| CODE | DGA5120 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Contextual Studies in Art and Design | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Digital Arts | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit explores the historical, cultural, social, and philosophical contexts that inform contemporary art and design practices. It equips students with analytical tools to research how artistic production is shaped by multiple discourses. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students explore key texts and case studies, fostering a deeper understanding of visual culture鈥檚 evolving role. Emphasis is placed on analytical thinking and reflective practice, enabling students to contextualise their work and the work of others within the global sphere of art and design. The study-unit encourages intellectual engagement, strengthening students鈥� ability to articulate diverse perspectives on art and design. It cultivates an appreciation towards art and culture and generates the knowledge to analyse their production and modes of communication. Study-Unit Aims: - To provide various theoretical concepts that can be used to analyse and discuss the different aspects of art and culture; - To develop students' ability to apply theoretical concepts and methods to analyse their own practice and that of other artists; - To provide different methods of interpreting art and culture and to evaluate how it is communicated and experienced through different channels; - To develop students' ability to think critically about art and design practice and to gain knowledge about its role within society; - To show how to present the findings in a coherent and engaging manner. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - To explain theoretical concepts and to discuss the various aspects of art and culture in various contexts; - To review and discuss their own practice and that of other artists and designers; - To describe the aesthetic, cultural, historical and philosophical outcomes of art and design practice; - To describe how creative practice responds to and critiques local and global developments in society. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - To apply theoretical concepts and to synthesise art and cultural outcomes thoroughly and eloquently; - To develop skills to analyze art and design practice in context and to communicate the outcomes through writing and presentations; - To demonstrate how art and design practice engages with contemporary matters and diverse contexts; - To develop an ability to analytically explore the different aspects of art and culture both on a local and global level. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Charles Baudelaire, The Painter of Modern Life and other Essays, Phaidon 2001. - Chris Barker, Cultural Studies : Theory and Practice, Sage 2008. - Fredric Jameson, The Cultural Turn, Verso 1998. - John Storey, Cultural Studies and the Study of Popular Culture, Edinburgh UP 2008. - Larry Shiner, The Invention of Art, Uni of Chicago Press 2001. - Peter Wollen, Raiding the Icebox : Reflections in Twentieth Century Culture, Verso 2008. - Simon During, The Cultural Studies Reader, Routledge 2007. - Toby Miller (ed), A Companion to Cultural Studies, Blackwell 2001. - Toby Miller & Alec McHoul, Popular Culture and Everyday Life, Sage 1998. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Joseph Cassar |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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