Post-war practices 1945-1990

This unit engages international art and ideas which form an important foundation for understanding contemporary practice. You will be introduced to key moments in the canonical narrative of Western art history alongside some of the Indigenous, feminist, queer and non-Western artistic practices and perspectives that this narrative has historically excluded. We will consider how ideas and practices can become culturally dominant, and also how a dominant perspective can be critiqued, contested or creatively redefined. With a focus on the verbal and written analysis and interpretation of key works of art, you will be encouraged to engage in close, careful investigations of individual artworks. You will also be invited to use your research and writing skills to situate artworks within their broader cultural and political context.