Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2008-2009 (archived)

Module EDUS1621: ARTS I

Department: Education [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

EDUS1621: ARTS I

Type Open Level 1 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2008/09 Module Cap None. Location Queen's Campus Stockton

Prerequisites

  • None.

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To develop the students' understanding and appreciation of music and Visual Arts.
  • The course is designed to help students to develop their knowledge and understanding of: the ways in which meaning is generated in the arts.
  • the relationship between an artist and their work.
  • forms of representation in the arts.
  • appropriate ways to talk and write about the arts.
  • the relationship between the arts and human experience, attitudes and beliefs in relation to the arts.

Content

  • In this module, students will be able to study critical and historical concepts relating to music and the visual arts in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as they relate to human experience.
  • Students will be encouraged to explore theories and practices in music and visual art through the study of first hand sources and texts.
  • Students will have the opportunity to increase their understanding of the histories and practices of music and art as they explore critically a selection of topics drawn from the following :- the nature of music and visual art.
  • the expressive function of music and visual art.
  • music, art society and politics.
  • music, art and the spiritual.
  • feminist perspective.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • key ideas underpinning a foundation subject (either arts, humanities or ICT);
  • Students should have a knowledge and understanding of verismo opera, the ways in which composers may use music, the ways in which an artist manipulates form and content to express feelings, 'reading' art forms in music and visual art, developing an awareness of 'interpretative' in the arts.
  • reading the work of range of authorities.
  • accounting for, and explaining, key developments in the arts.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • think critically and independently;
  • critically analyse works of art.
Key Skills:
  • read and interpret art 'texts';
  • examine art 'texts';
  • develop coherent arguments and support interpretations with appropriate evidence.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Teaching and Learning: The module is managed through a series of lead lectures and associated group work sessions (workshops, seminars and tutorials) in which students examine themes and issues in the arts.
  • The emphasis is upon active learning, and students are encouraged to contribute to sessions by taking account of their developing knowledge of music and visual arts.
  • The module will be supported by visits to appropriate local arts institutions.
  • Students are provided with a selection of readings to support the required reading lists and are expected to take individual responsibility for sharing their reading with other people taking the module.
  • Students engage in discussion, in informal presentations, and in a range of task based activities.
  • There is a series of practical sessions through which students explore and produce music and visual art.
  • They have the opportunity to share their work with their peers and tutors, and to examine critically each other's work.
  • The experience gained in these practical workshops is used to inform the students' understanding of the theoretical base of the module.
  • Some of these workshops may involve local artists and representatives from art institutions.
  • There is a programme of directed study tasks which include reading, formative assignments, preparation for practical work, and other tasks which tutors may set from time to time.
  • Assessment: The assignment and examination programme is designed to encourage students to think about the nature of the arts and the place of the arts in human experience.
  • Assessment is provided through a formative assignment and a three hour examination.
  • After the formative assignment students are provided with individual feedback for which they are given guidance on preparation for their examination.
  • The examination criteria focus of the students' knowledge and understanding, intellectual skills and use of English.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 22 Weekly 2 hours 44
Tutorials 2 Each Semester 1 hour 4
Seminars 1 Each Semester 1 hour 2
Practicals 16 Weekly 1 hour 16
Preparation and Reading 134
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
three-hour unseen written examination 100%

Formative Assessment:

One formative written assignment of 1000 words.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University