ITAL1081: Italy and the Arts

• Italian Language 1B (ITAL1102) OR Italian Language 1A (ITAL1071) or Visual Arts and Film VISU1012.

• None.

• To equip students with an understanding of Italy's artistic heritage and its integration with societal and geographical contexts.
• To approach Italian art and architecture to reveal its global significance across regions and cultures.
• To develop students' abilities to decode and analyse artistic forms and their embedded narratives.
• To cultivate critical and comparative analysis skills applicable to diverse artistic periods and styles.
• To establish foundational research and academic writing skills tailored to visual arts studies.

• The module introduces students to the multifarious dimension of Italian artistic heritage as it is managed, discussed, and experienced in today's Italy. In large parts of the Italian territory, monuments and museums famous all over the world are inextricably linked to people's everyday life and are constitutive of the Italian urban and rural landscape. Students will become familiar with well-known and less-known cities and regions of Italy in their specific relation to the history and development of the visual arts. This module offers an expansive survey of Italian art and architecture, adopting a geographical rather than chronological approach to the history of art. It delves into how Italian art is shaped by its cultural and spatial settings, eschewing a strict timeline to highlight the relationships between art and its environment. Landmark historical periods and movements are explored, and significant male and female artists are studied for their global impact. The course presents an intricate map of artistic evolution within Italy, showcasing how artists have both influenced and been influenced by their surroundings. Additionally, the module offers an introduction to research topics and methodologies while specific instructions on how to write an essay in the visual arts will also be provided. The adopted methods of enquiry entail a comparative approach to works of art from different periods and formats, with the intention of developing a critical ability to read complex visual images in their historical, social and political dimensions. Throughout, the module will include discussion on the considerable transnational aspect of Italian visual arts and culture. We will also take a look at artworks available on the global art market or displayed in landmark exhibitions to gain some familiarity with the role and value of Italian art in contemporary culture. This module has been designed to reflect a commitment to diversity in its resources and delivery, and will create opportunities for students to engage in critical analysis of different perspectives relevant to the study area.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• By the end of this module, students will be expected to:
• Develop an appreciation for and understanding of the diverse landscape of Italy's current artistic scene.
• Analyse the integration of Italy's artistic and architectural heritage within its modern-day landscape, recognizing how world-famous monuments and museums relate to contemporary Italian urban and rural environments.
• Assess the influence of cultural and spatial contexts on the development of Italian art, moving beyond a linear historical narrative to explore the dynamic interplay between artistic creation and its geographical milieu.
• Compare and critique the contributions of notable Italian artists, both male and female, across different eras, with an emphasis on their local and global significance and the transnational nature of Italian visual arts.
• Distinguish the nuanced characteristics and definitions associated with common cultural and stylistic terminologies within the field of the visual arts (e.g. Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism, Rococo, Romanticism, Verismo, Futurism, Neorealism, Arte Povera, and others).

Subject-specific Skills:

• By the end of this module, students will be expected to:
• Demonstrate an understanding of art's interaction with the urban and rural landscapes, recognizing the living heritage within contemporary Italian society and beyond.
• Cultivate the ability to conduct comparative analyses of artworks across different historical periods and media, developing a nuanced appreciation for their socio-political and cultural contexts.
• Apply different research methodologies specific to the study of visual arts, including navigating art historical resources and current market trends.
• Enhance critical thinking and visual literacy skills, enabling the interpretation and discussion of complex imagery and artistic concepts within both historical and contemporary frameworks.
• Articulate informed perspectives on the transnational influences and global significance of Italian art, contributing to broader discourses in art history and cultural studies.

Key Skills:

• By the end of this module, students will be expected to:
• Critically analyse visual artefacts, making connections to the diverse thematic content presented throughout the module
• Hone the ability to discern and appraise both primary and secondary sources relevant to the study of Italian art and its cultural context.
• Acquire proficiency in collecting and assessing information, presenting findings coherently both verbally and in written form.
• Cultivate independent research skills, effectively managing time to meet deadlines for projects that offer interpretations or solutions to complex questions arising from the module's scope.
• Gain an understanding of the significance of artistic codes and conventions, recognizing their role in shaping the production and interpretation of art across historical and contemporary landscapes.

• Weekly lectures and fortnightly seminars will be delivered in English.
• The module will provide the general background for subsequent concentration on more specific themes.
• Seminars will be used to read, examine, and analyse materials chosen for their relevance to the theme discussions during the lectures.
• Seminars will also be used to introduce students to the use of tools for accurate bibliographical research.
• Seminars will facilitate students to become independent learners, by working autonomously on well-defined topics, under tutor's guidance, by giving seminar presentations in class reporting on the results of their research work. This approach will prepare them for both the project-based essays.

Formative work might take the form of peer/question-driven discussions during the seminars, artwork identification quizzes, and self-assessment tests provided on Ultra.

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our FAQ webpages, Help page or our glossary of terms. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the FAQ, or a query about the on-line Undergraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.