Art, Ideas, and Communication DUMF3096

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Social and Environmental Sustainability
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 3 (SCQF level 9)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course is about how non-academic genres can employ their distinctive features towards the effective communication of intellectual ideas. More specifically, it will examine theories which attempt to explain how (or if) various artistic forms (for example, fiction, movies, documentaries and stand-up comedy) are able to engage non-specialist audiences with ideas from politics, science and philosophy. Students will learn how to evaluate these theories, and will be encouraged to reflect on how they could apply their learning to professional contexts they are familiar with, including education.

 

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Timetable

A normal week will comprise of one 1-hour lecture and one 2-hour seminar.

Requirements of Entry

Students should have attained at least a D in one Level 1 or 2 Humanities course. Exceptional circumstances may be considered at the discretion of the Course Convenor

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Short answer test (20%) [ILOs 1 & 2]

Essay, including a reflection on practice (80%) [ILOs 1-3]

Course Aims

This course aims to examine a range of artistic genres to identify how they are able to communicate complex ideas to non-specialist audiences.  This will enable students to evaluate theories which attempt to explain the distinctive role of art in changing people's beliefs, attitudes and behaviours.  These activities will develop students' ability to deploy some of these genres in a way that aids information exchange or instruction.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

1. Explain and analyse a range of artistic genres to identify how they are able to communicate complex ideas to non-specialist audiences.

2. Evaluate theories which attempt to explain the distinctive role of art in changing people's beliefs, attitudes and behaviours.

3. Apply some of these theories and genres in a way that aids professional reflection, and information exchange or instruction.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.