AR2412:03
Art, Images and Symbols *
| Townsville | HECS Band 1 |
39 hours workshops/seminars. Semester 2. In 2005 the subject will also be delivered on-line using Learn JCU (Blackboard).
Staff: Dr D Roe, Dr R Henry.
This subject explores a variety of approaches in the archaeology and anthropology of art. The lectures begin with a consideration of the validity and universality of some concepts, such as “art”, “aesthetics”, “symbol”, “style”, “creativity” and “authenticity”, before addressing a series of themes including: the prehistory of art; rock art; pottery; African metallurgy; art as process – the politics and poetics of art production and consumption; the “artist” in cross-cultural perspective; writing systems; body art and masks; dance and other “art in motion”; architecture and landscape; Indigenous art and the art market; tourist art and visual representations of ‘the other’.
Learning Objectives:
- to promote an appreciation of the complexity and diversity of art forms in past and present societies;
- to provide an understanding of a range of current theories in archaeology and anthropology for the study of art, images and symbols;
- to develop an understanding of the contexts in which, and methods by which, art, images and symbols were/are produced and consumed;
- to develop an understanding of politics and poetics of representation;
- to encourage critical analysis of various approaches to understanding visual forms and representations.
Assessment by workshop participation and exercises and/or class tests (40%); major essay (40%); research poster presentation and defence (20%).
* Offered in odd-numbered years