B003609 - HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY ART

Italian

The course is divided into two modules not separable. History of Contemporary Art and History of Photography fundamentals: Major Artists and Photographers, Art Movements in relation to the historical and cultural Context, Audiences and Art System.
I module (dr. Carlotta Castellani): Contemporary Art History from 1848 to the 1970’s
II module (prof. Tiziana Serena): History of Photography from 1839 to the 1970’s

I module (dr. Carlotta Castellani):
Irene Baldriga, Dentro l’arte, contesto, metodo, confronti, Milan, Electa Scuola-Mondadori Education, 2016, Vol. IV and V (selected pages that will be indicated during the course).
Supplementary readings will be indicated in class.

II module (prof. Tiziana Serena)
David Bate, La fotografia d'arte, Torino, Einaudi, 2018.
Supplementary readings will be indicated in class.

The purpose of the course is to provide students with methodological tools to convey fundamental knowledge on the history of contemporary art and on the history of photography by analyzing works of art, different languages and artistic movements. Particular attention will be given to the historical-cultural context behind the making and the uses of each work of art, to the network of relationships between the different audiences and the art system. The course aims the acquisition of historical and philological skills for the interpretation of the works of art and photographic works, in order to place them in their historical and cultural context, understanding different systems of relationship (places of production and use, audience and taste, exhibition events and art system).

Knowledge and Understanding:
Knowledge of works of art and photographic works, understanding of the different contexts (places of production, audiences, taste, exhibition and museum systems)

Applied Knowledge and Understanding Capabilities:
Knowledge of the fundamentals in the history of contemporary art and in the history of photography, capability to identify major works of art and to understand the relationship between different works of art.

Critical Ability:
Development of critical and analytical abilities to recognize works of art and to place them within the correct historical-cultural frame in relation with the system of production and uses.

Communication skills:
Knowledge and use of a specific lexicon for the history of contemporary art and for the history of photography.

Learning Capabilities:
Learning of an analysis model for the study and understanding of contemporary art and photography within the historical-cultural context.

Secondary school degree or equivalent degree. Good knowledge of the XIXth and XXth century history.

Frontal lessons: 72 hours

Module I (dr. Carlotta Castellani)

Frontal lessons (36 hours). Introduction to the historical-philological methodology applied to contemporary art; analysis of major art works and artists within the context of production and use. A projector will be used during the course. The projected slides will be available on the Moodle platform. The possibility of a visit to an exhibition is foreseen.

Module II (prof. Tiziana Serena)

Frontal lessons (36 hours). Introduction to the historical-philological methodology applied to photography; analysis of major art works and artists within the context of production and use. A projector will be used during the course. The projected slides will be available on the Moodle platform. The possibility of a visit to an exhibition is foreseen.

Attendance in class is mandatory for the students enrolled in the ex 270/04 didactic program.
Part-time students and students enrolled in the ex DM 509/99 didactic program who cannot attend the lessons must contact the instructors during their regular office hours and arrange a specific coursework in order to attend the final test.
Information on the office hours are available on the instructor university webpages.

Written test on the course contents and on the required bibliography. Students must demonstrate in the test:
1) Knowledge of the artworks, artists and contexts studied in class and knowledge of the bibliography;
2) Understanding of the main methodologies in the history of contemporary art and in the history of photography;
3) Skill of the specific lexicon for the history of contemporary art and for the history of photography
4) Critical ability to discuss the meaning of the art works.

The 3-hours long written test will be structured as follow:

- For attending students: students must identify six different artworks (three artworks for each module). In the analysis of each artwork, it is mandatory to quote at least two other artworks conceptually related to the first one (and one of them must be made by a different artist). The list of artworks will be given during the lessons and it will be available on the Moodle platform;
- For non-attending students: students must identify six different artworks (three artworks for each module). In the analysis of each artwork, it is mandatory to quote at least two other artworks conceptually related to the first one (and one of them must be made by a different artist). The list of artworks will be given during the lessons and it will be available on the Moodle platform. Moreover they will answer to an extra open question.

Students not registered on the course's Moodle platform will not be able to take the exam.
The use of printed dictionaries is allowed, while digital devices and other instruments are prohibited.
If the student is found to be in possession of non-admitted material, the exam will be canceled and the candidate will not be able to attend the next session.
The student will find the result of the text on the dedicated platform (he / she may accept or refuse the grade and present himself / herself at the next text session). If the exam had a negative overall mark, the student cannot present himself to the next following text session. To pass the exam it is necessary to obtain the sufficiency in the first part of the test (related to the first module) considered preparatory.
For Erasmus students: after the recording on the dedicated Moodle platform, it is possible to record the booklet and collect the instructor signature at the following instructor office hour.

I Module (dr. Carlotta Castellani)
Introduction to the historical-philological methodology applied to contemporary art; analysis of major art works and artists within the context of production and use, explanation of chronological and thematic frames:
1. 1848-1880: Realism and Impressionism
2. 1880-1905: Post-Impressionism, Symbolism and Expressionism
3. 1905-1924: Historic Avant-Gardes
4. 1925-1945: The crisis of the avant-garde and the call to order
5. 1945-1970: Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art and Conceptual Art (Body/Minimal/Land Art).


II Module (prof. Tiziana Serena)
Introduction to the historical-philological methodology applied to the history of photography; analysis of major art works and artists within the context of production and use. Explanation of chronological and thematic frames, in order to relate singular contemporary artworks to works of art from the past:
1. 1839-1890: The Idea of Photography
2. Dal 1891: From Pictorialism: a paradigm change
3. Dal 1916: Document as Art
4. Dal 1970: Conceptual Art and Photography
5. Dal 1970: Narrations between archives and living spaces.