We live in a material world, surrounded by things that not only enable our existence but can also tell us a great deal about how we see ourselves and our place in that world. This course introduces the history and global contemporary use of key materials and techniques associated with the practice of art and design, with a focus on the role that these have played in our understanding of those disciplines. We will examine various processes and media used by artists and designers, from clay, dyes, wax and charcoal, to pigments, cosmetics, light and energy, across a wide range of historical, cultural, and political contexts of making and display.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- identify and describe frequently used materials and techniques associated with the practice of art and design;
- critically analyse and interpret the relationship between materials, techniques, and contexts of display;
- relate key issues in the study of materials and techniques to broader scholarly debates; and
- present written and spoken arguments about the use and understanding of various materials and techniques.
Indicative Assessment
- Case-study analysis (1,500 words) (30) [LO 1,2,4]
- Tutorial presentation (8-10 minutes) (20) [LO 1,4]
- Essay (2,000 words) (40) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Participation (10) [LO 1,2]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures and 12 hours of tutorials; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
There are no prescribed texts for this course. Readings will be available via Canvas.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2027 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2027 | $6000 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10187 | 26 Jul 2027 | 02 Aug 2027 | 31 Aug 2027 | 29 Oct 2027 | In Person | N/A |