Universität Wien

080039 SE Seminar: Theories of Abstraction in Classical Modernism (2016W)

10.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 8 - Kunstgeschichte und Europäische Ethnologie
Continuous assessment of course work

Texts bei Mondrian and Malevich will be in the center of the seminar. The discussion will focus on the question how the artists legitimate their understanding of their "abstract", or "objectless" painting as a new kind of "realism". What is the "real", to which, in the eyes and minds of Mondrian and Malevich abstract pictures "refer"?
To clarify this question as well as possible answers we will read and discuss some other texts: philosophical discussions of the concepts of reality and of human consciousness (Nietzsche and Bergson), manifests or theoretical text by other artists, scientific texts, concerning the understanding of light and perception (Hermann von Helmholtz) and sociological texts about the transformation of the experience of reality by economic and urban modernization (Marx, Simmel).
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 12 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Zu Beginn zwei Sitzungen mit 1 Woche Abstand; danach - ab 4.11. 14-tägig.

  • Friday 07.10. 10:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 4 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte (1. Stock) UniCampus Hof 9 3F-O1-27
  • Friday 14.10. 10:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 4 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte (1. Stock) UniCampus Hof 9 3F-O1-27
  • Friday 04.11. 10:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 4 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte (1. Stock) UniCampus Hof 9 3F-O1-27
  • Friday 18.11. 10:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 4 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte (1. Stock) UniCampus Hof 9 3F-O1-27
  • Friday 02.12. 10:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 4 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte (1. Stock) UniCampus Hof 9 3F-O1-27
  • Friday 16.12. 10:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 4 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte (1. Stock) UniCampus Hof 9 3F-O1-27
  • Friday 13.01. 10:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 4 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte (1. Stock) UniCampus Hof 9 3F-O1-27
  • Friday 27.01. 10:00 - 14:00 Seminarraum 4 d. Inst. f. Kunstgeschichte (1. Stock) UniCampus Hof 9 3F-O1-27

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The participants acquire the ability of a precise and cautious interpretation of theoretical texs by artists and other authors - with respect to the "genre" of the text as well of the relevant art works.

Assessment and permitted materials

Since we are interested primarily in the relations between the different texts, the willingness to read the whole material carefully is a condition for the participation. - Texts will be also presented in the seminar by short inputs (Thesenpapiere), as part of the "Leistungsüberprüfung"; there will, furthermore, be protocols, eventually summarizing and synthesizing discussions from two or more earlier sessions. The subjects of the written seminar papers (c. 40.000 signs) can develop from such inputs or protocols, but can as well be developed independently. There will be time and occasion for short presentations of ideas concerning a subject.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Accurate presentation of the contents of texts, precise description works of art, and coherent rendering of the substance of the discussion during the seminar session (for the protocol). coherent, independent and linguistically flawless description and analysis, resp. interpretation - with respect to sources and relevant literature - of one or more (abstract) paintings resp. theoretical texts of early modernism.

Examination topics

Texts from the areas of art theory, natural science, philosophy and sociology as well as visual art works (mainly paintings) of early modernism.

Reading list

German and Englisch. Excellent reading ability in German and English is necessary. Reading ability in French, Dutch and especially Russian would be helpful.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:31