Level 3 Art History Modern

(A selection of art works that we study in relation to history: E.g. Matisse, Kathe Kollwitz, Hannah Hoch, Dali, Magritte, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, Barbara Kruger, Jacqueline Fahey)

Art History is an engaging way to investigate history in relation to the visual culture, design and art that was produced during the time. Students will look, discuss, read and write about art works, ideas and history in class. They will learn about technological, economic, political and social contexts from the early 20th Century in Europe and analyse how these shaped modernist art, design and architecture.

Writing is a key method of assessment in the course. Students will work to develop their vocabulary, paragraph and essay writing skills through the class tasks and discussions, course readers and written assessments.

Art History will support any future career, by developing; analysis and critical thinking skills, writing, literacy and discussion skills in students. Art History helps people to develop interesting ideas in any career. Visual arts students are advised to take modern art history as it supports their ideas.

In the Modern Art History Course we will be focusing on art in Early 20th Century Europe through to Modernist and Postmodern Art in the USA and Aotearoa between 1940-1990s. Alongside art, we look at how philosophical, political and economic contexts influenced artists to express new and sometimes radical ideas through their art. This is a key period in art history, when western art changed dramatically in response to the rising forces of modernity, war, political extremes. We will look at theory influences such as Freud, Existentialism and Feminist ideas and how they influence artists during the 20th Century.

Modern Art History places students in a very good position to sit Art History Scholarship as they are introduced to a wide range of art movements looking back from the 20th Century.

There are two internal assessments and three external standards in this course.

(A  selection of images which show some of the historical contexts that we will look at alongside the art and design works: Freud, Modernity, WWI, Art Deco, The New Woman, Flappers, Design, Fashion, The Rise of Fascism, Communism and WWII in Europe)