This course will both survey postmodern art in general, and will pursue a more focused approach to a dominant theme of such art, the sublime. In this respect, we will concentrate on the writing of Lyotard and other critical responses to Postmodernism. The course will investigate whether postmodern art should be considered fundamentally neo-Romantic, or whether it should stand as an independent, revolutionary category in itself. The relation of Modernism to Postmodernism will be examined, and in the context of diverse issues explored by artists including identity politics, gender, subjectivity, constructs of 'essence' and 'self', and the strategies of historic quotation and appropriation. Other topics to be examined include the political values and claims of postmodern art and the status of the art-producer as artist-theoretician. Media explored include painting, photo-media, video, performance art, design and fashion.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
The student is challenged by the range of media examined in this course arising from the explosion of new art forms,
1. The student learns to question and evaluate the validity and stronghold of modernist painting and the 'heroic' male artist in the last three decades of the twentieth century.
2. The student's knowledge of postmodernist art will be expanded and their ability to think critically about the changing role, meaning and purpose of art in rising global cultures will result from their engagement with diverse media ranging from photography, fashion, the moving image, collage and painting.
3. Students will assess the rise of feminism in art practice, the appropriation of 'history' in imagery across media, the blurring of boundaries in disciplines, cultures and geographies, and the rising voice of minority groups excluded from the normalising definitions of art presented during the height of modernist era of the 1950s and early 1960s.
Indicative Assessment
1,500 word tutorial paper (30%) (outcomes, 1, 2, 3)
2,500 word essay (50%) (outcomes, 1, 2)
Image test (20%). (outcomes 2, 3)
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
2 hours per week of lectures, 1 hour tutorial per week, and 7 hours a week reading and writing outside these contact hours.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Preliminary Reading
* Benjamin, A, (ed), The Lyotard Reader, New York, 1989
* Docherty, T, Postmodernism: A Reader, New York, 1993
* Kristeva, J, The Powers of Horror, New York, 1982
* Foster, Hal (ed), The Anti-Aesthetic : Essays on Postmodern Culture, Washington, 1983
Majors
Minors
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Students continuing in their current program of study will have their tuition fees indexed annually from the year in which you commenced your program. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-2003 | $1164 | |
| 2014 | $2478 | |
| 2013 | $2472 | |
| 2012 | $2472 | |
| 2011 | $2424 | |
| 2010 | $2358 | |
| 2009 | $2286 | |
| 2008 | $2286 | |
| 2007 | $2286 | |
| 2006 | $2286 | |
| 2005 | $2286 | |
| 2004 | $1926 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1994-2003 | $2574 |
| 2014 | $3246 |
| 2013 | $3240 |
| 2012 | $3240 |
| 2011 | $3240 |
| 2010 | $3240 |
| 2009 | $3240 |
| 2008 | $3240 |
| 2007 | $3132 |
| 2006 | $3132 |
| 2005 | $3132 |
| 2004 | $2916 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4737 | 17 Feb 2014 | 07 Mar 2014 | 31 Mar 2014 | 30 May 2014 | In Person | N/A |
