Art history

Representing Women

Module code: V4023
Level 6
30 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar
Assessment modes: Dissertation, Presentation

How do we begin to explore the work of women artists and images of women? How are women artists discussed and exhibited in our national galleries and museums today? How were women represented in portraiture? What were the social and cultural contexts for these images? Why do these things matter – or don’t they?

We will also be exploring what feminist approaches to art history and history can offer - and what the limitations might be. During the course, we will discuss recent debates about the subject and consider the different ways in which it has been approached.

Module learning outcomes

• Demonstrate detailed and coherent critical evaluation of specific visual culture relating to this subject and understanding of the significance of this theme to wider thematic debates in art history.
• Undertake sustained independent written research and develop in-depth argument taking into account a variety of scholarly approaches.
• Synthesize complex scholarly information and independent research coherently in the form of oral presentation.
• Demonstrate critical understanding of some of the differing approaches of current art-historical scholarship about this subject and how specific examples relate to the overall issues of the topic.