92528 VISUAL CULTURES

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
97	92528 	S2  	D 	VISUAL CULTURES           	1.00

Contents

• Staffing
• Pre-requisite(s)
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Recommended References
• Student Workload
• Assessment Details
• Other Requirements

STAFFING:

PRE-REQUISITE(S)

92527

SYNOPSIS:

Understanding and explaining the nature of contemporary culture  is  a
difficult task. Since major technological developments occurred in the
mid  '60s dramatic social changes have taken place. Intrinsic to these
changes are notions of difference in visual culture within the current
cultural  contexts  of  artistic communication.  This  unit  addresses
issues  of social and cultural practice which challenge and shape  the
arts  of  European  and  non-European  cultures.  Positions  of,   and
differences  between,  artist and audience are  central  concepts  for
deconstruction.   Constructs  of  visual  communication,   constituted
through the visual language of cultural codes and conventions, will be
explored  as  they relate to agency and the transmission  of  cultural
literacy across various periods and cultures in Art History.

OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able
to:

1. develop an awareness of the formation of culture and the
   processes of responding to change;
   
2. understand the basic cultural formations and practices which
   shape visual arts communication;
   
3. acquire a knowledge of the development of contemporary
   artistic forms through European and non-European traditions;
   
4. develop a knowledge of the roles of visual language and
   cultural codes and conventions in forming constructs of visual
   communication;
   
5. recognise the underlying aesthetic conventions within works of
   art in their socio-cultural contexts;
   
6. clearly and logically express personal ideas pertaining to
   notions of agency and cultural literacy as they relate to the
   visual arts.
   

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)

The framing of culture.

Visual   literacy:   constructing  cultural   codes   and
conventions.

The   purposes   of   artworks:   vehicles   for   visual
communication.

Aesthetics  and  everyday  life: changing  socio-cultural
contexts for the visual arts.

Interpreting artworks.

Art and its audience.

The  roles of popular culture and the challenge  to  high
traditions.

Traditions and conventions of locality.

Relating  cultural  and aesthetic  theories  to  artistic
practices.

TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Frow, J & Morris, M, 1993, Australian Cultural Studies: A Reader,
Allen and Unwin, St Leonards.

Freedman, A & MacDonald, A, 1992, What is this thing called Genre?,
Boombanan Publications, Mount Nebo, Qld.

Grossberg, L, Nelson, C & Treichler, P, eds, 1992, Cultural Studies,
Routledge, New York.

Cunningham, S, 1992, Framing Culture: Criticism and Policy in
Australia.

Gibson,R, 1992, South of the West: Postcolonialism and Narrative
Construction of Australia, Indiana University Press, Bloomington.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Lectures                                      	28
Tutorials/Workshops                           	14
Private Study                                 	123

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL
1   S              08/08/97  CULTURAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY                    30.00     N
2   S              19/09/97  WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT                        30.00     N
3   S              T.B.A.    JOURNAL OF RES & TUT PREP & PART          40.00     N

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    ADDITIONAL  INFORMATION  ON ASSESSMENT  NUMBER  3:  Journal:  The
     journal is to include reviews, tutorial research preparation  and
     material   for   oral   presentations  during   tutorials.   Oral
     presentations   will  occur  during  tutorials   throughout   the
     Semester.
2    Students are expected to attend at least 80% of classes.
3    Students are expected to pass all categories of assessment.
4    Penalty of up to a maximum of 20% of the assigned marks (in  line
     with  University policy) shall apply for each working date  late.
     Late  submissions  will be subject to penalty unless  extenuating
     circumstances (and appropriate certification) are demonstrated.