ARTH 7020 - Art Censorship

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2020

This course interrogates the social and political power of art to antagonise and agitate. Controversies in contemporary art are not only framed by theories of materiality and reception, but also contextualised by past standards of decorum and perceived transgressions concerning religion, gender, and sexuality. Key research questions investigate the limits of creative freedom concerning the rights and responsibilities of the artist, beliefs ascribed to images and objects, and cultural authority of museums and galleries in the global visual culture of today

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ARTH 7020
    Course Art Censorship
    Coordinating Unit Historical and Classical Studies
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites ARTH 7001 or ARTH 7001OL for Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma in Art History only
    Assumed Knowledge ARTH 7001 or ARTH 7001OL
    Assessment Visual analysis 20%, tutorial case study 30%, research essay 50%
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Lisa Mansfield

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of contemporary art from a global perspective.
    2 Analyse diverse images and objects using discipline-specific terminology. 
    3 Interpret and contextualise works of art using appropriate digital technologies. 
    4 Identify credible academic sources for critical evaluation and synthesis to form logical arguments.
    5 Conceptualise theoretical problems creatively with scholarly objectivity and cultural sensitivity.
    6 Communicate persuasively in speaking and writing about art independently and collaboratively.  
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2, 3
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    2, 3, 4, 5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    5, 6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1-6
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1, 5
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    5, 6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Prescribed tutorial readings (PDFs) will be available on MyUni as an electronic reading list.
    Recommended Resources
    There is no prescribed text for the course. The following books will be useful for background reading:

    Chiilds, Elizabeth C. Suspended License: Censorship in the Visual Arts. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1997.

    Freedberg, David. The Power of Images: Studies in the History and Theory of Response. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1989.

    Freeland, Cynthia. Art Theory: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006. [BSL eBook]3

    Freeland, Cynthia. But Is It Art? An Introduction to Art Theory. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. [BSL eBook]

    Fullerton, Elizabeth. Artrage! The Story of the BritArt Revolution. London: Thames & Hudson, 2016.
    Online Learning
    MyUni

    Announcements

    Discussion forum

    Lecture recordings

    Lecture and tutorial images (powerpoint presentations)

    Assessment task instructions

    Assignment submission (Turnitin)

    External resources (databases; websites; podcasts; youtubes)

    BSL subject guides
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Weekly lectures (1 hour) and tutorials (2 hours), including a small number of weeks conducted online with replacement structured learning activities on MyUni.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Structured Learning Total Hours
    1 x 1-hour lecture per week 12 hours 
    1 x 2-hour tutorial per week  24 hours 
    36 hours per semester
    Self-Directed Learning Total Hours
    8 hours reading per week 96 hours
    8 hours research per week 96 hours 
    7 hours assignment preparation per week 84 hours
    276 hours per semester
    TOTAL WORKLOAD 312 HOURS PER SEMESTER
    Learning Activities Summary
    Lecture Schedule
    Week 1 Introduction Course
    Week 2 The Culture Wars
    Week 3 Art and Ethics
    Week 4 Materialis and Materiality
    Week 5 Taboo Themes 
    Week 6 Religious Transgressions
    Week 7 Bodies 
    Week 8 Performance Art
    Week 9 Research Workshop
    Week 10 Art and Animals
    Week 11 Art and Activism 
    Week 12 Art and Death
    Specific Course Requirements
    Age Restriction: Students must 18 years or over to enrol in the course. Regular tutorial attendance is expected.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Due Weighting Learning Outcome
    Visual Analysis Formative and Summative

    During semestesr

    25% 1, 2, 3
    Tutorial Case Study Formative and Summative During semester 30% 1, 4, 5, 6
    Research Essay  Formative and Summative Week 13 45% 1-6
    Assessment Related Requirements
    This course will follow Faculty of Arts policy on extensions and submission of late assignments.
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment Description Weighting
    Visual Analysis Students will be required to write a comparative visual analysis (1,000 words). 25%
    Tutorial Case Study Students will be required to write a short essay (1,500 words) on one of the tutorial topics. 35%
    Research Essay  Students will be required to write a research essay (3,500 words) on a prescribed question. 45%
    Submission
    Assignments must be submitted using Turnitin on MyUni by midnight of the due date.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

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  • Policies & Guidelines
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