Art History and Visual Culture BA(Hons)

Year 1

In the first year you will learn about how the movement of people, images, materials and ideas has had a profound impact on the production, re-production and appropriation of art and visual culture. You will study the various ways in which artists and practitioners create works in relation to both the local and global context, improving our understanding of the social and cultural affairs of the time.

Most of your learning will take place in small groups. You will be introduced to essential study skills and tools and familiarise yourself with different types of assessments, including essays, presentations, displays, posters and group projects.

Modules

• Local and Global: Concepts and Ideas in Cross-cultural Histories of Art and Design

  This module introduces key concepts of creative encounters and exchanges across cultures in the history of art and design, fashion and visual culture. You will learn about the ways in which the movement of people, materials and ideas across geographies, spaces and periods have an impact on the production, reproduction and appropriation of art and design.

• Local and Global: Themes and Topics in Cross-cultural Histories of Art and Design

  This module builds on Local and Global: Concepts and Ideas in Cross Cultural Histories of Art and Design and introduces you to key themes and topics on global histories of art, design, fashion and visual culture. You'll explore debates on collecting, exhibitions and displays, and develop an understanding of colonial, postcolonial histories and theories through object and image studies.

• Art and Design History in Brighton: Places and Processes

  In this module you will explore aspects of Brighton and Hove that are significant to the history of art and design locally and in some cases more broadly, through the introduction of key sites, themes and resources, for example, the Royal Pavilion and Museums; the historical development of local identities in subcultures and sexualities and Brighton on film. The topics are complemented by a seminar series that will equip you with the skills and tools needed to study history of art and design at degree level.

• Material Matters

  Material Matters is an opportunity to explore the characteristics, histories and values associated with different types of materials that are used in the creation of studio-produced or manufactured objects. You will develop an appreciation of the qualities of different materials and the cultural and environmental implications of their use. You'll have an opportunity to focus on particular types of materials such as cotton in the creation of clothing; nitrate in the use of photography and film, and clay and porcelain in the production of domestic kitchenware. The module introduces the UN Sustainable Development Goal for Responsible Production and Consumption (SDG12)

• Artist, Designer and the Prosumer: Theories and Debates

  This module introduces concepts and trans-historical studies in art and design. You'll explore key historical and theoretical ideas and approaches in art, design, fashion and visual culture, such as: the relationship between the artist’s life and the artwork; art, craft, and activism; designer and modernity; postmodern portrait of the artist/designer; black identity; and the art historical myths of genius artist.

• Artist, Designer and the Prosumer: Approaches and Practices

  This module builds on Artist, Designer, and the Prosumer: Theories and Debates. You'll develop your understanding of key theories and debates through the detailed study of different approaches and practices in art and design. The topics cover key historical and contemporary practices and approaches in art, design, fashion and visual culture, such as: artist curator, cultures of craft, professionalisation, feminist art, DIY fashion, the photographer and the prosumer. Students will choose case studies to be explored in weekly workshops.

Our courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis in order to make sure that what you learn with us is relevant and that your course enables you to develop appropriate skills. When you apply to study with us, we will inform you of any new developments in your chosen programme through Student View.

Year 2 

In year 2 you will develop your core knowledge of art history, theory and visual culture through course specific modules, expanding your own specialist area of interest. You will also have the opportunity to choose from option modules, including a creative option. You will have the opportunity to spend the first semester of your second year at the University of Oslo.

In the second semester, your placement module will give you the chance of gaining professional experience in a museum, gallery or creative industries. Previous work placement destinations include: Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, Design Archives, Worthing Museum, Ditchling Arts and Crafts Museum, Fabrica Contemporary Art Gallery, The Keep Archives, Phoenix Gallery. The University will cover your travel costs on public transport to your placement location.

During your Art History and Visual Culture degree you will go on field trips in and beyond Brighton to museums, heritage sites, art and culture centres, and picture archives. Social activities that are relevant to your course, such as film screenings, reading groups and creative circles, will also enhance your learning experience.

Modules

• Spaces and Bodies
• Gender and Sexuality in Art and Visual Culture
• Art, Visual Culture and Ecology
• Constructing Histories: Research Methods and Professional Practice in History of Art and Design

Options*

• Reconstruct, Recreate, Remake
• I Click Therefore I am: Self and Selfies  
• Understanding Exhibitions and Creating Displays
• Screening and Staging Fashion and Design
• Behind the Scenes: Arts and Heritage Placements

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Final year

The final year sees you execute projects as an independent researcher. You will carry out ambitious research projects, including your own dissertation, team projects and visual displays, which will be showcased in the high-profile Graduate Show. In these projects you will be closely supported by your tutors and peers. Also in your final year, you will delve into the advanced theories and debates surrounding art and visual culture.

Modules

• Art and Visual Culture in Communities
• Dissertation
• Communicating Research
• Professional Paths in Art and Design History

Options*

• Participation, Performance and Politics
• The Past in the Present: Vintage, Retro, Revival
• Fashion Contexts
• Contemporary Art and Design in Asia
• Making the Modern Home

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Meet the team

The University of Brighton was one of the founding institutions for research in design history and our teaching team are world authorities in areas including art, design and dress history and the culture of photography. These research interests inform their teaching.

Dr Ceren Özpınar, course leader

Dr Ceren Özpınar is a historian specialising in art, visual culture, historiography and exhibitions in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Her research focuses on the relationship between gender, identity and art since 1960 with a special focus on Turkey and the Middle East. She has taught in the areas of art and cultural history, critical studies, art management and visual culture since 2008. Read Ceren's full research profile.

Other staff who teach on the course include:

• Dr Eliza Tan
• Dr Harriet Atkinson
• Dr Lara Perry
• Dr Yunah Lee
• Dr Charlotte Nicklas
• Professor Annebella Pollen
• Dr Megha Rajguru.

Read a Q+A with Dr Eliza Tan about her career journey.

Resources

• St Peters House Special Collection which contains rare, valuable, and delicate books, illustrated books, artist books and handmade items.

• A world-class Design Archives.
• Screen Archive South East, a moving image archive.
• Our Dress History Teaching Collection gives you the chance to closely examine and photograph historical and world fabrics and garments.

The university has close relationships with local festivals and organisations such as Cinecity, the Brighton Photo Biennial, Brighton Festival, Brighton Festival Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Fabrica and Lighthouse. These connections provide a range of opportunities for students.

Student work 

Art and design history dissertation catalogues 2021. View catalogues from previous years on Issuu.

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visas and immigration advice

Course fees

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

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