KUN4585 ¨C The Global Portrait

Course content

Using a trans-local framework, this module explores the different ways in which portraiture depicts subjectivity from antiquity to contemporary art. The module¡¯s objective is to examine how subjectivity is constructed in portraiture of different cultures and during different periods. Topics such as likeness, authorship, gender, class and race are foregrounded during the lectures and scrutinised in seminars which focus on specific artworks, practices, patrons, sitters and artists. Each session investigates a different portraiture tradition such Edo Japan, south India, imperial China, North America, and the global contemporary art world. ?Amongst other topics, the sessions explore how the materiality of portraiture in the medium of print contributed to disseminate revolutionary ideas during the 18th century in the Caribbean colonies; how fashion and material culture portrayed in seventeenth century portraits from China depicted changing notions of masculinity; and whether idealised images of named courtesans in Edo Japan may be considered to portray also individualised subjectivity.?

Learning outcome

After having completed the course, students will:

• Understand portraiture as a global phenomenon by relating the artworks to different and specific social and historical contexts
• Consider how portraiture has developed alongside broader artistic trends in art historiography
• Evaluate artworks by using a decolonial and trans-regional methodology?
• Analyse how portraiture both reflects and inscribes different notions of subjectivity, such as race, gender and class.
• Critically assess how portraiture intersects with other disciplines such as anthropology, history, gender studies and critical race theory
• Be able to interpret the complex symbology, pictorial languages, materials and techniques used in the making of portraiture by employing visual literacy and its verbal expression.?

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.

To gain admission to this course, you must be a student of 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.

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with KUN2585 ¨C The Global Portrait.

Teaching

The course will consist of 1 hour lecture and 1 hour seminar i.e. 2 hours of teaching per week for a total of 24 hours.

Students are expected to participate in class and come well prepared for the sessions. This involves detailed reading of the texts assigned for each week and close inspection of the artworks featured in these texts and of any artworks assigned by the teacher prior to the class.

During the seminar component, students will be prompted to discuss the weekly assigned readings in small groups and work in collaboration, amongst other activities.

Mandatory activities:

1. Compulsory attendance: Attendance is compulsory for a minimum of 70% of the course.?

2. Group presentation: Also, during the seminar, groups of 2-3 students will present on one of the assigned readings specified for the week in which they will present. These presentations will last for 10 minutes and will be followed by a 5-minute Q&A. This is a mandatory activity designed to hone the students¡¯ analytic skills and expression.

3. Object report: The students are also required to write a 1,000-word object report containing a detailed visual analysis of a portrait of their choice. This activity promotes visual literacy and ensures continuous assessment of writing skills, providing the opportunity of oral and written feedback well before the final exam.

4. Digital portrait gallery: Students will be required to create a digital portrait gallery, using as a starting point one of the topics discussed during the course such as likeness, authorship, gender, class and race. The portrait gallery will consist of an introductory text of no more than 500 words explaining the rationale behind the project and will then showcase no more than 8 portraits and other artefacts. The gallery can be designed in PowerPoint, Padlet or any software deemed appropriate by the student. This activity encourages students to think critically about issues of representation, self-fashioning and display and how these are communicated to different audiences.?

Examination

Semester essay of up to 3,500 words (not including illustrations, notes and reference). The assignment will be handed in using Inspera. Read about how to submit assignments in Inspera.

When writing a semester essay, students are entitled to individual guidance by the teacher. To be eligible for this guidance the students must submit a draft of their paper that meets certain requirements pre-determined by the teacher, such as an outline of the essay contents, a literature list and the main research question/s.

Language of examination

The examination questions are 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.