History of Art MA
History Of Art 2B HISTART2005
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Culture and Creative Arts
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 2 (SCQF level 8)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
Artists make art, but they do not make it as they please; they make it under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past. This course examines how artists and artworks from across history have responded to, and shaped, the circumstances in which they find themselves.
Timetable
Lectures: 21 x 1 hour lectures over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday at 1:00 (fixed pattern of 3 x lectures in week 1; 2 x lectures per week thereafter)
Seminars: 9 x 1 hour seminars over 9 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus (fixed pattern of 1 seminar per week starting in week 2)
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
HISTART2004
Assessment
The standard assessments for this course are:
■ Artwork analysis, 2000 words - 50%
■ Essay, 2000 word - 50%
If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:
■ There are no alternatives to the assessments, but extensions to the deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions).
Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor. 
Course Aims
The course aims to:
■ introduce students to significant histories that illuminate the diverse relationships between individual artists, historical contexts, and the traditions of art
■ develop students' critical awareness of the discipline of art history by introducing them to a range of debates about the relationships between the making and meanings of art
■ enable students to use knowledge gained about the history of art to analyse and contextualise works of art
■ provide a bridge from the introduction to the discipline given in Level 1 to the more advanced and specialised study at Honours level
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ Identify the artistic traditions and contextual circumstances that informed specific artists' practices and choices
■ Summarise key art historical arguments relevant to questions of originality, tradition, and context in art
■ Interpret works of art in relation to inherited traditions and contextual circumstances
■ Apply understanding of critical debates to inform discussion of artists' careers and legacies