Arts History and Contemporary Cultural Practices

2022/2023

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

9

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Department of Management

Course type:

Compulsory course

When:

1 year, 3, 4 module

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course allows you to combine a questioning and critical approach to the historical study of art with a cultural focus on theories and practices of language, image, identity, gender, race, sexuality and class. Given that the meaning and understanding of ‘art’ or ‘culture’ change over time, you'll learn about the history of the various artistic practices. You'll also explore how societies have represented themselves and the world around them. You’ll gain a critical perspective on the world we live in now and deepen your understanding of how historical events, societal transformation and psychological processes impinge on cultural forms. Here theorists of modernity, of the city, of technology and of the mind will be drawn on to produce a better understanding of how people try to make sense of their changing worlds. The course is comprised of two parts. The first part (modules 1 and 2) is conducted during the Hermitage expositions and is dedicated to the architecture of the Hermitage building complex and the history of the world’s masterpiece collections accumulated in one of the biggest museums in the world. The series of exhibitions and lectures given by the Hermitage staff includes several thematic units: from building and architecture of the palace ensemble, the principal residence of the Russian Emperors from the middle of the 18th century, to acquiring and creating unique collections that became the basis of the museum collection fund. The Hermitage is an encyclopedic museum; and the offered course is only the beginning of the deep immersion into its complex and multifaceted structure. The second part of the course (3d module) is dedicated to modern art and modern cultural practices.

Learning Objectives

• - to introduce students to the essence, system of categories and key concepts of city marketing and management using the content of artworks (literature, the visual arts, the plastic arts, the decorative arts, the performing arts, and architecture)
• to give an examples of how the city can be managed through arts.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Able to understand Western European art
• Able to use the means of cognition in the field of culture to increase the level of intellectual and cultural development, professional competence.
• Know and understand the architecture of the Hermitage complex of buildings and the history of world masterpiece collections
• Know and understand the Western European applied arts

Course Contents

• The Hermitage: Architecture, buildings and halls.
• The Hermitage picture gallery. Masterpieces of Western European art.
• Applied arts
• Modern art and modern cultural practices

Assessment Elements

• Test 3
• Interim colloquium
• Exam
• Assignment
• Test 2
• Test 1

Interim Assessment

• 2022/2023 3rd module
  0.5 * Interim colloquium + 0.25 * Test 2 + 0.25 * Test 1
• 2022/2023 4th module
  0.5 * 2022/2023 3rd module + 0.125 * Assignment + 0.25 * Exam + 0.125 * Test 3

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Laura Perdew. (2015). History of Art. Essential Library.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Rosenthal, E., Rosenthal, D., & Esplund, L. (2013). Contemporary Art in the Light of History. Arcade.