This course focuses on global art history and visual culture from the eighteenth century to the present day, covering creative production from modern art and popular photography to multimedia and contemporary practices.
You will learn about the politics of creativity and culture, studying material and visual histories and art theory as well as engaging with debates around gender and sexuality, ecology, race, class, politics and ableism. You will also gain extensive knowledge on collecting, curating and exhibition-making.
We have excellent specialist facilities on-site, including the St Peters House Special Collection, our world-renowned Teaching Collection and Design Archives, as well as at the Screen Archive South East. You will also benefit from our close relationships with local and national museums, galleries and archives.
The course is taught by a specialist course team with research expertise on the Middle East, North Africa, South and East Asia, North America and Britain.
Year 1
In the ï¬rst year you will learn about how the movement of people, images, materials and ideas has had a profound impact on the production, re-production and appropriation of art and visual culture. You will study the various ways in which artists and practitioners create works in relation to both the local and global context, improving our understanding of the social and cultural affairs of the time.
Most of your learning will take place in small groups. You will be introduced to essential study skills and tools and familiarise yourself with different types of assessments, including essays, presentations, displays, posters and group projects.
Modules
- Local and Global: Cross Cultural Histories of Art and Design
This module introduces key concepts of creative encounters and exchanges across cultures in the history of art and design, fashion and visual culture. You will learn about the ways in which the movement of people, materials and ideas across geographies, spaces and periods have an impact on the production, reproduction and appropriation of art and design.
- Art and Design History in Brighton: Places and Processes
In this module you will explore aspects of Brighton and Hove that are significant to the history of art and design locally and in some cases more broadly, through the introduction of key sites, themes and resources, for example, the Royal Pavilion and Museums; the historical development of local identities in subcultures and sexualities and Brighton on film. The topics are complemented by a seminar series that will equip you with the skills and tools needed to study history of art and design at degree level.
- Material Matters
Material Matters is an opportunity to explore the characteristics, histories and values associated with different types of materials that are used in the creation of studio-produced or manufactured objects. You will develop an appreciation of the qualities of different materials and the cultural and environmental implications of their use. You'll have an opportunity to focus on particular types of materials such as cotton in the creation of clothing; nitrate in the use of photography and film, and clay and porcelain in the production of domestic kitchenware. The module introduces the UN Sustainable Development Goal for Responsible Production and Consumption (SDG12)
- Artist, Designer and the Prosumer
This module introduces concepts and trans-historical studies in art and design. You'll explore themes within key historical and theoretical ideas and approaches in art, design, fashion and visual culture, such as: artist curator, cultures of craft, professionalisation, feminist art, DIY fashion, the photographer and the prosumer.
Our courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis in order to make sure that what you learn with us is relevant and that your course enables you to develop appropriate skills. When you apply to study with us, we will inform you of any new developments in your chosen programme through Student View.
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