Avant-Garde and Postmodern Art (AHIS20020)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 2
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This subject examines avant-garde and postmodern art and film during the 20th century. A variety of artistic theories, movements and artists from Europe and North America will be considered. The social, historical and theoretical context in which diverse avant-garde and postmodernist aesthetics were formed will be studied using historical sources and contemporary theory. Students will become familiar with issues such as the relationship of art and politics, utopian models of art, nationalism and the arts, as well as the shifting ways in which theories of gender, race and sexuality informed artists' work.

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of the subject, students should have:

  • Developed an understanding of fundamental models of avant-garde cultural practices
  • Developed an understanding of the ways in which such models incorporate or respond to the conditions of modernity
  • An ability to engage with the ways in which avant-garde practice incorporate ideologies of subjectivity, gender, nation and ethnicity.

Generic skills

At the completion of this subject, students should gain the following generic skills:

  • Be able to research through the competent use of the library and other information sources, and be able to define areas of inquiry and methods of research in the preparation of essays
  • Be able to conceptualise theoretical problems, form judgements and arguments and communicate critically, creatively and theoretically through essay writing, tutorial discussion and presentations
  • Be able to communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically through essay writing and tutorial discussion
  • Be able to manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, the completion of essays and assignments and examination revision
  • Be able to participate in team work through involvement in syndicate groups and group discussions.

Last updated: 4 April 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

AHIS30007 Avant-Garde and Postmodern Art

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 4 April 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

An assignment

  • 2000 words
During the teaching period50%

A take-home examination

  • 2000 words
During the examination period50%
Hurdle requirement: 1. Attendance hurdle requirement: This subject has a minimum requirement of 80% attendance at tutorials, seminars, or workshops. There is an expectation that students attend lectures.Throughout the teaching periodN/A
Hurdle requirement: 2. Late Penalty and Assessment hurdle requirement: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at five per cent (5%) of the possible marks available for the assessment task per day or part thereof. All pieces of assessment must be submitted to pass the subject. Each submitted assessment must be complete, constitute a genuine attempt to address the requirements of the task and will not be accepted after 20 University business days from the original assessment due date without written approval. Throughout the semesterN/A

Last updated: 4 April 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 2
    CoordinatorsJane Eckett and Anthony White
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours30 hours: a 1.5-hour lecture and a 1-hour tutorial per week.
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period28 July 2025 to 26 October 2025
    Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025
    Census date 1 September 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail26 September 2025
    Assessment period ends21 November 2025

    Semester 2 contact information

    jleckett@unimelb.edu.au

    a.white@unimelb.edu.au

Time commitment details

170 hours

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
       -  Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
     

    Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.

Last updated: 4 April 2025

Further information

Last updated: 4 April 2025