Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to develop fresh perspectives in the history of art, by looking at art and art historical debates outside Western contexts and from the point of view of ethnic minorities. During this course, students will become familiar with the extent to which contexts shape our art historical thinking, as well learn to identify and understand the terminology and concepts that lie behind our current art historical thought. The course will increase the students ability to examine the history of visual culture from the global perspective. We will ask, for example, in what ways globalization or multiculturalism is visible and expressed in our visual surroundings; and how does cultural referencing, interaction or blending manifest itself in art history and contemporary art. 

Credits: 4

Schedule: 13.01.2022 - 07.04.2022

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Tuija Peltomaa

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):


CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    We will look at selected examples from different continents and cultures (for example South America, Africa, India, China, Japan, Near East). We will study global art history and contemporary visual arts, as well as cultural meanings that are associated with a broad range of material artefacts, dress and bodily adornment. We will use a set of keywords to approach the complex questions that relate to the relationships between indigenous cultures, minorities and dominant cultures, as well as address problems of cultural dominance (such as colonialism, exoticism, orientalism, primitivism, otherness, cultural identity, diaspora, boundary, intercultural relations, and cultural changes in conflict areas). We will discuss how both otherness as well as shared experiences of humanity have been discussed.

  • applies in this implementation

    See MyCourses -> News and Schedule -> Schedule


Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Lectures and presentations. Group work, individual assignments, and role tasks in the class. Discussions based on examples, key words, concepts and texts introduced in the course. Successful completion of the course requires students to participate in 75% of the classes, as well as to complete a process-oriented independent assignment, where we examine how otherness and foreign cultures have been represented in Western art, and how cultural identities have been built in art and art history.

  • applies in this implementation

    Evaluation 0 – 5. The lowest approved grade is 1.

    The evaluation is based on the student's personal progress, attendance and participation in lectures/the synchronized online teaching with pre-scheduled zoom meetings, discussion and group work, as well as the ability to utilize and express verbally the lesson learned, and the key words and concepts introduced. You may be asked to prepare for the classes by familiarizing with given texts and other online material, or making annotations on a given theme.

    Closer instructions for the process-oriented independent assignment are given during the course proceeds and in MyCourses, see -> Assignment 
    One of the factors affecting grades is returning assignments within the required time.

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Contact teaching 36 h, independent work 72h

  • applies in this implementation

    36 h lectures or synchronous online teaching including discussion, group work and exhibition visits, 72 h independent work according to instructions.*

    * The course will be conducted according to the COVID-19 situation and related instructions. Due to the ongoing situation this implementation begins in Zoom and may vary from distance learning and course meetings arranged via the Zoom connection to lectures and exhibition visits. Communication will take place and closer information about the schedule will be provided via the MyCourses course page.

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    During the course and in MyCourses

  • applies in this implementation

    The course material may include a selection of articles and other online material distributed via MyCourses course page during the course. 

    This and other optional supplementary material, including literature and videos, see MyCourses -> Learning Resources


Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    5 Gender Equality

    10 Reduced Inequality

    16 Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Written assignments can also be done in Finnish or Swedish.

    Minimum amount of participants is 8 students.
    Two places are reserved for exchange students.

    Teaching Period:

    2020-2021 Spring III-IV

    2021-2022 Spring III-IV

    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=ARTS-E0604

    Registration for Courses: Sisu replaces Oodi on 9 August, 2021. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-in-aalto-arts

    WebOodi

    Minimum amount of participants is 8 students.

    The order of priority for admitting students:

    1. Exchange students in Aalto ARTS, 2 places (applies to courses taught in English)
    2. Minor students (applies to compulsory courses in the minor)
    3. Degree students in Aalto ARTS
    4. Students from other schools in Aalto University and students who have applied for the course through different student mobility schemes (flexible study right (JOO) studies etc.)
    5. Other students

  • applies in this implementation

    The course will be conducted according to the COVID-19 situation and related instructions. Due to the ongoing situation this implementation begins in Zoom and may vary from distance learning and course meetings arranged via the Zoom connection to lectures and exhibition visits. Communication will take place and closer information about the schedule will be provided via the MyCourses course page.

    The first meeting, Thursday 13th of January 2022 at 9-12 will be in Zoom. See MyCourses -> News and Schedule -> Schedule

Details on the schedule
  • applies in this implementation

    See MyCourses -> News and Schedule -> Schedule