HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY ART

Degree course: 
Corso di First cycle degree in TOURISM SCIENCE
Academic year when starting the degree: 
2020/2021
Year: 
2
Academic year in which the course will be held: 
2021/2022
Course type: 
Supplementary compulsory subjects
Seat of the course: 
Como - Sant'Abbondio
Language: 
Italian
Credits: 
8
Period: 
Second semester
Standard lectures hours: 
50
Detail of lecture’s hours: 
Lesson (50 hours)
Requirements: 

General knowledge of European geography and of European history of the centuries mentioned above. It is not compulsory, but the knowledge of the history of different European countries literatures will be an important support to understand many of the topics.

Final Examination: 
Orale

The final examination: verbal test which included three questions, on general topics (i.g.: the Art in the Napoleonic Era; the origin of Impressionism; Pablo Picasso). The result is expressed with a 30-point scale that can be divided into failing (0 to 17) and passing (18 to 30 cum laude) grades. The mark is based on a general assessment on the answers to the three questions. They all have the same value. The final mark will be revised considering the global knowledge of the student.
The fundamental principles are: the knowledge acquired, the ability in formal reading (with special care of the historical criteria and data and not the emotional ones), including a critical judgment (with references to the contemporary cultural heritage), the communication skill using the proper language, the correct positioning of pheonomenon, events and objects in space and time, both limited and unlimited, the ability in suggesting proper comparisons on the base of a measured structuralism.

Assessment: 
Voto Finale

The course of Contemporary Arte belongs to the group
of humanistic teachings which characterize the course
of studies Scienze del Turismo.
The student will be able to know the outlines of the European History of Art from the beginning of the XIXth century to the beginning of the XXIth century, using special care to focus on the historical Avant-gardes and to the iconographic and iconologic data, the patronage strategies and the public perception of art. Among the learining abilities expected to be acquired can be pointed out the capability of visual analysis, the development of communication skills using the proper language; the develpoment of a comparative attitude, considering the correct geographical, chronological and cultural context. The student will be able to investigate the art work (particularly considering the chromatic aspect), connecting it with the geographical and chronological context, analyzing with precision its art language, describing it with terminological precision, showing the knowledge acquired connecting different phenomenon and comparing it with Extra European Arts.
The acquired knowledge can contribute to the growth of the general skills of synthesis and processing of data and concepts derived from different sources.
The course provide for the acquisition of cross skills, as correct use of language, communicative competences and developement of comparative capabilities of judgment.

The following topics will be delivered during lessons:

Neoclassical Art.
The great “irregular” masters: Goya and Füssli.
Romantic Art and Historicism.
The concept of Avant-garde.
Modernity of Eclecticism and Historicism.
Impressionism (with focus on Divisionism).
Expressionism.
Symbolism.
Post-Impressionism.
Sezession and Liberty (considering especially the Liberty in Varese).
Cubism.
Futurism.
Abstractism.
20th Century Rationalism (focus on Italian Art and Architecture 1920-1940).
Neorealism.
Neo Avant-garde Art.
Postmodern art.
Neo-Neo Avant-garde Art.

The following handbook you have to study carefully:

P. De Vecchi – L. Cerchiari, Arte nel tempo, Bompiani/Mondadori 1995 sgg, considering all the chapters related to the chronological period indicated. All different editions of the book are accepted.

Further optional publications will be suggested by the teacher, considering individual interests.
Educational supports available on the e-learining platform: 800 slides presented during lessons in PPT format. They will be available gradually after lessons will take place.

Convenzionale

The course will be delivered with frontal lessons, for the total amount of 64 hours. They will be all conducted by the tenured professor of the course, with the support of PPT presentations, encouraging interaction between the lecturer and students. At the end of each lesson students can ask for clarifications and further explanations of the topics proposed.
The recognition of credits related to the seminar require the obligatory attendance of 75% of lessons delivered. In any case, the attendance of lessons is highly recommended to take advantage of all the interdisciplinary connections (political history, historic geography, history of literature, etc.) and critical interpretations of the phenomenon which will be proposed by the teacher lesson by lesson and which can not be fully developed in the handbooks available.

Consultation hours. Using the Teams platform, during the first semester, or at the professor’s office (Collegio Cattaneo,Via Jean Henry Dunant, 7 Varese), or even in Como in venue to be agreed. You have to require a prior appointment by sending your e-mail to andrea.spiriti@uninsubria.it. The appointment will be fixed within one week.
Before and after lessons it is always possible to have informal consultations or to require an appointment with the teacher.

Professors