Thematic Focus 2

ECTS Credits: 6
Course code: BK513
Included in study programme: Master’s in fine art (MFA)

Brief course description

The Academy of Fine Art offers a wide range of thematic workshops, seminars and lectures to enable the students to enrich their own practice, gain an understanding of the history and context that shape contemporary art, and engage critically with issues in contemporary art, culture and society.

The course’s learning outcomes

Upon completing the course, students should be able to

establish methods for reviewing and discussing works of art and artistic approaches within a critical framework
establish methods for identifying key concepts in cultural practice and theory

Teaching and learning methods

The course will to varying degrees relate theory to practice, and topics will often cut across different practices and discourses, including artistic practices, technical specialisations, performance, dance and theatre, social and political issues, cultural theory, philosophy, anthropology, psychoanalysis, architecture, literature and music.

It is also possible to conduct independent research in a student-initiated project that focuses on a specific topic. Excursions are often part of thematic workshops or seminars but can also be incorporated in a studentinitiated project.

Participation and the exchange of ideas are essential in workshops, seminars and lectures, so it is expected that students follow and participate actively in the classes they choose. Unless otherwise stated, there is an 80 % attendance requirement for all organised teaching at the Academy of Fine Art. Students who cannot attend or who do not show up are expected to inform their teacher in advance and state the reason for their absence.

Coursework requirements:

active participation in at least two classes (minimum 80 % attendance)
if one of the classes has been replaced by an individual project, the student must receive tutorials from a teacher both before and after the project. The project must be approved by the main advisor and is seen in relation to the course’s learning outcomes

Assessment

The required coursework must be approved in order for a student to receive a final course assessment.

The student will be assessed by the teacher of the given classes. The assessment will be seen in relation to the course’s learning outcomes.

The course is graded pass/fail.