Courses
VART3317 The Realities of Visual Culture (3 units)
- Medium of Instruction:
- English
This course aims to extend students' knowledge and experience beyond the study of their major by exploring the interaction between art, advertising and luxury goods, within the wider context of contemporary visual culture. This will then allow a reverse examination of the relations and influences of visual culture on the production of the contemporary visual arts, their markets and audiences.
The course will strongly emphasise on analytical and critical thinking to consider answers to questions like: How an age-old painting grasps our imagination? How a piece of sculpture may change the outlook of our city? Or: how much money should governments spend on culture?
Debates and questioning will critically engage with the development of visual culture and its association with the art market and luxury goods markets. This course assesses the contrasts and similarities, of the public and private sectors of art consumption and reflects upon aesthetic significance and monetary value of art. It also considers the changing notions of art and visual culture in terms of traditional associations of status, education and evaluates the roles of gallery, auction house, advertising and shopping mall as the centre pin of 'brands'. Further, reviewing the role of the public sector in the advancement of the art exhibition 'blockbuster' and the commercialization of art through case studies of world leading galleries such as Tate Modern, MOMA and the Guggenheim.