Writing About Art and the Moving Image (AHIS90008)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Semester 1
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This subject will introduce students to the theory and practice of writing on contemporary art and the moving image. The distinct professional genres in which art writing is practised will be analysed as will the recent history of art theory. The subject will survey innovations and developments that have taken place in recent criticism, curatorship and critical writing, as well as discuss the theories, trends and shifts in current and future writing on art and the moving image. The goal of the subject is to develop the overlapping skills of active, critical reading combined with student understanding of critical theory and art.

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Identify key issues in writing on contemporary art and the moving image, and recent developments in the field of arts writing scholarship
  • Conduct autonomous research into diverse scholarship on contemporary art and the moving image, drawing on array of relevant of writing examples
  • Evaluate different models of writing, their stylistic and conceptual approaches and way they elucidate observations and arguments
  • Interpret the discursive role of arts writing in paracuratorial cultural outputs and contribution to meaningful insights into arts and cultural practice
  • Develop skills for the application of carefully considered perspectives and suitable approaches in writing relevant for a career in the arts industry.

Generic skills

At the completion of this subject, students should 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
  • conceptualise theoretical problems, form judgments and arguments and communicate critically, creatively and theoretically through essay writing, tutorial discussion and presentations
  • Communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically through essay writing and tutorial discussion
  • Manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, the completion of essays and assignments and examination revision
  • Participate in team work through involvement in syndicate groups and group discussions.

Last updated: 4 March 2025