B5649 - Contemporary Art Appreciation

Learning outcomes

The student is expected to learn the frameworks of visual art produced by artists from the last decades and living today. In this perspective, contemporary art responds to a global system that is culturally diverse, multifaced, and technologically advanced. This ample focus wants to evidence critical methods for the comprehension of various contemporary art styles, through developing a deep understanding of their historical background. At the end of the course, the student will be able to - apply methodologies for analysing works of art - examine the contemporary art scenario.

Course contents

This course provides an introduction to contemporary visual art forms and their international cultural connections and is specifically designed for students with little or no prior background in visual arts or contemporary art history. The course offers an overview of key developments in contemporary visual art over the last three decades, alongside in-depth analysis of the elements, media, and methodologies that inform contemporary creative processes.

Contemporary art is examined as part of a global system characterized by cultural diversity, multiple perspectives, and advanced technological conditions. Particular attention is given to expanded visual practices and to the ways in which contemporary art engages with current sociological and anthropological perspectives. The course highlights the multiple expressions of postmodern and post-contemporary culture, both within and beyond traditional institutional spaces such as museums.

The course also introduces fundamental concepts of aesthetics and explores their relationship to cultural conventions. Visual art is analyzed both as a social practice and as an individual creative act, with reference to historical and contemporary models of artistic training. Students are encouraged to develop critical tools for the analysis and interpretation of contemporary art practices, grounded in a solid understanding of their historical, cultural, and theoretical contexts.

The course is structured into three main units, for a total of 30 hours. The first unit (10 hours) introduces the historical and theoretical frameworks necessary to identify and contextualize contemporary art. The second unit (10 hours) focuses on selected themes, languages, and practices within contemporary visual art through in-depth study. The third unit (10 hours) consists of an immersive engagement with a variety of artistic environments, including galleries, museums, art associations, temporary exhibitions, and urban spaces, offering students direct encounters with contemporary art in its current forms.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will have acquired knowledge of the main conceptual and theoretical frameworks of contemporary visual art produced in recent decades. They will be able to apply appropriate methodologies for the analysis and interpretation of works of art, critically examine the contemporary art landscape, and contextualize artistic practices within broader social, cultural, and institutional frameworks.

Readings/Bibliography

Miwon Kwon, One place after another. Site - specific art and locational identity

Seth Price, Dispersion, 2002, https://anthology.rhizome.org/dispersion

Enrique Vila-Matas, The Illogic of Kassel, New Directions Paperbook, 2015

Claire Bishop, Disordered Attention: How We Look at Art and Performance Today, Verso editions, London, 2024

Teaching methods

Teaching will be conducted primarily through traditional, face-to-face lectures. Lectures will be complemented by guided discussions, allowing students to actively engage with the topics addressed during the course. Students will be encouraged to discuss the course contents with the instructor, fostering critical dialogue, clarification of key concepts, and deeper understanding of the different topics covered.

Assessment methods

The final assessment will consist of an oral examination in the form of a structured conversation between the student and the professor. The exam will focus on the topics covered during the lectures and on the materials listed in the course bibliography. The oral examination is intended to evaluate the student’s understanding of the course content, their ability to articulate concepts clearly, and their capacity to critically discuss contemporary art topics using appropriate terminology.

Grades are awarded on a scale of 30 points, in accordance with the Italian university grading system:

• Below 18/30: Fail

• 18–23/30: Sufficient

• 24–27/30: Good

• 28–30/30: Very good

• 30/30 with honors (cum laude): Excellent

Teaching tools

Teaching activities will be supported by a range of educational tools, including images, videos, sound materials, and guided visits to contemporary art exhibitions. The course will also provide opportunities for students to meet and engage with professionals working in the field of contemporary art, such as artists, curators, and museum directors, offering direct insight into current artistic practices and institutional contexts.

Office hours

See the website of Fabiola Naldi