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Unit outline_

ARHT6914: Working with Art: Objects in Focus

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit introduces students to fundamental skills and issues in the study of art through object-based interpretation. It considers complexities and challenges related to the analysis, interpretation and display of individual works of art in the context of museums and galleries, and provides an introduction to the materials and techniques of art production from curatorial, public engagement and conservation perspectives. Students are supported to develop the ability to work closely with the physical art object, as classes will frequently take place in art galleries across Sydney.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Art History
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Mark De Vitis, mark.devitis@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Mark De Vitis, mark.devitis@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Art Writing for the Museum
Focusing on a single work, students produce 3 pieces of curatorial writing
50% Week 07
Due date: 14 Sep 2023 at 23:59
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO5
Assignment group assignment Critical review/feedback
Critical review and feedback on art writing
15% Week 11
Due date: 19 Oct 2023 at 10:00

Closing date: 19 Oct 2023
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment group assignment Art Talks
Floor talk focused on a single work of art on display in the MCA collection
35% Week 12
Due date: 26 Oct 2023 at 10:00

Closing date: 27 Oct 2023
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Assessments are focused on producing content for the art gallery/museum, using the MCA as a case study.

Students will produce an extended lable for a single work of art, an audio guide entry for the same work, a reflection on the methodologies of the first two pieces of curatorial writing (wall lable and audio guide), a critical review/feedback for a floor talk and an actual floor talk (on a different work from the writing/audio assessment).

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Research work is of the highest standard, drawing connections across a range of high-quality and diverse sources to formulate quality independent thinking, communicated effectively for the intended audience/mode of delivery. Close analysis of art and ideas produced at the highest level.

Distinction

75 - 84

Research is of a high standard, though key material/types/areas may be missing. Independent thinking in evidence through connections across sources/source types, through with some missed opportunities. Effective communication for intended audience/mode. Close analysis of art and ideas regularly attempted, though could be extended.

Credit

65 - 74

Research is of a solid standard, but reliance may  be on less of a diversity of courses, or lesser in terms of quality than ideal. Independent thinking happens some of the time, but missed opportunities to connect ideas across thinking/sources is somewhat frequent. Close analysis of art and ideas present but needs to be extended regularly. Communication is effective for intended audience/mode of communication.

Pass

50 - 64

Research needs to be extended to include higher-quality materials and a greater diversity of types. Independent thinking is not regularly apparent across the work, and instead a summary of discreet sources is often presented. Close analysis needs further development. Communication is sound, but could be more tailored to intended audience/mode. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard: research is largely based on non-scholarly or non-primary sources; summary is offered rather than independent thinking; description rather than analysis is offered most often; communication is sound but need to be tailored to audience group/genre of writing etc.

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:

The Faculty standard penalty will apply: 5% per day late, including weekends.

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 Welcome to Working with Art: Orientation and Planning Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 02 Institutions and Curatorial Practice: An MCA 360 Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Curatorial Interpretation at the MCA: Approaching a work of art and interpreting art for audiences Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 04 Approaching a Permanent Collection at the MCA: A rehang case-study Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 05 Thinking through a Temporary Exhibition at the MCA: From Conception to Realisation Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 06 Writing for Arts Audiences: Breaking down and Building Up curatorial writing Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 07 Working with Artists: An MCA Case-study Block teaching (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 08 Assessment Workshop: Talking about art Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 09 Contemporary Curatorial Methodologies: MCA case-studies Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 10 Ethics, Politics and Contemporary Curating: With the MCA Seminar (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 11 Assessment Workshop: Drafting, Feedback and Developing ideas Workshop (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Giving an Art Talk: Skills in Practice Presentation (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Giving an Art Talk: Skills in Practice Presentation (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture recording: Much content in this unit will not be recorded, as it is substantially taught through site-visits and field work. Also, as much of the unit will be delivered as student discussions, material in this unit may not will be suitable for recording. Recording on site visits may not be possible.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

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

All readings in this unit will be provided electronically. Futher information regarding the reading requirements for the unit are available on CANVAS, including detailed assessment descriptions and plans.

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. Demonstrate a strong understanding of the key professional skills required by a curatorial role
  • LO2. Be able to discuss, examine and practice these skills with teachers, peers and industry professionals
  • LO3. Develop and manage your own research project, undertaking high-level research, shaped to produce material for specific audiences, in a format that meets the requirements of partner organisations
  • LO4. Engage in peer feedback and support to achieve strong outcomes
  • LO5. Demonstrate strong skills of written and oral communication skills and outputs, which connects with current best-practice in partner organisations

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.

Feedback has allowed us to focus the unit and as such, we have developed a partnership with the MCA, and the unit will be co-produced through this organisation.

Site visit guidelines

Site visit guidelines will be determined by the institutions we visit.

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.