KUN4075 – Collsions/Collusions: Modernity and Public Art 1880-1920

Course content

This course examines the problems in, and opportunities offered by, art commissions within public institutions between ca. 1880 and 1920.

Using Edvard Munch and the University of Oslo as the central subject, we examine the rise of new types of institutions at the turn of the last century, their intersection with the political sphere, and the ways in which vanguard art did or did not serve their purposes. From Puvis de Chavannes to Diego Rivera, the course considers important artists and commissions that contributed to collective understandings of modernity and the languages of art.

Learning outcome

After completed course you will have learned:

  • some of the key concepts both in modern art between 1880 and 1920 and in modernity as a social phenenon.
  • to place the later work of Edvard Munch within an international context.
  • to identify and analyze some of the most important public art projects, movements, and initiatives between 1880 and 1920.
  • to consider the relations among art, politics, and society.
  • to probe the designations of vanguard and rearguard in modern art.
  • a research project on a particular case study will yield a detailed study of a significant public art Project.
  • improved skills in oral and written academic English.

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.

Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Prerequisites

Recommended previous knowledge

Teaching

The course will meet for two intensive weeks, for 2 hours per day, 20 hours in total. The course will be divided into lecture meetings and seminar discussions. In addition, there will be one recitation meeting per week (4 hours total) to review key concepts and discuss case studies and projects.

In addition to the class meetings, eath student will have an meeting in person, via Skype or via Fronter to discuss the final project. The students are also expected to outline one of the assigned readings.

Students are