Contemporary Art Lm A 2024/2025

Obiettivi formativi e risultati di apprendimento attesi:

The course aims to provide a thorough and systematic understanding of contemporary art, with a particular focus on the major movements that defined the 20th century. Students will be equipped with essential methodological tools for interpreting and analyzing the themes and artworks of the period. More importantly, they will be guided toward developing an independent perspective and interpretation of contemporary art phenomena. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to interpret artworks independently, navigate the spatial and temporal frameworks of major Western artistic movements using appropriate and field-specific terminology, and construct their own research pathways—both theoretical and bibliographical—focusing on particular artistic phenomena, works of art, or cultural sites.

Prerequisiti:

While not a formal prerequisite, a foundational knowledge of Western art, literature, history, and geography—spanning from antiquity through the medieval and modern periods to the contemporary era—will significantly enhance students’ ability to engage with the course content.

Programma:

The course aims to examine some of the major artistic movements that emerged in the West during the 20th century and continue to shape the present day. For each movement, the course will explore its defining themes and paradigms, theoretical foundations, critical interpretations, leading artists, and a selection of key works. On these broader frameworks, a series of case studies will be analyzed, with a particular focus on Italy and Rome.

Modalità didattiche:  

The more introductory and general parts of the course will be delivered through traditional lectures supported by PowerPoint presentations, adopting an approach that consistently emphasizes active student participation and strong interaction. Another part of the course will focus on a series of practical exercises involving the completion of operational tasks designed to equip students with a comprehensive set of skills. These skills will enable them to become methodologically autonomous in analyzing any phenomenon related to contemporary art. The aim is to promote flexible, differentiated, and multidisciplinary approaches tailored to each specific context.

A number of visits to exhibitions and museums are planned and should be considered an integral part of the course. Students are expected to take part in these activities and to cover the related expenses themselves (transportation to and from the site, as well as museum or gallery admission fees).

Valutazione:

Students' knowledge and learning outcomes will be assessed through the submission of a written paper focused on the analysis of a single artwork. The topic and format of the final paper must be agreed upon with the lecturer in advance. The paper must be submitted to the lecturer at least one week prior the selected exam date. The paper will also be discussed during the final oral examination.

Non-attending students are advised to contact the lecturer as early as possible.

Testi adottati:

Students attending the course are not required to study a specific textbook; instead, they will be assigned readings provided by the lecturer during class. Non-attending students, who are required to contact the lecturer, must study the following textbook:

H. Foster, R. Krauss, B. Yve-Alain, B. Benjamin. Art Since 1900: Modernism, Antimodernism, Postmodernism, London: Thames & Hudson, 2011.