OVERVIEW

This course increases the competence in English which students have acquired in prior courses. It focusses on Anglophone texts relating to contemporary art and visual culture, with a particular focus on web-based journalism, blogs, and social media. Students will improve their proficiency in English by developing their skills in critical reading and thinking by responding to sophisticated English-language texts and to works of visual culture.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course aims at increasing the skills and competence in English acquired at the first level.

LEARNING OUTCOMES (FURTHER INFO)

Upon completion of the course students will have experience of writing and giving presentations in English on a number of topics in contemporary art and visual culture. They will learn to present complex ideas and analysis in English, and will become acquainted with much important scholarship and journalism in the field of contemporary art history. 

TEACHING METHODS

Combination of traditional lectures and tutorials.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course will centre around several contemporary art journals as well as the writings of notable art historians such as Hal Foster and Rosalind Krauss (see reading list). Students will develop their English language skills to an advanced level by analyzing texts and writing their own work in response to them. They will be encouraged to work together on group projects and to develop skills in critical reading and analysis through of English-language texts in a variety of different media.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hal Foster. The Art-Architecture Complex (London: Verso, 2011)

Rosalind Krauss. ‘The Originality of the Avant-Garde’, in The Originality of the Avant-Garde and Other Myths (London: MIT Press, 1986); available online at:

http://web.mit.edu/allanmc/www/kraussoriginality.pdf

- students may also find it helpful to consult publications such as Frieze magazine and the online Hyperallergic (hyperallergic.com)

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ANIRUDHA DHANAWADE (President)

GABRIELLA PETTI (President)

FEDERICO RAHOLA (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

March

Class schedule

ENGLISH LANGUAGE II

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

1. Portfolio of reviews of contemporary art or visual culture
2. Essay (2000 words) on a topic of student’s choosing, to be discussed with course tutor in advance

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Class participation and group presentations in class

Exam schedule