ARTH 5217 - Portraiture and Power
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2015
The early modern period (c. 1400-1830) was a golden age for the production of portraits in Europe, and this course draws on the significant collection of portraits held in the Art Gallery of South Australia as a laboratory for learning. While the primary focus is on the origins and evolution of the enduring genre of portraiture from the Renaissance to Romanticism, comparative references are made to portrait practices and traditions in different historical periods and cross-cultural contexts. It not only examines the complex interface between the artist, patron, sitter and viewer in the making and meaning of individual and collective likenesses, but also addresses challenging interpretative issues and ideas concerning the representation and reception of forms of personal and political power expressed by depictions of the face and body. Topics covered throughout the course include: realism and idealism in portraits; changing beauty canons and notions of the grotesque; images of rule or state portraiture; self-portraiture and the image and identity of the artist; representations of the body and the sexual self; attitudes towards gender, class and race; social functions from commemoration to propaganda; literary portraiture (biography and autobiography); and the formation of national portrait galleries.
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code ARTH 5217 Course Portraiture and Power Coordinating Unit Art History Term Semester 1 Level Postgraduate Coursework Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 6 Contact up to 6 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites Bachelor's Degree or equivalent, entry to the Graduate Program in Art History Incompatible ARTH 2002 Portraiture and Power Restrictions Available to ProCertArtHist, GradCertArtHist, GradDipArtHist, MA(StArtHist) & MA(Cur&MuseumSt) students only Assessment seminar presentation 5%, poster 700 words 5%, comparative visual analysis 1500 words 35%, research essay proposal 800 words10%, research essay 3000 words 45%, online activities 0% Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Dr Lisa Mansfield
Dr Lisa Mansfield
Office: Napier 511
Email: lisa.mansfield@adelaide.edu.au
Telephone: 83135755
Staff profile: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/lisa.mansfield
Course Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate:
1 Knowledge of the major periods, styles and artists working in the genre of portraiture during the early modern period of European art and visual culture. 2 A broad understanding of principal methods and theories underpinning the discipline of art history pertinent to the study of early modern European art and visual culture. 3 Application of competent visual analysis skills for examining and interpreting images and objects. 4 Understanding of the significance of portraits as social deposits and sources of historical evidence. 5 An ability to locate, critically evaluate and synthesise a wide range of primary and secondary textual and visual sources using a range of appropriate contemporary learning technologies. 6 An ability to communicate effectively in both individual and team-based situations. 7 An ability to work independently and cooperatively in an organised, self-directed and collaborative mannner in small group discussions and professional contexts. 8 An awareness of ethical, social and cultural implications of early modern European art and visual culture within the global context of museums and galleries. 9 Commitment to lifelong learning and curiosity about art and visual culture. 10 Commitment to the highest, internationally recognised standards of academic conduct, intellectual rigour, honesty and respect in the discipline of art history and beyond. University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 3, 5, 6, An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 5, 6, 7, 8, Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 3, 5, 6, 7, 10 A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 3, 5 A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1, 9 A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 7, 10 An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 8, 10 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
Course Reader
A Course Reader, containing the texts that need to be read prior to each tutorial discussion, will be available for purchase online. Login to Unified and click on the Online Shop icon in the left hand side of the Home page.
Prescribed text
The following book can be purchased at the Art Gallery of South Australia shop:
West, Shearer. Portraiture. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.
Recommended Resources
All recommended resources for the course will be listed on MyUni.
Online Learning
The course has a website, accessible through MyUni. Please consult it regularly for announcements, lecture recordings and images (powerpoint slides), and additional resources. Students are also encouraged to submit general questions about the course to
the Discussion Board.
The University has access to a number of academic journals that have full text articles available online. To locate articles in these journals go to the Databases tab on the Barr Smith Library home page and click on Art History.
The following image databases should be used to search and study works of art required for assessment tasks: The Google Art Project, Artstor, World Gallery of Art (WGA), museum and gallery websites.
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Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Face-to-face teaching consists of one lecture and one tutorial per week over 8 weeks and 4 weeks of gallery sessions.
Lectures are accompanied by images (on powerpoint slides) and recorded for revision purposes. Two of the lectures are pre-recorded in place of the on-campus lecture (refer to the course handbook for details). They provide a broad chronological and thematic survey of the course as well as context for the case-studies in the tutorials and requirements for the assessment tasks.
Tutorials are mostly face-to-face, but include two substitute learning activities online (refer to the course handbook for details). Students are required to examine a specific topic related to a weekly reading and take turns (once during semester) to deliver a short presentation that explores the significance of the topic.
Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
1 x 1.5-hour lecture (or equivalent) per week 18 hours per semester 1 x 1.5-hour seminar (or equivalent) per week 18 hours per semester 4 x 2-hour gallery sessions 8 hours per semester 10 hours reading per week 120 hours per semester 7 hours research per week 84 hours per semester 4 hours assignment preparation per week 48 hours per semester 4 hours online learning activities 16 hours per semester TOTAL WORKLOAD 312 hours per semester Learning Activities Summary
The course follows a chronological and thematic framework to explore the origins, functions and evolution of portraiture from the Renaissance to Romanticism. While the lectures approach the topic from a broad perspective and examine issues and ideas related to the making and meaning of portraits within the complex web between the artist, patron/sitter/ and viewer, the tutorials focus on case studies that are unsolved or invite debate in the art historical discourse on portraiture. The assessment tasks are designed to extend the course beyond the classroom into additional areas of relevant scholarship.
Specific Course Requirements
Students must purchase the course reader and prescribed text, and are expected to attend a formal library session for instruction on essential research skills early in semester (date to be advised).
Small Group Discovery Experience
The course is rich in small group discovery experiences involving eight weekly tutorial discussions between the course coordinator and students, and four gallery sessions offered by curatorial staff in hands-on workshops in the collection of the Art Gallery of South Australia.
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Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Task Type Weighting Learning Outcome Tutorial presentation
(15 mins)Formative and summative 5% 1, 7, 8 Tutorial poster
(700 words)Formative and summative 5% 1, 6, 8 Comparative visual analysis
(1,500 words)Summative 35% 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 Research essay proposal (800 words) Formative and Summative 10% 4, 6, 7 Research essay
(3,000 words)Summative 45% 1-10 Online activities Formative 0% 1, 2, 3, 9 Assessment Related Requirements
Participation in tutorials and gallery sessions is a compulsory component of the course. Students must attend at least 80% of classes to pass the course (unless a medical certificate is provided). Please inform the course coordinator if you are unable to attend.
All assessment tasks must be submitted within two weeks of the due date. Assignments submitted after this are subject to be
marked either at a pass or fail grade, unless students have been granted a formal extension.Assessment Detail
Tutorial presentation
All students are required to deliver a15-minute individual presentation (using powerpoint slides or other supporting technology as appropriate) once during semester based on one of the weekly tutorial case studies with the object of stimulating small-group discussion.
Tutorial poster
A 1-page A-4 poster with text and image/s summarising the tutorial topic is to be submitted one week after the presentation.
Comparative visual analysis
Students are required to select two early modern European portraits dated between 1400-1830. At least one of the portraits must be on display in the Melrose Wing of the Art Gallery of South Australia. The objective is to write a clear and concise visual analysis that compares and contrasts the composition, style and iconography (formal visual and material qualities) of the portraits within a cohesive and engaging discussion.
Research essay proposal
Students are required to complete basic research tasks for a negotiated research essay question on a topic relevant to the course (subject to approval from the course coordinator). The proposal should include a basic rationale for the essay question, sample portraits as visual evidence, and a starter bibliography listing 5-8 academic sources (books and journal articles).
Research essay
Students are required to write a research essay based on a clearly defined question relevant to a topic covered in the course demonstrating skills in evaluating and synthesising scholarly perspectives in order to formulate an informed and independent discussion that conveys a persuasive argument and conclusions. It is expected that the research essay will also actively integrate analysis of visual evidence.Submission
Written assignments must be submitted electronically via Turnitin on MyUni by midnight of the due date - this is a one-step process. Please keep note of submission receipts for both as proof of submission.
Students must also keep an electronic copy of all work submitted.
Extensions
Extensions will be granted on the grounds of hardship or illness. Students must apply through the official procedure
(http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/mod_arrange.html) unless:
1. the extension required is two days or less;
2. the assessment is worth 20% or less;
3. the student is registered with the Disability Office and has a Disability Access Plan.
Students who submit an essay late, without having gained an extension, will be liable to a penalty of 2 marks per day that the essay is overdue, including weekends, for a maximum of two weeks. Unless special arrangements have been made, essays more than two weeks late, may not be accepted, and will automatically be eligible for a pass or fail grade only.
Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
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