The Contemporary (with a Term in Paris)

Course Structure

1. Reading the Contemporary
2. Conceptualising Film
3. Advanced Film Theory
4. Post-Conceptual Art and Visual Arts Criticism
5. History and Theory of Curating
6. The Art of Portraiture: Historical and Philosophical Approaches
7. Key Concepts and Classic Texts in History and Philosophy of Art
8. Colonial and Postcolonial Discourses
9. Provocations and Invitations
10. Advanced Critical Reading
11. provide an excellent quality of postgraduate level education in the field of contemporary culture
12. provide a cross-disciplinary, inspiring learning environment informed by high-level research and practice
13. provide a pioneering educational opportunity within the UK context through which MA students will progress into careers in the fields of arts management and policy, or on to related postgraduate opportunities
14. develop the following range of aptitudes and skills: high-level written communication, the capacity to present information and argument in public, information literacy, research methods, work-based teamwork skills, project planning
15. promote engagement with a range of disciplines and thereby enable you to pursue careers in a range of complex organisational settings within the field of the arts
16. promote an understanding of the relations between disciplines and an appreciation of the ways in which cross-disciplinary thinking within the arts makes it possible to grasp and respond to salient issues in contemporary culture
17. provide a vocational training within an academic framework through internships provided by the Institute of Contemporary Arts.
18. principles and application of underlying modes of inquiry within different academic disciplines and contexts across the field of the arts
19. issues shaping contemporary theory and philosophy
20. the relation between artistic practice and theoretical inquiry in the contemporary period
21. the varying ways in which different disciplines and practices across the arts conceptualise the contemporary
22. how to use the resources of contemporary art practice to think through current issues and future challenges in modern culture
23. the ways in which contemporary art practice addresses its publics, and the institutions through which it influences thought and opinion.
24. how to discuss, conceptualise and mediate current work in the fields of fine art, film and literature
25. a selected topic within a given discipline and the application of appropriate research methods.
26. research skills: how to formulate research questions and hypotheses to address problems across a range of disciplines within the Arts
27. analytical skills: how to interpret arguments, marshal information from published sources, interpret materials from archives, critically evaluate your own research and that of others
28. information technology literacy: the use of appropriate technology to retrieve, analyse and present information
29. presentation skills: the use of public forum to develop ability to present arguments persuasively.
30. reasoning: how to construct arguments within different intellectual contexts and disciplines across the Arts, how to formulate and address research questions and problems
31. communication: how to communicate within and across Arts disciplines, how to mediate key ideas between disciplines and towards the non-academic public, how to speak and write persuasively in discursive contexts
32. presentation of research: how to write essays and a dissertation in an appropriate style, in keeping with the conventions of different subject areas
33. project organisation: how to conceive and execute a dissertation-length project under the guidance of academic and practice-based supervision
34. employment-oriented practice: how to integrate with a gallery-based team, how to shape arts programming, how to mediate contemporary arts practices to the general public.
35. careers: a recognition of career opportunities for postgraduates in the fields of contemporary arts.
36. communication: the ability to organise information clearly, present information in oral and written form, adapt presentation for different audiences
37. reflection: make use of constructive informal feedback from staff and peers and assess your own progress to enhance performance and personal skills
38. self-motivation and independence: time and workload management in order to meet personal targets and imposed deadlines.
39. teamwork: the ability to work both independently and as part of a research group using peer support, diplomacy and collective responsibility.