topics, to be shared with fellow students (in class and via Blackboard) and used as a foundation for the research essay assignment. | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | Research Essay on one of the seminar topics (3,000 words) plus Works Cited and appendix with captioned figures (illustrations), formatted in accordance with MLA style. | 60% |
| Semester Assessment | Powerpoint presentation 30 minutes, with written notes (1,500 words) on one of the seminar topics (during weeks 3-9), initiating class discussion | 20% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Essay (3,000 words, plus Works Cited and appendix with captioned figures (illustrations), formatted in accordance with MLA style) on one of the seminar topics. | 60% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Recorded Powerpoint presentation 30 minutes, with written notes (1,500 words) on one of the seminar topics. | 20% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Literature review (2,500 words) plus bibliography of 15 sources. Review of current/recent literature, including an up-to-date bibliography of secondary sources relevant to one of the seminar topics, to be shared with fellow students (in class and via Blackboard) and used as a foundation for the research essay assignment. | 20% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Situate the production, curation, distribution and reception of contemporary art in a cultural, political, and socio-economic context.
2. Identify, define and debate key concepts of contemporary art discourse.
3. Access, review and document a broad range of subject-specific literature in print and on line.
4. Establish, sustain, test and support a position on contemporary art practices in a critical essay informed by research and rooted in theory.
5. Create case studies to explore contemporary art practices to demonstrate their conceptual foundations and debate their cultural relevance.
6. Generate and moderate group discussions through modes of presentations that are developed and debated in weekly workshops.
Brief description
offers a discussion and study forum for MA Art History students. Themed seminars situate the production, curation, distribution and teaching of contemporary art in cultural, political, and socio-economic contexts.
Examining a variety of recommended readings and conducting independent research (e.g. artist statements, exhibition catalogues, reviews, theoretical/philosophical journal articles and art history essays), seminar members gather primary and secondary sources to explore whether/how a given theme manifests in contemporary art practice. The selection of sample artists and sources is negotiated in workshops and individual tutorials prior to the start of AHM0820 in semester 2.
Research outcomes are shared with fellow MA Art History and MA Fine Art students during seminars and via Blackboard, providing all students with an overview and assessment of specific aspects of contemporary art, as well as with a foundation for debates on current developments in the artworld. The research also serves as a basis for the final essay.
The weekly seminars prepare students to communicate their research with MA Fine Art students in order to help them examine their practice in contemporary contexts informed by theory.
Examining a variety of recommended readings and conducting independent research (e.g. artist statements, exhibition catalogues, reviews, theoretical/philosophical journal articles and art history essays), seminar members gather primary and secondary sources to explore whether/how a given theme manifests in contemporary art practice. The selection of sample artists and sources is negotiated in workshops and individual tutorials prior to the start of AHM0820 in semester 2.
Research outcomes are shared with fellow MA Art History and MA Fine Art students during seminars and via Blackboard, providing all students with an overview and assessment of specific aspects of contemporary art, as well as with a foundation for debates on current developments in the artworld. The research also serves as a basis for the final essay.
The weekly seminars prepare students to communicate their research with MA Fine Art students in order to help them examine their practice in contemporary contexts informed by theory.
Content
Semester 1
1a) Group tutorial 1: Introduction to Contemporary Art (as part of AHM0820)
1b) Follow-up Research and Writing Workshop: Contemporary Art in Art Historical Contexts
2a) Group tutorial 2: Introduction to Modes of Interpretation (as part of AHM0820)
2b) Follow-up Research and Writing Workshop: Art Theory
3a) Group tutorial 3: Introduction to Research (as part of AHM0820)
3b) Follow-up Research and Writing Workshop: Research writing
Semester 2
1) Art History/Contemporary Art
2) Art/Visual Culture
3) Tradition/Revision
4) Self/Representation
5) Creativity/Technology
6) Production/Consumption
7) Identity/Otherness
8) Markets/Institutions
9) Activism/Relational Aesthetics
10) Practical Theories/Theorised Praxis
In addition to the above seminars, a series of 10 workshops preparing for and reviewing the seminar sessions.
1a) Group tutorial 1: Introduction to Contemporary Art (as part of AHM0820)
1b) Follow-up Research and Writing Workshop: Contemporary Art in Art Historical Contexts
2a) Group tutorial 2: Introduction to Modes of Interpretation (as part of AHM0820)
2b) Follow-up Research and Writing Workshop: Art Theory
3a) Group tutorial 3: Introduction to Research (as part of AHM0820)
3b) Follow-up Research and Writing Workshop: Research writing
Semester 2
1) Art History/Contemporary Art
2) Art/Visual Culture
3) Tradition/Revision
4) Self/Representation
5) Creativity/Technology
6) Production/Consumption
7) Identity/Otherness
8) Markets/Institutions
9) Activism/Relational Aesthetics
10) Practical Theories/Theorised Praxis
In addition to the above seminars, a series of 10 workshops preparing for and reviewing the seminar sessions.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | N/A |
| Communication | Articulating ideas through seminar discussions, workshops and presentations, literature review and research essay. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Independent study through seminar assignments and workshop research and preparation. |
| Information Technology | Information retrieval from various academic research portals and online museum collection databases. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | Demonstration of professionalism in research and MLA style documentation as well as seminar presentations. |
| Problem solving | In seminar preparation, workshops and discussions, essay research and writing. |
| Research skills | In seminar preparation, workshops, bibliography and essay research and writing. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Interpretation of contemporary visual culture and theory in art historical contexts. |
| Team work | Workshops, seminars and group tutorials. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7