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Unit of study_

ARHT6936: Biennales, Triennales and Contemporary Art

2024 unit information

This unit explores the historical emergence and rapid growth of contemporary international surveys of art since the 1960s. The Biennales, Triennales, Documentas and related international exhibitions are a spectacular cornerstone of today's global art industry. The proliferation of museums, exhibitions, art fairs and cultural events at the international level are now competing with other areas of mass entertainment. In particular, the international contemporary art survey has become a pre-eminent, critical platform for art, trade and cultural politics. The unit is run in conjunction with the Biennale of Sydney. It is an intensive class, with a large component held in situ at Biennale exhibitions, performances, conferences and satellite events.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Arts and Social Sciences

Study level Postgraduate
Academic unit Art History
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None
Assumed knowledge:
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None

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

  • LO1. Achieve a better historical understanding of the emergence and growth of contemporary exhibitions as well as in-depth knowledge of the global art industry in the early 21st century, including the proliferation of museums, exhibitions, art fairs, and cultural events at the international level
  • LO2. Develop the ability to critically analyze the role and significance of Biennales/ Triennales, and other international exhibitions in shaping the global art industry and evaluate the impact of these events on artistic practices, trade, and cultural politics
  • LO3. Enhance awareness of the cultural and political aspects of international contemporary art surveys and critically explore how these events serve as critical platforms for addressing cultural, social, and political issues on a global scale
  • LO4. Broaden perspectives of diverse forms of contemporary art and integrate theoretical knowledge with real-world examples by engaging with the Biennale of Sydney
  • LO5. Expand research experience and develop requisite research and analytical skills essential in the study of art history, museum studies and visual culture

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2024
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2020
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Remote

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.