KUN4560 – Topics in Visual Studies
Course description
Course content
This course will explore how visuality and aesethetics are being reconfigured within the particular forms of capitalism that dominate our time and existence, often characterized by terms such as late capitalism, absolute capitalism, capital realism, neoliberalism, and globalisation. How are issues of desire, love, sexuality, identity, ontology, connectivity, and collectivity marked by the new rhythms and intertwinings of aesthetics, visuality, and capitalism? Are the classical approaches to and categories of aesthetics and visual culture up to the task of making sense of these new reconfigurations?
In class, we will explore a broad range of visual and textual material from contemporary life and modes of thought that will help us work through these issues in compelling ways.
In Autumn 2025, the course will be focused on the aesthetics of seascapes, discussing the visualization of oceanic?spaces and the development of capitalism from the early modern period until today.
Learning outcome
After the completion of the course you should be able to:
- Demonstrate a better understanding of the intersections between visuality, aesthetics, and capitalism in the last 20 years
- Work across and through disciplines in concrete and creative ways.
- Have skills to engage in sophisticated engagements with and critiques of contemporary culture.
- Present their ideas in a clear, compelling, and thorough manner in writing.
- Have improved writing skills in academic English
- Identify and present the most important critical and theoretical positions in the art historical literature dealing with this period, and define the key terms and concepts in this literature and develop a critical reflective attitude towards these
- Analyze visual forms from this period using the terms and concepts presented in the course literature
- Evaluate the critical and theoretical positions in the course literature from a comparative perspective.
- Produce a sophisticated exam essay that demonstrates both imagination and in depth research skills.
- See the benefit of being able to use the course’s key concepts, terms and theory in your own master thesis.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
The course is available to students admitted to Kunsthistorie og visuelle studier (master). Students enrolled in other Master`s Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Recommended previous knowledge
It is recommended that you have passed 60 studiepoeng (equal to ECTS) in Art History, Aestethics and/or Visual studies before taking this course
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with KUN2560 – Topics in Visual Studies.
Teaching
This course will be conducted primarily as a seminar with class discussion.
Following the seminars is highly recommended. We expect you to meet prepared for classes and to participate actively.
In order to qualify to the final exam, you must complete these?compulsory activities:
- Meet with instructor to work out an exam essay topic by a stated deadline.
- Attend 7 out of the 10 seminars.
This is how you apply for a valid absence/postponed compulsory activities.
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
The examination is a semester essay
The essay must consist of 10 pages (each page à 2300 characters without spaces, not including illustrations, notes and reference).
The assignment will be handed in using Inspera. You must familiarize yourself with the login and submission procedures in timely manner before the exam. Read more about Inspera below.
When writing a semester essay you are entitled to individual guidance by you teacher. To be eligible for this guidance you must submit a draft of your paper that meets certain requirements. More detailed information about guidance and how to submit your draft will be given by the teacher during class or in Canvas.
Grading guidelines for KUN2560/4560 (pdf)
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.