This course will survey significant historical, theoretical and structural changes in contemporary art, from the critique of Euro-American modernism established in postmodernism (1970-1990) to the globalised field of culture, capital and spectacle dubbed ‘the contemporary’ (1990-2020). You will study the challenges posed by postmodern theory and art to modernism’s principles of autonomy, authorship, originality, historical evolution, style and spectatorship. Postmodern agendas—identity politics, post-authorial practices, institution critique, appropriation and hybridity—will be surveyed. The emergence of ‘the contemporary’ will be explored in the proliferation of global art events and markets, affiliations of capital with contemporary art, the advent of the ‘experience economy’ as a cultural driver, and the disintegration of geo-political centres of art. The course will consider the complex challenge of making, interpreting and displaying art in the 21st century, an era of fractured temporality, volatile social experience, deterritorialized identity and corporatized culture.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- demonstrate an understanding of the principal elements of postmodern theory and its critique of modernism in art;
- recognise and evaluate postmodern strategies developed by artists, critics and curators;
- demonstrate an understanding of the principal elements of models of contemporary art (1990-2020) and the changes to making, interpreting and displaying art that they propose; and
- recognise and evaluate the ways in which contemporary artists, critics and curators respond to current social and historical circumstances (such as globalism, spectacle, deterritorialization).
Indicative Assessment
- Tutorial participation (15) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Object analysis, 500 words (15) [LO 1,2]
- Essay, 2500 words (50) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Take home examination, 1000 words (20) [LO 1,2,3,4]
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
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks comprising lectures, tutorials, workshops and seminars; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing. Contact hours may include visits to major art institutions in Canberra.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
None
Preliminary Reading
James Elkins, Master Narratives and their Discontents, London: Routledge, 2005.
Boris Groys, On the New, London: Verso: 2014.
Terry Smith, What is Contemporary Art? Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2009.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you 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). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found 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 |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $3960 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $5100 |
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.
