KUN2220 – Work versus Text
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course addresses the question of the word/image relation that emerges in the art historical literature of the past decades, particularly through the structuralist and poststructuralist literature informing so-called «new art history».
The course give an introduction to these issues and places particular emphasis on the fact that the word/image relation may also be understood as pertaining to the question of «work» versus «text» in the wider sense of the term. The course is not period-specific and will discuss artistic materials from the medieval period until today. The overarching aim of the course is to provide critical tools with which to handle the question of multidisciplinary in the field of visual art, as well as the debates on what constitutes a «work» of art.
Learning outcome
After completing the course you should be able to:
- account for the methodological perspectives of «new art history», with particular emphasis on changes in the art historical definitions of the work of art.
- address key issues in structuralism, semiotics, deconstruction and discourse analysis
- identify and present the theoretical positions of the various authors on the curriculum - from Svetlana Alpers to Henry Sayre
- provide examples on the ways in which the course literature provides theoretical and methodological frameworks for the analysis of the artworks presented in the course.
Admission
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.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Recommended previous knowledge
Courses on a bacic level from bachelor programs such as Aestethics, History of Art or Culture Studies.
Overlapping courses
10 credits overlap with KUN4220 – Verk versus tekst (discontinued)
Teaching
Ca. 27 hours of lectures and seminars.
Teaching is divided into three-hour long sessions: Two hours of lecture followed by a one hour seminar /group discussion with student presentations.
It is obligatory to actively participate in the seminars (minimum 7 of 9 seminars).
Please note that you do not qualify for the final examination unless these mandatory requirements are fulfilled.
Some teaching materials may be distributed in Fronter.
Examination
Home examination (6-7 pages) over 3 days. The assignment will be given and handed in using Fronter
For detailed information regarding examinations see Examination information at the Faculty of Humanities
Use of sources and citation
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.
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.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Evaluation
All courses are subject to continuous evaluation. The Department's assessments of courses are
available at our web-pages, but generally only in Norwegian.