90615 - Forms and Functions of Contemporary Art (1) (LM)

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Docente: Roberto Pinto
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: L-ART/03
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Visual Arts (cod. 9071)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have acquired a detailed knowledge of the main artistic movements and main players in the art history of the 19th and 20th century. Students will possess the skills and methodologies to carry out autonomous research and the tools to investigate scientifically the work of contemporary artists. Students will also be able to critically evaluate. Furthermore, students will be able to analyze the processes of exchange and interaction between individual authors and artistic currents.

Course contents

The exam for History of Contemporary Art A consists of two courses: Theories and Forms of Photography (Prof. Marra) and Forms and Functions of Contemporary Art (Prof. Pinto). Contemporary Art History is an integrated exam of 12 CFU (6 CFU+6 CFU) and the verification and evaluation of the preparation follow the procedures laid down for an integrated exam, i.e. they must be taken in the same session and students must then register simultaneously for both exams.

The course Forms and Functions of Contemporary Art aims to examine some passages of recent production that are significant for the entire development of contemporary art. In particular, we will try to analyze historically the evolution from the concept of participatory and relational art through artists and/or exhibitions focused on these characteristics. In this journey we will try to identify both the roots of this phenomenon and the developments that, since the 1980s, have characterized many of the recent artistic manifestations.

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography for attending and non-attending students:

Bishop C., Inferni Artificiali. La politica della spettacolarità nell’arte partecipativa, Sossella, Milano 2015.

Bourriaud N., Estetica Relazionale, Postmedia Books, Milano 2010.

A knowledge of the works referred to in the books is also required, in particular those that will be present in the pdf to download on Insegnamenti on Line

Only for attending students, instead of the book, it is possible to opt for a handout with some essays on the topics of the course, that will find in the material of the “Insegnamenti on Line” (https://iol.unibo.it) at the beginning of the lessons.

Suggested reading:

H. Foster - R. Krauss - Y.A. Bois - B. Buchloh, D. Joselit, Arte dal 1900, Modernismo, Antimodernismo e Postmodernismo, Zanichelli, 2017.

Teaching methods

Due to the restrictions imposed by the current health emergency, teaching will be carried out with “traditional" teaching methods, i.e. the teacher will always be present in the classroom designated for teaching, students will alternate in attendance according to a schedule of shifts being defined (more detailed information about the shift and how to access the lesson in attendance will be provided later). It will always be possible to connect remotely and follow live streaming of the lessons in the classroom by TEAMS platform.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of an interview to evaluate the critical and methodological skills acquired by the students. Students will be assessed especially considering whether they have acquired ability to orientate within the visual and written sources recommended in the bibliography and on the Virtuale platform, for finding useful information to illustrate topics and issues by connecting them.

What will be assessed: - Mastery of the contents - the ability to historically frame artists, exhibitions and movements - The ability to analyse themes and concepts - The ability to express oneself adequately and in a language appropriate to the subject being dealt with.

It will be assessed as excellent the performance of those students achieving an organic vision of the course contents, the use of a proper specific language.

It will be assessed as average the performance of those students showing mostly mechanical or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, not articulated synthesis and analysis capabilities, a correct but not always appropriate language, as well as a scholastic study of the topics of the course. It will be assessed as barely sufficient the performance of those students showing learning gaps, inappropriate language, lack of knowledge of the recommended bibliography. It will be assessed as insufficient the performance of those students showing learning gaps, inappropriate language, no orientation within the recommended bibliography and inability to analyse the discipline.

Teaching tools

As already reported in the bibliography, the PDFs will be available online with the images projected during the lectures. In addition, further relevant materials relating to the course contents may be added.

Office hours

See the website of Roberto Pinto