Syllabus
SCHEDULE 1: Introduction (Duchamp, Dada, Surrealism) 2: NY Abstract Expressionism: Pollock, de Kooning 3: Neo-Dada: Rauschenberg, Johns 4: Pop Art: Hamilton, Warhol 5: London: Bacon, Whiteley 6: Minimalism and Conceptual Art: Judd, Morris, Andre / Kosuth, LeWitt, Smithson 7: Neo-Expressionism: Basquiat, Schnabel, Clemenete 8: Young British Artists: Hirst, Emin, the Chapmans 9: Digital/Performance Art: Stelarc 10: Overview
Annotation
This is a graduate seminar in the Critical and Cultural Theory MA Programme
The seminar offers a selected survey of developments in British and American Art from the Post-War period. There will also be a focus on early avant-garde movements, such as Vorticism in Britain and Dada in the USA, following the European influences of Cubism, Futurism and Dada. Special attention will also be given to selected theoretical writings and art criticism.
REQUIRED READING
Foster, Krauss, Bois & Buchloh, Art Since 1900: Modernism, Antimodernism, Postmodernism (London: Thames & Hudson, 2004)
Renato Poggioli, The Theory of the Avant-Garde
Peter Bürger, Theory of the Avant-Garde.
ASSESSMENT
One essay, of 3,000 words due 10 June. Essays must include full bibliographical references (footnotes) for all works cited or paraphrased (preferably in accordance with the MLA style, e.g. http://webster.commnet.edu/mla.htm). Emphasis will be placed on the component of original research, and students are advised not to use Web sources in place of adequately researching texts available in print. The topic of the essay is: IS THE INSTITUTIONALISATION OF THE AVANT-GARDE INEVITABLE? Essays should include a general overview of an artist’s (theorist's) or group of artist's (theorist's) work, along with detailed discussion of (a) selected critical or theoretical text(s) relevant to the topic.