237331

Critical Understandings of Contemporary Art

This course examines and appraises ideas that contribute to a critical understanding of contemporary art. Students will evaluate a range of content in relation to their own creative practice as well as the wider contemporary art world. The relation between artists and their processes and approaches will be explored through topics such as race, gender, intersectionality, decolonisation, popular culture, politics, social justice, and others.

Course code

Qualifications are made up of courses. Some universities call these papers. Each course is numbered using six digits.

237331

Level

The fourth number of the course code shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).

300-level

Credits

Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.

15

Subject

Visual and Material Culture

Course planning information

Course notes

Students must submit all assessments and achieve an overall minimum C- grade.

Prerequisite courses

Complete first
15 credits from 237231, 289200, 150206, 133257, 197239, 237230

You need to complete the above course or courses before moving onto this one.

General progression requirements

You must complete at least 45 credits from 200-level before enrolling in 300-level courses.

Learning outcomes

What you will learn. Knowledge, skills and attitudes you’ll be able to show as a result of successfully finishing this course.

  • 1 Retrieve relevant information, evaluate a range of appropriate sources, and use academic referencing conventions in carrying out research relevant to their own practice. (Graduate profile: Understanding and Mātauranga A4, E4)
  • 2 Demonstrate understanding of a range of texts and perspectives to locate their practice in the context of contemporary art. (Graduate profile: Understanding and Mātauranga A2)
  • 3 Critically locate and evaluate a range of cultural, philosophical and aesthetic perspectives relevant to contemporary art and their own practice. (Graduate profile: Understanding and Mātauranga A2, C2)
  • 4 Organise and articulate ideas and information in order to formulate arguments and express them effectively in written and oral forms. (Graduate profile: Connectedness and Whanaungatanga E1)

Learning outcomes can change before the start of the semester you are studying the course in.

Assessments

Assessment Learning outcomes assessed Weighting
Written Assignment 1 2 3 4 30%
Written Assignment 1 2 3 4 70%

Assessment weightings can change up to the start of the semester the course is delivered in.

You may need to take more assessments depending on where, how, and when you choose to take this course.

Explanation of assessment types

Computer programmes
Computer animation and screening, design, programming, models and other computer work.
Creative compositions
Animations, films, models, textiles, websites, and other compositions.
Exam College or GRS-based (not centrally scheduled)
An exam scheduled by a college or the Graduate Research School (GRS). The exam could be online, oral, field, practical skills, written exams or another format.
Exam (centrally scheduled)
An exam scheduled by Assessment Services (centrally) – you’ll usually be told when and where the exam is through the student portal.
Oral or performance or presentation
Debates, demonstrations, exhibitions, interviews, oral proposals, role play, speech and other performances or presentations.
Participation
You may be assessed on your participation in activities such as online fora, laboratories, debates, tutorials, exercises, seminars, and so on.
Portfolio
Creative, learning, online, narrative, photographic, written, and other portfolios.
Practical or placement
Field trips, field work, placements, seminars, workshops, voluntary work, and other activities.
Simulation
Technology-based or experience-based simulations.
Test
Laboratory, online, multi-choice, short answer, spoken, and other tests – arranged by the school.
Written assignment
Essays, group or individual projects, proposals, reports, reviews, writing exercises, and other written assignments.

Textbooks needed

There are no set texts for this course.