Course detail

What is Contemporary Art?

FaVU-1CJSUAcad. year: 2023/2024

This is one of the introductory courses that will provide a common foundation for the studies in the Fine Arts program. In this course, students are introduced to basic terminology and factual information, the knowledge of which is a prerequisite for communicating together about issues related to current art practice. Thus, the course is the first part of a block of courses introducing students to art history, while standing somewhat apart from it by presenting contemporary art and its institutions as facts, but also as problems and questions that are still open.

 

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Mgr. Jan Zálešák, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Art History and Theory (KTDU)

Entry knowledge

None.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The colloquium, which concludes the course, consists of presentations of short papers (in several small groups) followed by feedback and guided discussion. The assessment is based on preparation for the paper, adherence to the parameters of the presentation and the ability to engage in discussion.

 

Teaching takes place in the classrooms of the FFA BUT in the hours determined by the schedule. Attendance is compulsory (2 unexcused absences allowed). Higher number of absences can be compensated by submitting an alternative assignment after agreement with the teachers.

 

Aims

The aim of the course is to raise the fundamental question at the very beginning of the study: what is contemporary art? Is it the same thing as "modern art"? Is it something that students have learned about in high school? When did contemporary art begin? And hasn't it been around for too long? The aim of the course is to seek answers to these and similar questions and, in the process, to introduce students to the basics of the complex and not always entirely transparent structure of the "(contemporary) art world", as well as to the key figures, themes and issues that have co-created it. Completion of the course should equip students with the basic terminology and factual background necessary for study in the Fine Arts program, as well as the tools for critical thinking about contemporary art.

 

By completing the course, students will strengthen their ability to think critically about (contemporary) visual art. They will be familiar with the basic terminology and factography necessary for relevant participation in studio classes, consultations and critiques, and in other courses focused on issues of modern and contemporary art.

 

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Arthur C. DANTO, Po konci umění: současné umění a oblast mimo dějiny, Praha: Academia, 2021.
Benjamin BUCHLOH – Yve ALAIN-BOIS – Hal FOSTER – Rosalind KRAUSS, Umění po roce 1900: modernismus, antimodernismus, postmodernismus, Praha: Slovart, 2007.
Pavlína MORGANOVÁ – Terezie NEKVINDOVÁ – Dagmar SVATOŠOVÁ – Jiří ŠEVČÍK (eds.), České umění 1980-2010: texty a dokumenty, Praha: Akademie výtvarných umění v Praze, Vědecko-výzkumné pracoviště, 2011.
Pavlína MORGANOVÁ – Terezie NEKVINDOVÁ – Dagmar SVATOŠOVÁ, Výstava jako médium: české umění 1957–1999, Praha: Akademie výtvarných umění v Praze, Vědecko-výzkumné pracoviště AVU, 2020.
Tomáš POSPISZYL, Asociativní dějepis umění: poválečné umění napříč generacemi a médii (koláž, intermediální a konceptuální umění, performance a film), Praha: Tranzit, 2014.
Tomáš POSPISZYL, Posledních padesát let, Hradec Králové: Galerie moderního umění, 2021.

Recommended reading

Jan ZÁLEŠÁK, Umění spolupráce, Praha: VVP AVU – Brno: MU, 2011.
Jens HOFFMANN, Show time: the 50 most influential exhibitions of contemporary art, New York: 2014. (EN)
Karel CÍSAŘ, Abeceda věcí: poznámky k modernímu a současnému umění, Praha: UMPRUM, 2014.
Marcel FIŠER – Gabriela KOTÍKOVÁ – Karina KOTTOVÁ – Josef LEDVINA – Johanka LOMOVÁ – Jan ZÁLEŠÁK, Galerie Jelení = Jelení Gallery: 2010-2020. Praha: Centrum pro současné umění – Praha, 2021.
Martha BUSKIRK, The contingent object of contemporary art, Cambridge, Mass: The MIT Press, 2003. (EN)
Pavlína MORGANOVÁ (ed.), Začátek století = The beginning of the century. Řevnice – Plzeň: Arbor vitae – Západočeská galerie, 2012.
Richard MEYER, What was contemporary art?, Cambridge, Massachusetts – London: MIT Press, 2013. (EN)
Terry SMITH, Contemporary art: world currents, London: Laurence King, 2011. (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUM_B Bachelor's 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

  • Programme VUB Bachelor's

    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

14 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Mgr. Jan Zálešák, Ph.D.

Syllabus

The following list of topics is a rough outline. One lecture and one lesson in a different format (seminars, student presentations, field trips, invited lectures or presentations...) are related to each of them.

  1. Modern, postmodern, contemporary – since when is art contemporary?
  2. National, international, world, global – in which world is art contemporary?
  3. Artists and women artists, curators and curators, critics and critics - is practice or discourse more important?
  4. Galleries, schools and magazines – where is contemporary art situated?
  5. Exhibitions, biennials, fairs – where to look for contemporary art?
  6. We ask them: is there contemporary art?
 

Seminar

12 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Mgr. Zuzana Jakalová, Ph.D.
Mgr. Barbora Šedivá, Ph.D.
PhDr. Ladislav Jackson, Ph.D.