Welcome to semester 1 of Art Theory III. This module will look at issues in contemporary art – particularly at questions of decolonial theory, decoloniality and debates around the meanings, uses and practices associated with decolonial theory.
The module will highlight a plurality of voices, artistic approaches and practices, in different contexts around the world in order to understand these theoretical debates that continue to be relevant today. Given that decolonial theory emerges from what has been called “the global south” – and represents both a temporal and a geographical intervention in the politics of knowledge and aesthetics – this course will call attention to the ways in which questions, concerns, lived realities, histories, artistic practices and identities that emerge from the experiences of the formerly colonized peoples and parts of the world have been central to shaping modernity and many of the key questions facing the art world today.
Through this approach students will be introduced to the notions/concepts of: colonial modernity, coloniality, decoloniality, epistemic decolonization, aestheTics and aestheSis, radical black feminism, fallism, intersectionality, etc.
This module takes as its point of departure contemporary (and historical) art practices, relevant theoretical texts, artist and curator interviews, etc. Students will be provided with the theoretical tools, the insight and knowledge needed to deal meaningfully and critically with contemporary art, visual texts and theoretical debates and discourses revolving around decolonial theory and beyond.
Note: All readings will be made available on the Moodle Classroom. Students are expected to do all readings more than once to familiarize themselves with the ideas and to be able to discuss them in class and apply them during lectures and discussions. Engaging the texts seriously will provide for an overall growth in the student’s visual literacies and proficiency in critical thinking.
Course guidelines:
• You will be expected to read all materials, to watch or listen to additional materials such as YouTube videos or podcasts. All materials will be provided through the Moodle platform.
• You are expected to complete all assessments, including short quizzes and writing assignments. All assessments need to be submitted via Moodle.
• You are expected to attend to all issues of formatting, grammar, spelling, referencing for your papers, so they are presented as complete and professional works. Any failure to attend to the formal aspects of writing will reflect in your assessment.
4. Learning outcomes
● Demonstrate a basic understanding of key terms, concepts, facts, principles and theories in diverse historical and cultural contexts in Fine Art theory and practice.
● Source, retrieve, critically analyse and synthesise information, using suitable academic conventions, to support a discussion.
● Critically analyse and apply foundational principles, theories, techniques.
The module will highlight a plurality of voices, artistic approaches and practices, in different contexts around the world in order to understand these theoretical debates that continue to be relevant today. Given that decolonial theory emerges from what has been called “the global south” – and represents both a temporal and a geographical intervention in the politics of knowledge and aesthetics – this course will call attention to the ways in which questions, concerns, lived realities, histories, artistic practices and identities that emerge from the experiences of the formerly colonized peoples and parts of the world have been central to shaping modernity and many of the key questions facing the art world today.
Through this approach students will be introduced to the notions/concepts of: colonial modernity, coloniality, decoloniality, epistemic decolonization, aestheTics and aestheSis, radical black feminism, fallism, intersectionality, etc.
This module takes as its point of departure contemporary (and historical) art practices, relevant theoretical texts, artist and curator interviews, etc. Students will be provided with the theoretical tools, the insight and knowledge needed to deal meaningfully and critically with contemporary art, visual texts and theoretical debates and discourses revolving around decolonial theory and beyond.
Note: All readings will be made available on the Moodle Classroom. Students are expected to do all readings more than once to familiarize themselves with the ideas and to be able to discuss them in class and apply them during lectures and discussions. Engaging the texts seriously will provide for an overall growth in the student’s visual literacies and proficiency in critical thinking.
Course guidelines:
• You will be expected to read all materials, to watch or listen to additional materials such as YouTube videos or podcasts. All materials will be provided through the Moodle platform.
• You are expected to complete all assessments, including short quizzes and writing assignments. All assessments need to be submitted via Moodle.
• You are expected to attend to all issues of formatting, grammar, spelling, referencing for your papers, so they are presented as complete and professional works. Any failure to attend to the formal aspects of writing will reflect in your assessment.
4. Learning outcomes
● Demonstrate a basic understanding of key terms, concepts, facts, principles and theories in diverse historical and cultural contexts in Fine Art theory and practice.
● Source, retrieve, critically analyse and synthesise information, using suitable academic conventions, to support a discussion.
● Critically analyse and apply foundational principles, theories, techniques.
- Teacher: Ismail Farouk
- Teacher: Queeneth Fikile Novuka
- Teacher: Witty Nonhlanhla Nyide - Mchunu
- Teacher: Thembalakhe Prospect Shibase