FA2IS: International Study

Module code: FA2IS

Module provider: Art; School of Arts and Communication Design

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Professor Alun Rowlands, email: a.rowlands@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This museum-based learning module is a supervised study visit to a major European art centre. You will encounter and experience contemporary art and art history benefitting from the knowledge and expertise of accompanying academic staff. The module provides you with the experience of studying works of art first-hand – visiting major museums, galleries, and collections. Recent cities visited have included Madrid, Berlin, Paris and Venice.  

The module provides an enhanced understanding of art history as it operates beyond an academic context. Exploring diverse writings from art history and theory to expand expectations of what approaches are useful, the module critically considers the role and history of art’s institutions. It focuses on evaluating the effect display and context have on the interpretation of works of art through first-hand experience of museums and collections. It is assessed through visual analysis and writing assignments that mirror the tasks undertaken by museum professionals, giving you experience of the kind of activity you might experience in a working environment.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. research and assemble knowledge of artworks, museums, and collections appreciating the circumstances and conditions under which art is produced and staged 
2. carry out independent visual analysis of works of art encountered, organising experience into coherent written form 
3. develop arguments about the function of art from different periods and perspectives  
4. form a deep and sustained sense of a single artistic centre’s culture and environment within a global context 

Module content

This module is designed to develop experience, analysis, understanding and awareness of the scope of art history. A major artistic centre abroad is chosen which frames the visit. Key museums, art institutions and collections form the focus of the study visit, along with individual works of art housed and sited in the place of the visit. Additionally, students and staff plan an itinerary of compulsory and optional events including smaller galleries, temporary exhibitions, and publicly sited artworks. The emphasis of the module is on studying art first-hand and translating the encounter via written assignments. You are encouraged to research and think through the implications and impact of globalization in art, its histories and contexts. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Museum-based learning takes the form of student-led presentations and tutor-led group discussions in proximity to artworks and exhibitions. There are orientation and itinerary planning sessions ahead of the visit. Visual analysis is introduced and rehearsed alongside guidance on close reading, research, and interpretation including the use of online museum catalogues. This module also employs online resources to share research materials, collection archives, pose questions and respond critically to the exhibitions and events encountered as part of the study visits; in addition to supporting writing skills and visual analysis. You can attend a specified number of optional visits and are expected to carry out several tasks under your own initiative for which written guidance is given. 

Assessment points, briefs and deadlines are introduced at the start of the module. 

Assessment requires the ability to critically select material, show an understanding of the debates and organise a sustained cogent argument in response to the artworks and exhibitions encountered.  

Presentations and essay tutorials in advance of writing the summative essay accompany feedback tutorials that discuss writing plans, and support structuring the research for the written assignments.  

Assignments model forms of interpretation, taking advantage of the first-hand encounter of artworks – asking questions of how they are produced, collected, displayed, and interpreted. 

Study hours

At least 57 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

• Museum-based visual analysis presentation of chosen artwork 
• Museum seminar feedback and feedforward 
• Feedback and Feedforward tutorials for essay planning 

Reassessment

Additional costs