OVERVIEW

The course aims to build an initial awareness in the methodological approach to the study of art historical disciplines. The main topics covered will take into account the necessary training in technical language in the definition of artistic objects, leading to the recognition of physical and digital sources for research and the exemplification of emblematic case studies to highlight the discipline's own methodology of investigation, tackling themes and problems from the Middle Ages to the contemporary age. Class attendance is strongly recommended.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course provides basic knowledge of the main approaches to artwork (including formal and iconological analysis), focusing on fundamental topics such as periodization in art history, genre definitions, specific terminology, and the perception of artifacts in the relationship between the artist, the patron, and the public. Through these contents, the course aims to provide students with useful tools to approach the study of historical and artistic subjects with greater critical awareness and method. Students will learn to assess independently the timeline in relation to the succession of artistic languages and to use appropriate terminology. Additionally, they will learn to navigate basic operations related to historical-artistic research, to be conducted either in libraries or through the consultation of the main online resources. A number of written assignments administered throughout the course, upon completion of each main topic, will allow students to earn partial grades, which will contribute to the final examination.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching objectives mainly consist of:

- Acquisition of the vocabulary and methodology for reading the work of art in its formal characteristics
- Acquisition of the necessary coordinates for the compulsory reading of historical, historiographic, documentary and bibliographic sources for art historical research
- Acquisition of the methodology for the writing of scientific texts in the field of art history
- Understanding and management of chronologies relating to the periodisations of art history, from the Middle Ages to the contemporary age

At the end of the training course, students must be able to correctly write a scientific record of a work of art and to independently research texts and sources for in-depth study of art historical themes

PREREQUISITES

None

TEACHING METHODS

Lecture, field trips, group work, hands-on practice.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

- Reading the work of art: style, iconography, cultural context, patronage
- The sources: Archives and libraries, physical and online.
- How to: use of bibliography and annotation of scientific texts
- Time line and understanding the succession of art historical phenomena

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For students attending AT LEAST 75% of the lectures who will take the intermediate tests
 
- A. Pinelli, ‘Storia dell'arte. Istruzioni per l'uso’, Laterza, Bari 2014

For students NOT attending (less than 75% of lessons) or who will not take intermediate exams

- V. Curzi, ‘Storie dell'arte per quasi principianti’, Skirà, Milano 2018.
- C. Tosco, ‘Beni culturali. Storia, tutela e valorizzazione', il Mulino, Bologna 2014.
- A. Pinelli, ‘Storia dell'arte. Istruzioni per l'uso’, Laterza, Bari 2014.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIACOMO MONTANARI (President)

MATTEO CAPURRO

MARTINA LEONE (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

September 2024

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The course will include two written intermediate tests and a final oral test.

The intermediate tests, which are not compulsory, are, however, necessary in order to be considered a student attending the course.

The intermediate tests will contribute, together with the final oral test, to the final assessment.

For students with disabilities or specific learning disabilities (DSA).

Students with disabilities or DSA are reminded that in order to request adjustments in the exam, they must first enter their certification on the University website at http://servizionline.unige.it in the ‘Students’ section. The documentation will be checked by the University's Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and DSA Sector (https://rubrica.unige.it/strutture/struttura/100111).

Subsequently, well in advance (at least 10 days) of the exam date, an e-mail must be sent to the teacher with whom the exam is to be taken, including in the copy the School's Referring Professor for the inclusion of students with disabilities and with DSA (elisabetta.colagrossi@unige.it) and the Sector indicated above. The e-mail must specify

- the name of the teaching course
- the date of the call
- the student's surname, first name and roll number
- the compensatory tools and dispensatory measures considered functional 
- and required.

The contact person will confirm to the teacher that the applicant has the right to request adaptations during the examination and that these adaptations must be agreed upon with the teacher. The teacher will respond by stating whether the requested adaptations can be used.

Requests must be sent at least 10 days before the date of the session in order to allow the teacher to assess their content. In particular, in the case of concept maps for the exam (which must be much more concise than the maps used for studying) if the submission does not meet the deadline there will be no technical time to make any changes.

For further information on the request for services and adaptations, see the document: https://unige.it/sites/unige.it/files/2024-05/Linee%20guida%20per%20la%20richiesta%20di%20servizi%2C%20di%20strumenti%20compensativi%20e_o%20di%20misure%20dispensative%20e%20di%20ausili%20specifici%20Maggio%202024.pdf

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment takes into account the following value scale:

1. if the student demonstrates a thorough understanding of the texts proposed in the examination programme, expresses himself/herself with mastery of language, including technical language, has matured critical tools and can apply what has been learnt to the various case studies proposed, the examination will be graded between very good and excellent (28 to 30 with distinction);

2. knowledge of the texts in the examination programme, a fair ability to analyse and mostly correct language will lead to a mark between good (25-27) and satisfactory (23-24);

3. an inadequate or incomplete knowledge of the texts included in the examination programme, a limited understanding of the topics covered, and expressive methods that are not always appropriate may be considered sufficient (18-22);

4. serious gaps in knowledge of the texts, inappropriate language, and failure to acquire analytical skills will lead to a negative assessment of the examination.

Exam schedule