Art in Critical Theory

Semester and Year	FA 2012
Course Number	IDSEM-UG1730
Section	001
Instructor	Meleko Mokgosi
Days	Tue,Thu
Time	6:20 PM - 7:35 PM
Units	4.0
Level	U
Foundation Requirement	HUM

Description

What is “critical theory”, and how did it gain profound and conspicuous traction in the art world? What does theory have to do with the experience of visual art? Does it change how we look at and respond to Art? Theory and critique are not only expected from so-called “serious artists”, both are also being produced and consumed at rapid rates by students, established artists, historians, critics, etc. This course will begin with a brief look at the foundations of critical theory, and move onto the primary aim of studying the development of critical theory in the field of art. Emphasis will be placed on addressing what it means to be “critical” and how critical theory has been used in the writings and artworks by artists such as Yvonne Rainer, Hans Haake, Mary Kelly, Thomas Lawson, Dan Graham, and Andrea Fraser. These artists have integrated writing/theorizing with creating artworks, and continue to do so with persistence and rigor. In addition to investigating the emergence and impact of critical theory in the field of Art, students will be challenged to make theory into action: to theorize.

Course Type

Interdisciplinary Seminars (IDSEM-UG)