FINEARTS 210G Understanding Contemporary Visual Arts Practice - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

How does the contemporary artist and designer work? This course presents first hand, locally engaged practitioners' perspectives on creative practice. On successful completion of this course students will be able to access local, contemporary art and design with confidence, and to discuss examples of practitioners' methodologies and areas of investigation. Course work will involve active exploration of the local art world.

Course Overview

Course Description

How does the contemporary art world work? This course presents perspectives on contemporary artistic practices, milieu, and institutions. The course involves active exploration of the local art scene. This includes visits to galleries, and guest presentations from artists, curators, gallerists and critics. The overarching premise for this paper is there are many contemporary art worlds, not just a single art world, and we will explore the many practices and spaces that constitute these. No prior knowledge or experience of contemporary art is assumed.

Aims of the Course

Develop your understanding of contemporary artists' methodologies and the institutional structure of the art worlds that surround them.
Encourage you to explore contemporary art in a gallery setting.
Increase your capacity to read critically and analytically in secondary sources about contemporary art.
Develop your formal writing skills in relation to contemporary artistic practices.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 60 points passed

Semester Availability

2020 Semester 2, from Monday 27 July

Course Co-ordinator

Dr Lucille Holmes, la.holmes@auckland.ac.nz

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Research and participate in contemporary art practices. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
Discuss examples of practitioners' methodologies and areas of investigation. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Assignment	40%	Individual Coursework
Essay	60%	Individual Coursework
2 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2
Assignment
Essay

Pass Requirements

Pass Requirements

Assignments will be marked according to criteria specified in the Grading Rubrics in the Course Outline (section 11.6, in Files in Canvas). Grading will also correspond to the University grade descriptors included in the Course Outline (section 11.7).

Late Submission Penalties

All work submitted after the notified deadline, or after the approved extension, will have the marks for that coursework adjusted at the rate of 5 marks for each day or part thereof. For example, for an assignment marked out of 100, a student scores 82 but submits the work one day late. The student loses 5 marks and is awarded 77 (82 minus 5).

Teaching & Learning Methods

There are 12 two hour classes in the course, which include lectures, class discussions, assignment classes, a guest speaker and a visit to an art collection. These are compulsory and it is important that you attend. The course content and assessment tasks provide an introduction to the thinking, research, theory and practice of contemporary visual arts. Students will be introduced to historical and cultural contexts of contemporary visual arts and are asked to consider these contexts in class and in the assessment tasks. A focus of the course is to introduce students to the cultural significance of Māori and Pacific art within a global context. Classes and assessment encourage students to critically consider ideas, texts and to research and think reflectively. Students will have the opportunity to develop skills in the reception and interpretation of information, and to communicate ideas and knowledge effectively in academic English. The course includes classes at regular intervals on the assessment tasks which support students to learn and work autonomously and ethically.

Learning Resources

Required and Recommended Texts

All the required texts and most of the recommended texts are available on the course Reading Lists in Canvas. Guidelines for using the Reading Lists are included in the Description of Assessment Tasks in the Course Outline (section 11.5) and in the assignment descriptions in Canvas. It is recommended that you begin reading the required texts at the beginning of the course.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in. For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures, 40 hours of preparatory reading, and 86 hours of self-directed study over the 12 week semester.

Other Information

Attendance, Participation and Mutual Respect

Attendance in class as well as engagement with course activities and readings supports academic success, therefore it is strongly recommended that students make every effort to attend class and complete all the necessary in-class requirements.

We expect that students will arrive on time, prepared to listen and participate as appropriate, and to stay for the duration of a class rather than drift in or out casually. In short, we anticipate that students will show teachers, speakers and fellow students maximum consideration by minimising the disturbances that cause interruptions in the learning process. This means that punctuality is a must and that cell phones be turned off.

Please do not use electronic devices in class unless they are in the service of your note taking or in-class writing. Let’s do our best to speak directly to one another and support this collegial environment.

Throughout the semester, we may read texts that introduce complex, diverse, and even controversial subjects. I want this class to be a space in which we all feel safe and comfortable to share our thoughts, ideas, and opinions. I want each of you to remember at all times that your thoughts and ideas are important and valuable. You are writers and scholars. One of the goals of a university is to challenge us to apply pressure about what we know (and all that we don’t know). I will never ask you to change your mind, but I will expect it will remain open in this course. That being said, disrespectful or inappropriate comments will not be tolerated in this classroom.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Use of Canvas

Announcements will be made via Canvas, please ensure you regularly check your University email address.

Classes will be recorded and available in Canvas 72 hours after the class. Guest speakers have the option to be recorded and classes outside the lecture room are unable to be recorded.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Extensions

If you have a serious need for an extension please contact the course lecturer.

Applications must be accompanied by evidence of the need for an extension. The following guidelines will help you decide what is required: your medical certificate with specific dates; medical evidence with specific dates for illness of a family member; order of service, letter from the undertaker or death notice in the paper for death of a family member or close friend; evidence of flight dates if travel is required to attend a funeral; police report for theft of belongings, etc.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

In the event of unexpected disruption

We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.

Copyright Warning Notice

This material is protected by copyright and has been copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may not sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of this course pack/material to any other person. Where provided to you in electronic format, you may only print from it for your own private study and research. Failure to comply with the terms of this warning may expose you to legal action for copyright infringement and/or disciplinary action by the University.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 3:	Solution Seeking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement
Capability 5:	Independence and Integrity
Capability 6:	Social and Environmental Responsibilities

FINEARTS 210G : Understanding Contemporary Visual Arts Practice

Creative Arts and Industries

2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)