Art History: The Relationship Between Art and Ideas

About this course

The course considers art through concepts including the sublime, the uncanny, the abject, existentialism, feminism and postmodernism. Sessions connect these ideas to artistic developments from nineteenth-century Romanticism and post-war movements such as Cobra and Situationism through to contemporary installation and feminist art. Teaching combines lectures with slides and group discussion, using works of art to explore how theoretical approaches influence interpretation and artistic practice. The course also examines the relationship between feminist thought and art made by women from the 1940s onwards.

What you'll learn

• Relate philosophical and psychological concepts to art made from the nineteenth century to the present.
• Recognise how feminist ideas have influenced art made by women from the 1940s onwards.
• Examine the impact of postmodernism on art.
• Contribute questions and observations to group discussions about art and ideas.

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for beginners and is accessible to learners without prior knowledge of art and design. It is also open to people from varied backgrounds, including art practitioners. Participation involves attending lectures, viewing slides and contributing to class discussion.

• No prior knowledge of art and design is required.
• Suitable for learners from varied backgrounds as well as practising artists.

Before you go

• A paper and pen may be useful for taking notes.