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Unit outline_

ARHT3683: Sensation: Encountering Contemporary Art

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Today transformations in how art is made, networked, theorised and curated is indelibly tied to new and expanded ways of encountering contemporary art. From political imperatives of decolonisation, globalisation and the environment, indigeneity, to feminist and queer art, or art as spectacle, new impetuses for artmaking and curating are dynamically changing the cultural landscape. Social media and the digital turn offer new modes of engaging with contemporary visual culture. This unit addresses these recent transformations to explore the expanded field of contemporary art in the digital sphere and in the physical encounter with art in local art spaces, galleries, biennales and beyond.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Art History
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points at 2000 level in Art History, or (6 credit points at 2000 level in Art History and CASF1001 and CASF1002)
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
ARHT2024
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Donna Brett, donna.brett@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Presentation group assignment Presentation
Group Presentation
20% Multiple weeks 500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO4
Assignment Exhibition Review
Exhibition review/critique
30% Week 07
Due date: 03 Apr 2023 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Research Project
Essay
50% Week 12
Due date: 19 May 2023 at 23:59
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

All assessments must be attempted to pass this unit.

Assessment criteria

Assessment grading will be available on Canvas.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late submission In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date: Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date. After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week -01 What is Contemporary Art? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1
Week 02 Contemporary Art: World Currents Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 03 Queer Art and Culture: Sydney Pride Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Feminist Practice, Body, Performance Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 05 Australian Art, Culture, Politics Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Curating Contemporary Art Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 07 Contemporary Art, Archives and Historical Returns Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 08 Contemporary Art and its Global Futurity Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Public Holiday. Site Visit with Lecturer Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO3
Week 10 Art, Environment, Activism Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 11 Art as Spectacle: Digital Futures Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 12 Indigenous Art and the Pacific Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 13 Closing discussions and debate Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance is compulsory in lectures and tutorial. This unit is run in a 3-hour block to allow site visits, discussion, debate. Please advise the coordinators of any absences.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

See Canvas for required readings

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Understand and articulate key issues in contemporary art through critical analysis of objects, media, texts, and exhibition practice
  • LO2. Demonstrate appropriate skills of critical analysis and persuasive writing and speaking on works of contemporary art
  • LO3. Encounter art ‘in situ’ in sustained ways, interacting with objects and sites of study directly through fieldwork, gallery-based learning and exhibition experience.
  • LO4. Engage with confidence in current critical debates and discussions in the field of Contemporary art and encounter a range of methods of art historical enquiry.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is a new unit

Additional costs

public transport costs

Site visit guidelines

Site Visits will be supervised by academic staff. Guidelines will be available on Canvas.

Work, health and safety

none

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.