B8680 - Phenomenology of Contemporary Art (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will develop the theoretical-methodological and historical-critical tools to understand contemporary art forms from the early 20th Century to the multimedia formulations of the last decades. More specifically, with the critical awareness acquired, students will possess the necessary skills to deal with the study of the evolution of artistic movements and the resulting changes of languages, while keeping in consideration the changes of techniques and artistic practices; they will be able to carry out documentary and bibliographic researches in traditional and digital repertories, and to produce original texts for research or popularizing purposes.

Course contents

The course examines the transformations in the spatial structures of contemporary art, following a selected timeline stretching from the mid-19th century to the present day. From Romanticism to Symbolism, from the historical avant-garde movements to the neo-avant-garde, right up to the most recent installation and digital practices, the course will therefore illustrate the main ways in which figurative and sculptural space have evolved through the formal analysis of images, supported by a comparison with some of the most authoritative voices in contemporary art criticism who have addressed these issues.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Readings/Bibliography

The bibliography, valid for both attending and non-attending students, consists of a course pack that can be downloaded in PDF format from Virtuale.

Teaching methods

Lectures with multimedia supports.

Assessment methods

The assessment will consist of an oral examination in which the student will be required to identify and analyse the images shown by the lecturer. Studying the course notes and slides will be essential for conducting an accurate and well-reasoned analysis of the images. In particular, the following will be assessed: language proficiency, the ability to present a coherent argument, basic knowledge of the authors covered, and the student’s general level of preparation.

The use of AI tools during the examination is prohibited in any form, including chatbots, text generators, advanced translators, content synthesizers, and tools integrated into devices. Any use of AI, even minimal, constitutes a violation of the principle of honesty and fairness set out in the Policy and will result in the cancellation of the examination.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint, PDF, audiovisual materials

Office hours

See the website of Pasquale Fameli