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Art Theory

Code: 100538 ECTS Credits: 6
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Art History FB 1

Contact

Name:
Sandra Alvaro Sanchez
Email:
sandra.alvaro@uab.cat

Teachers

Sandra Alvaro Sanchez

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites. However, English proficiency is welcomed


Objectives and Contextualisation

This course introduces the fundamental vocabulary and concepts of art theory and its evolution until the present day. To this end, It will introduce the fundamental Art concepts and Theories and their evolution and transformations in front of the current art event.
The main objective is to teach the students the definition of art as a complex event and its evolution conjointly with its contemporary socio-technical and socio-political context.

Specific objectives:

  •     Elaboration of a vocabulary and arguments to allow the student to analyse artistic productions
  •     Introduce the evolution of aesthetic categories
  •     Knowing the leading authors of art theory and their works
  •     Knowing the main current theoretical frameworks and their sources
  •     Understanding the art systems and their historical evolution
  •     Learning how to apply theoretical concepts to the analysis of artworks
  •     Apply critical and methodological instruments for the analysis and storytelling of art productions

Competences

  • Applying the mastery of the basic critical and methodological tools in order to understand and narrate Art History and reflect on the profession of art historian.
  • Applying the specific scientific methodologies of the discipline of Art History.
  • Demonstrating they know the history of the artistic ideas and the main theoretical currents that inspired the reflection about art, cinema, its creators and its audience through history.
  • Expressing specific knowledge about the origin, evolution and various fields of study of Art History, as well as the classic and actual subjects, vocabulary and debates of the discipline.
  • Recognising the fundamental problems, vocabulary and concepts of the Theory of Art and Cinema.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analysing classical and current debates of the History of Art.
  2. Analysing ideas about an artistic phenomenon, and its creators and recipients in a given cultural context.
  3. Analysing ideas about an artistic phenomenon in a given cultural context.
  4. Analysing the creators of an artistic phenomenon in a specific cultural context.
  5. Analysing the recipients of an artistic phenomenon in a specific cultural context.
  6. Applying the knowledge about aesthetic ideas and Art Theory to the analysis of the artistic imagery.
  7. Critically analysing basic concepts of artistic and cinematographic theory and its evolution through history.
  8. Demonstrating the knowledge of scientific methodology, sources and Art Theory in the reading, criticism and formal, iconographic and symbolic interpretation of any artistic or cinematographic imagery.
  9. Differentiating artistic theories about an artistic phenomenon, its creators and recipients in a given cultural context.
  10. Interpreting and communicating the contents of a text about theory of art and cinema.
  11. Interpreting the fundamental concepts of Theory of Art with a critical eye.
  12. Recognising the methodological, iconographic and Art Theory-related knowledge in order to read an artistic imagery.
  13. Summarising acquired knowledge about the origin and transformations experienced by the general Theory of Art and the various fields of study of the discipline.
  14. Using the knowledge of general Art Theory in the criticism of the artistic imagery.
  15. Working in teams, respecting the other's points of view and designing collaboration strategies.

Content

The contents of the course develop a theoretical context from which to analyse the changes in themes, functions, and media that started in the Avant-garde and characterise the plurality of contemporary art. With this aim, the lectures introduce the inception of aesthetic theory and its evolution over time and situated in its historical context. According to the methodology, the course content is structured in three blocks to facilitate the combination of theory and practice.

Introduction.

  •   Art after the Avant-garde: Globalism, pluralism, new media and material turn

Art Theory

  • The origins of the aesthetic theory: The imitation of Beautiful Nature (From Classical Greece to the Renaissance)
  • Art agents: Academy and institutionalisation ( from the XVI to XVII centuries)
  • Theories of Modernity: Formalism/critical theory: Perception, the subject, and society

Reading Postmodernity

  •    The end of the art object: immateriality, participation, and performance
  •    Art and New Media: the Postmedia Condition
  •    Globalism and the commitment of art

Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Theoretical classes 40 1.6 7, 4, 1, 5, 2, 3, 6, 9, 11, 10, 12, 14
Type: Supervised      
Research work (Project based learning) 25 1 7, 2, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 14
text coment 15 0.6 7, 1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 10, 12
Tutorship 5 0.2 7, 1, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15
Type: Autonomous      
Complementary reading 30 1.2 7, 4, 5, 2, 3, 8, 9, 11, 13
study ad preparing materials before the class session 30 1.2 7, 4, 1, 5, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 10, 12, 13, 14
Visiting museums and exhibitions 5 0.2 4, 1, 5, 2, 6

This subject combines theoretical and practice-based sessions.

  • After the lectures will follow participative workshops, in which the students will apply the concepts and methods learned to analyse artworks and texts.
  • This course also applies project-based learning through the realisation of a research project working in groups; this work will be realised through various sessions, including tutorships.
  • Finally, students must also realise a written assignment, consisting of text and artwork analysis.
  • The course also encourages the active participation of the students in the city's cultural life, recommending the visits to selected museums and exhibitions.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
individual assessment 40 0 0 7, 2, 3, 8, 9, 11, 10, 12, 13, 14
Involvement in the practice-based sessions 20 0 0 7, 4, 1, 5, 2, 3, 6, 9, 11, 10, 12, 13, 15, 14
Research project 40 0 0 7, 4, 1, 5, 2, 3, 6, 9, 11, 15, 14

The assessment procedure will consider the correct assimilation, interpretation and communication of the fundamental concepts introduced during the course. Also, their correct application to the analysis of artworks and the acquired knowledge of the main authors and texts of art theory. To this end, students must go through three assessment activities.  

  • Participation in the classroom activities. This activity will be evaluated throughout the course, the satisfactory progress counting the 20% of the final record.
  • Group work in a research project according to the project-based learning methodology. (40 %)
  • Final written assessment (40%)

SINGLE ASSESSMENT

Students who opt for a single assessment must complete three assessments:

  • Research project (40%): the student must present a proposal based on the contents of the course and realise it following the instructions of the teacher
  • Written exam (40%)
  • Critical review of one of the mandatory lectures (20%)

Structure and detailed instructions for each assessment will be indicated at the beginning of the course in the virtual campus. Also, the date of accomplishment

REVIEW AND RECOVERY

On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.

To participate in recovery, students must have previously been evaluated in a set of activities whose weight equals a minimum of 2/3 of the total grade.

Students will obtain a Not assessed/Not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 30% of the assessment items.

In the case of Single Assessment, recovery is only permitted to students who have accomplished all the activities.

Except for Participatory activities carried on in the classroom, all other activities are recoverable through a finalexam (written exam) and by the realisation of an equivalent research work (research project)

USE OF AI

The use of AI technologies is only permitted in supportive tasks, such as translations, presentation design and the search of complementary sources of information. The student must identify which parts of their work he/she has generated with AI and add a critical reflection about the influence of this Technology on the attained results. The lack of transparency in the use of IA will be considered a lack of scholarly honesty and will be sanctioned.

 

*In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.

 


Bibliography

  •  Adorno, Theodor W. et al. Teoría estética / Th.W. Adorno ; edición de Rolf Tiedemann con la colaboración de Gretel Adorno, Susan Buck-Morss y Klauss Schultz ; traducción: Jorge Navarro Pérez. Tres Cantos (Madrid): Akal, 2004.
  •  Adorno, Theodor W. et al. Dialéctica de la ilustración : fragmentos filosóficos / Max Horkheimer y Theodor W. Adorno ; edición de Rolf Tiedemann ; con la colaboración de Gretel Adorno, Susan Buck-Morss y Klaus Schultz ; traducción de Joaquín Chamorro Mielke. Madrid: Akal, 2007.  
  • Benjamin, Andrew E. Walter Benjamin and Art Edited by Andrew Benjamin. Ed. Andrew E. Benjamin. London: Continuum, 2005.
  •  Benjamin, Walter, and Jesús Aguirre. Iluminaciones / Walter Benjamin. Madrid: Taurus, 1971.
  •  Benjamin, Walter., and Andrés E. Weikert. La obra de arte en la época de su reproductibilidad técnica. Ciudad de México: Editorial ITACA, 2003.
  • Theodor Adorno, Walter Benjamin, Ernst Bloch, Bertolt Brecht, and Georg Lukács, Afterword by Fredric Jameson Aesthetics and Politics, 2007,  Verso ISBN-10: 184467570X
  • Bürger, Peter. Teoría de la vanguardia / Peter Bürger; traducción de Jorge García ; prólogo de Helio Piñón. Barcelona: Península, 1987.
  • Burgin, Victor. The End of Art Theory : Criticism and Postmodernity / Victor Burgin. Houndmills [etc: Macmillan, 1986.
  • Foster, Hal. The Anti-Aesthetic : Essays on Postmodern Culture / Ed. by Hal Foster. Washington: Bay Press, 1983.
  • Foster, Hal., and Alfredo Brotons Muñoz. El Retorno de lo real : la vanguardia a finales de siglo / Hal Foster ; traducción Alfredo Brotons Muñoz. Madrid: Akal, 2001.
  • Fried, M. (1998). Art and objecthood : essays and reviews. University of Chicago Press
  •  Gaiger, Jason, and Paul Wood. Art of the Twentieth Century : a Reader / Edited by Jason Gaiger and Paul Wood. New Haven, London: Yale University Press, 2003. Print.
  • Greenberg, Clement. Arte y Cultura : ensayos críticos. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili, 1979. Print.
  • Grzinić, Marina, and Sefik Tatlić. Necropolitics, Racialization, and Global Capitalism : Historicization of Biopolitics and Forensics in Politics, Art, and Life / Marina Grzinić and Sefik Tatlić. Lanham, Maryland ;: Lexington Books, 2014.
  • Harman, Graham. Arte y Objetos/ Enclave de Libros Ediciones, 2021. ISBN: 9788412218213
  • Huyssen, Andreas. Modernismo después de la Posmodernidad. Madrid: Gedisa, 2011 ISBN: 849784286384
  • Kant, Immanuel. Critica del juicio. Madrid: Espasa Calpe. 1981
  • Krauss, Rosalind E., and Adolfo. Gómez Cedillo. La Originalidad de la vanguardia y otros mitos modernos / Rosalind E. Krauss ; versión española de Adolfo Gómez Cedillo. Madrid: Alianza, 1996.
  • Krauss, Rosalind E., and  Marcel. Broodthaers. A Voyage on the North Sea : Art in the Age of the Post-Medium Condition / Rosalind Krauss. New York: Thames & Hudson, 2000. Print.
  • Leonardo, and Leon Battista Alberti. El Tratado de la pintura / Leonardo de Vinci. i Los Tres libros que sobre el mismo arte escribió León Bautista Alberti. Barcelona: Alta Fulla, 1999. Print.
  • Lippard, Lucy R. Seis años : la desmaterialización del objeto artístico de 1966 a 1972 / Lucy R. Lippard. Madrid: Akal, 2004.
  • Lyotard, Jean François (2004) La Condición Postmoderna: informe sobre el saber, centre de estudis de temes contemporanis: Angles
  • Mignolo, Walter. Historias locales, diseños globales : colonialidad, conocimientos subalternos y pensamiento fronterizo / Walter D. Mignolo. Madrid: Akal, 2003. Print.
  • Owens, Craig, Scott Bryson, and Scott Stewart. Bryson. Beyond Recognition : Representation, Power, and Culture / Craig Owens ; Edited by Scott Bryson ... [et Al.]. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1992. Print. 
  • Robinson, Hilary, Maria Elena Buszek, and Dana Arnold. A Companion to Feminist Art. Newark: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2019.
  • Smith, Paul and WILDE, Carolyn (Eds)(2002) A Companion to Art Theory, Blackwell
  • Wood, Paul., Isabel. Balsinde, and Isabel Balsinde. La Modernidad a debate : el arte a partir de los años cuarenta / Paul Wood ... [et al.] ; traducción: Isabel Balsinde. Madrid: Akal, 1999. La Modernidad a debate : el arte a partir de los años cuarenta / Paul Wood ... [et al.] ; traducción: Isabel Balsinde. Madrid: Akal, 1999.
  • Worringer, W. (1942). La Esencia del estilo gótico. Revista de Occidente Argentina.  
  • Worringer, W., & Fons J.V. Foix. (1953). Abstracción y naturaleza. Fondo de Cultura Económica

Software

Not applicable.


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan/Spanish first semester morning-mixed