KUN4580 – Art and Ecology
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
In this course, art will be studied in relation to ecology. It covers environmental approaches to aesthetic practices in a global context drawing on examples from the early modern period until today.
The course starts with discussing the impact of the environment on art before and during the Anthropocene, for example highlighting the formative importance of climatic conditions and natural resources, and ends with considering the intersections between art, ecocriticism, and environmental activism today.?
Period conceptualizations of ‘nature’ will be reviewed and contemporary theories on the ecology of art in colonial and postcolonial settings will be discussed against the background of ongoing debates on sustainability, climate change and resource wars.
Learning outcome
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Discuss aspects of art, visual and material culture in relation to ecology and understand and articulate some of the theoretical issues around the global histories of art, visual and material culture.
- Systematically analyze and interpret works of art, e.g., by describing forms, processes, tools, and materials with appropriate technical vocabulary introduced in lectures and readings.
- Relate works of art to their wider historical and cultural context with a special focus on ecology and understand the circumstances surrounding their creation and reception.
- Apply and evaluate different types of primary and secondary sources and make use of library resources.
- Participate in group discussion and present their ideas to peers.
- Communicate both orally and in writing academic English.?
- Situate a thematic display of three to four museum objects within the critical frameworks that is explored in this module.
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
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with KUN2580 – Art and Ecology.
Teaching
12 lectures/seminars (each of 2 x 45 min)
The teaching is a combination of lectures and?seminars. We expect you to meet prepared for classes and to actively participate in discussions and to give a presentation on assigned topics/texts.
Mandatory activities:
- one oral presentation by each student
- one written assignment of maximum 1,000 words/ 4 pages
- exhibition:?This assignment takes the form of a proposal for a museum display, highlighting three to four objects which will be grouped and interpreted through a theory or argument discussed in the seminars and/or in one of the readings from the module. Further instructions will be given in class/on Canvas.
Examination
Semester essay of maximum 3,500 words.
The essay must consist of up to 8 pages/3,500 words (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 how to submit in Inspera.
When writing a semester essay, you are entitled to individual guidance by your 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.
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.