Artworld: Contemporary Practice in Context (for Students of Art History)

Module Identifier: AHM0900
Module Title: Artworld: Contemporary Practice in Context (for Students of Art History)
Academic Year: 2026/2027
Semester: Semester 1 Taught over 2 semesters
Co-ordinator: Professor Catrin Webster
Reading List: View on Aspire
Exclusive (Any Acad Year): AHM1020
Other Staff: Miss Miranda Whall; Miss Eleanor West; Dr Julian Ruddock

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Literature review: (2,500 words) plus bibliography of 15 sources. Review of current/recent literature, including an up-to-date bibliography of secondary sources relevant to one of the seminar topics, to be shared with fellow students (in class and via Blackboard) and used as a foundation for the research essay assignment.	20%
Semester Assessment	Powerpoint presentation: 30 minutes, with written notes (1,500 words) on one of the seminar topics (during weeks 3-9), initiating class discussion	20%
Semester Assessment	Research Essay on one of the seminar topics: (3,000 words) plus Works Cited and appendix with captioned figures (illustrations), formatted in accordance with MLA style.	60%
Supplementary Assessment	Literature review: (2,500 words) plus bibliography of 15 sources. Review of current/recent literature, including an up-to-date bibliography of secondary sources relevant to one of the seminar topics, to be shared with fellow students (in class and via Blackboard) and used as a foundation for the research essay assignment.	20%
Supplementary Assessment	Recorded Powerpoint presentation: 30 minutes, with written notes (1,500 words) on one of the seminar topics.	20%
Supplementary Assessment	Essay: (3,000 words, plus Works Cited and appendix with captioned figures (illustrations), formatted in accordance with MLA style) on one of the seminar topics.	60%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Situate the production, curation, distribution and reception of contemporary art in a cultural, political, and socio-economic context.
Identify, define and debate key concepts of contemporary art discourse.
Access, review and document a broad range of subject-specific literature in print and on line.
Establish, sustain, test and support a position on contemporary art practices in a critical essay informed by research and rooted in theory.
Create case studies to explore contemporary art practices to demonstrate their conceptual foundations and debate their cultural relevance.
Generate and moderate group discussions through modes of presentations that are developed and debated in weekly workshops.

Brief description

offers a discussion and study forum for MA Art History students. Themed seminars situate the production, curation, distribution and teaching of contemporary art in cultural, political, and socio-economic contexts.
Examining a variety of recommended readings and conducting independent research (e.g. artist statements, exhibition catalogues, reviews, theoretical/philosophical journal articles and art history essays), seminar members gather primary and secondary sources to explore whether/how a given theme manifests in contemporary art practice. The selection of sample artists and sources is negotiated in workshops and individual tutorials prior to the start of AHM0820 in semester 2.
Research outcomes are shared with fellow MA Art History and MA Fine Art students during seminars and via Blackboard, providing all students with an overview and assessment of specific aspects of contemporary art, as well as with a foundation for debates on current developments in the artworld. The research also serves as a basis for the final essay.
The weekly seminars prepare students to communicate their research with MA Fine Art students in order to help them examine their practice in contemporary contexts informed by theory.

Content

Weekly seminars

Module skills

Skills type	Skills details
Communication	Articulating ideas through seminar discussions, workshops and presentations, literature review and research essay.
Improving own Learning and Performance	Independent study through seminar assignments and workshop research and preparation.
Information Technology	Information retrieval from various academic research portals and online museum collection databases.
Personal Development and Career planning	Demonstration of professionalism in research and MLA style documentation as well as seminar presentations.
Problem solving	In seminar preparation, workshops and discussions, essay research and writing.
Research skills	In seminar preparation, workshops, bibliography and essay research and writing.
Subject Specific Skills	Interpretation of contemporary visual culture and theory in art historical contexts.
Team work	Workshops, seminars and group tutorials.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7