Learning objectives
The learning objectives of the course, according to the Dublin descriptors, are:
- Knowledge and comprehension skills:
The course aims to develop in students the ability to create for themselves a framework of knowledge in which to orient themselves in order to practice journalism and contemporary art criticism, putting forth personal interpretations based on a proper understanding of the exercise of art criticism.
- Applied knowledge and comprehension skills:
Students will be provided with the tools to actually produce a review or article on an art topic.
- Autonomy of judgment:
The course aims to provide students with a knowledge of the subject and its tools such that they will be able to acquire judgment in dealing independently with the practice of cultural journalism, of the arts above all.
- Communication skills:
The course aims to provide students with the skills of communicating information and ideas around contemporary art with properties of language. Students will be able to clearly express their arguments and the grounds on which their reasoning is based, based on the knowledge they have acquired.
- Ability to learn:
The course aims to prepare students by providing them with the method of communicating contemporary art with the necessary critical skills so that they can then apply it independently.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of contemporary art history.
Course unit content
The course aims to offer students a reflection around a very widespread and evolving profession: that of the art critic and journalist. Indeed, through magazines, whether specialized or not, and newspapers, news, information, judgments and interpretations are disseminated about works, facts, events and protagonists of the art world, especially contemporary art. This professional profile will be contextualized in the art system and a brief history of it will be traced. Space will then be given to a survey of the characters of journalistic writing, and at the end of the course students will be asked to practise writing a journalistic article on a contemporary art project considered during the course.
Full programme
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Bibliography
In addition to the notes and the materials provided by the professor, students will have to study:
F. Poli, Il sistema dell'arte contemporanea. Produzione artistica, mercato, musei, Laterza, Roma Bari, 2011.
Attending students will also be asked to write a review of an exhibition event.
Non-attending students should study the following book in addition to Francesco Poli's volume:
- V. Trione (edited by), Armi improprie. Stato della critica d'arte in Italia, Johan & Levi, Monza 2024 (students are required to study, by choice, at least 3 of the 5 parts into which the volume is structured).
Teaching methods
The course consists of lectures accompanied by discussion and seminar activities.
Students will also be given the opportunity to practise writing a review of a contemporary art exhibition (visited during the course with the professor).
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral exam pertaining to the course program and the indicated bibliography. To pass the exam, students must demonstrate that they have achieved the general objectives of the course.
During the oral exam, the questions will evaluate the level of learning from students, according to Dublin Descriptors.
A fail is determined by the lack of an understanding of the minimum content of the course, the inability to express oneself at the level of proficiency expected of students, by a lack of autonomous preparation, the inability to solve problems related to information retrieval and the decoding of images and topics of art, as well as an inability to make independent judgments and communicate content, analysis and judgments in well argumented, competent and convincing ways.
A pass (18-23/30) is determined by the demonstration on the part of the student of having learned the fundamental and minimum contents of the course, according to the indicators listed above. The Middle-range scores (24-27/30) are assigned to the student who produces evidence of a more than sufficient level (24-25/30) or good level (26-27/30) in the evaluation indicators, (from 28/30 to 30/30 cum laude) are awarded on the basis of the student’s demonstration of a very good or excellent level.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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