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Short course

Introduction to Approaches in History of Art Short Course

Book course
Introduction to Approaches in History of Art Short Course | On campus
Explore Western art history. from Renaissance to late 19th century, this course offers a stimulating and enjoyable introduction to iconic eras.
Next start months
July 2026
Tutor(s)
Jennifer Warren
Price
From £680.00

Course description

Course overview

This course will explore different methods and approaches to looking at art, and to consider the significance of the themes and aesthetic qualities of the artworks in question. Through reading, looking and discussing together, we will explore changes in artistic practices, developments in display practices, shifts in the social function of art and more.

This course will take place both at CSM and at galleries in London. The course will involve some optional reading (you will be given the texts) and we will cover a range of topics, referring to art works throughout. There will be discussion held within a supportive environment as well as a chance to apply different methods of art history yourself. Throughout there will be opportunities to reflect on how you personally resonate, or not, with the methods we explore.

Who this course is for

With the emphasis on looking and group discussion, this course is intended both as a foundation for those considering further study in this area as well as for those who enjoy art and would simply like to know more.

This is a summer-school only short course running only once a year. We encourage early bookings to secure your place.

Key information

Topics covered

  • How, when and why did Art History emerge as a discipline or practice?
  • How can 'interpretation' be defined and what are common approaches?
  • What is useful about the idea of a 'social art history'?
  • Why are there no great women artists? (We will take up this provocative question posed by art historian Linda Nochlin in 1971.)
  • How did the art museum emerge and what does the development of exhibition display methods tell us about art's social role?
  • Why is it interesting to think about the viewer of art as well as the art itself, and what does the idea of the 'gaze' explore?
  • How has art history engaged with questions of decolonisation and what would a decolonised art museum or art history look like?

Learning outcomes

  • Have a greater awareness of different historical approaches to the subject
  • Develop an increased pleasure in looking at art
  • Digital badge and certificate of attendance

Materials

  • Notebook
  • Pen

Tutor

Jennifer Warren

Jennifer Warren is a researcher and lecturer with a background in Exhibition Studies. She is currently based at Central Saint Martins as an AHRC funded PhD candidate within the Afterall Research Centre, where her work addresses the idea of the ‘Activist Museum’ by focusing on interactions between contemporary art institutions and social movements.
Jennifer has been teaching in various capacities at UAL since 2017 and holds a PGCert in Academic Practice in Art Design and Communication. She has been a Visiting Lecturer for various BA and MA courses in Fine Art, Curation and Exhibition Studies at Central Saint Martins, Goldsmiths and London Southbank University / Whitechapel Gallery.

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