AHT1102 Modernism and the avant-garde

In this unit, you will explore major movements in Modern Art from 1850 to 1960, including Impressionism, Cubism, Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism and Pop Art. You will investigate key artworks, artists and art-historical texts that have shaped understandings of modernism and the avant-garde from the twentieth century to the present. Each week, you will examine defining works alongside critical and historical interpretations, developing the vocabulary and analytical skills needed to discuss Modern Art in informed ways. The unit also considers modernism as a broader cultural phenomenon, including its relationship to social change, artistic experimentation, women artists and global artistic contributions. You will be encouraged to reflect on the assumptions that have shaped the field of art history and to consider how more inclusive histories of Modern Art can be researched, written and debated.