Taster Materials for Art History

The samples featured here mostly come from OpenLearn and iTunes U. They are taken from various points in the courses - some are relatively simple introductions but others are more complex extracts from the later weeks. Remember you can also view course books and study guides at many public libraries and at OU regional and national centres.

Making sense of the arts (Y180)

• Making sense of art history on OpenLearn helps you to explore the power of images via a study of contemporary art from the 1980s onwards, to consider what the artist might be trying to say. (5 hours).
  

The arts past and present (AA100)

• iTunesU albums are available on The Diva (study week 8), Ireland - heritage and collective identity (study week 15), the Benin Bronzes (study week 18) and Mosaics from Brading Villa on the Isle of Wight (study week 28); or go to the OU podcasts version (search for aa100)
• the Getting ready for AA100 website features other extracts from the course material, including sections from the study companion and an outline planner with tips on preparing for study.

Making sense of things: an introduction to material culture (A151)

• An introduction to material culture on OpenLearn asks Why study things? Or put another way, what can we learn from objects that we can’t find out from the reading of texts? (2 hours)
• There are 2 albums of audio visual content on iTunes U, or on OU podcasts if you don't use iTunes: Exploring Greek vases watch on iTunes U | OU podcasts; and Repatriation and returning remains watch on iTunes U | OU podcasts.
• The Moving on to A151 website features an video introduction and tips on preparing for study.

 

Exploring art and visual culture (A226)

• there are three albums on iTunes U (and also on OU podcasts if you don't use iTunes). These include audio visual content related to each of the three books:
  
  Art history: early modern starts with an introduction to studying art history by Dr Steve Edwards. It includes a collection overview (audio) and short videos on stained glass, Islamic religious art (c1450-1600) and Unravelling an icon, which looks at St. George and the boy from Mytiline in the British Museum; an examination of a 16th-century statuette, as well as a module taster. View in iTunesU | watch on OU podcasts

   

  Art history: 17th to 19th centuries includes a collection overview and videos on Christ Church, Spitalfields, Kedleston Hall and Sculpture at Chatsworth. View in iTunesU | watch on OU podcasts

   

  Art history: modern and contemporary includes a collection overview and short videos on Jacob Epstein's Rock Drill and Doris Salcedo's installation Shibboleth in the Tate Modern Turbine Hall. There are also audio lectures on abstract expressionism in New York. View in iTunesU | watch on OU podcasts
• the course information website asks 'why study art and visual culture?' and suggests how you might prepare to study art history.

Understanding global heritage (AD281)

• iTunes U albums on Carnival and the performance of heritage, Social housing and working class heritage, Museums in contemporary society,
  Changing approaches to heritage; or go to the OU podcasts versions (search for ad281)
• two OpenLearn units What is heritage? and World heritage introduce the contept of heritage and its critical study
• the course information website links to an interactive Google Earth map exploring the major sites you will study
• there's a brief video introduction by the production course chair, Dr Rodney Harrison, on YouTube.

From Enlightenment to Romanticism c.1780-1830 (A207)

• 10 units on OpenLearn explore the following subjects: The Enlightenment (study week 0, 16 hours); Hume (study week 3, 16 hours); The French Revolution (study week 5, 16 hours); Goya (study week 6, 5 hours); Napoleonic paintings (study week 8, 16 hours); William Wilberforce (study week 10, 16 hours); Robert Owen and New Lanark (study weeks 17 and 18, 12 hours); Schubert's Lieder: settings of Goethe's poems (study week 27, 16 hours); Brighton Pavilion (study week 30, 16 hours); Delacroix (study week 32, 16 hours).
• there are albums on iTunes U on the following topics: Analysing European Romanticism; Re-assessing the Marquis de Sade; and Wordsworth re-visited. These are also available from OU Podcasts - search for a207.

Renaissance Art Reconsidered (AA315)

• the OpenLearn unit, Art in Renaissance Venice considers how Ventian art was determined by the city's geographical location and ethnically diverse population
• the course information website answers some frequently asked questions, has information about topical events, and includes advice on preparing for the independent essay.

Art of the Twentieth Century (AA318)

• the course information website answers some frequently asked questions and includes advice on preparing to study the course.

MA in Art History

• Chapter 1 of the study guide for A840, Helen Langdon's Caravaggio is available online via OpenLearn.
• The MA art history information website answers frequently asked questions and includes a Study Skills pack [PDF] which covers the essentials of postgraduate study, and a self-assessment test to help you decide if you are ready for MA study.