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SCHOOL OF HISTORY OF

www.eca.ed.ac.uk

Undergraduate degree programme information

HISTORY OF ART & FINE ART

| & Architecture | School of Art | School of | SCHOOL OF | Reid School of | CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: CONTENTS WELCOME TO THE SCHOOL APRIL 2020 OF HISTORY OF ART

Welcome to the School of History of Art 3 History of Art explains why the world looks the way it We intend to begin the 2020-21 does. Choose to study with us and you’ll join a lively Our degree programmes 4 academic year as usual in September. community ready to explore works of art across an This brochure reflects these Why choose Edinburgh? 5 exceptional range of historical periods and contexts. intentions. Introduction to your degree 6 You’ll learn how to interpret and objects of We will let you know of any almost every conceivable kind; how to analyse and changes, and confirm start dates in Detailed degree content interpret works of art, how to write vividly and our pre-arrival communications. critically about them, and how to carry out large- History of Art MA (Hons) 8 scale independent research. Fine Art MA (Hons) 12 You’ll benefit from behind-the-scenes access to Example year by year degree content 14 Edinburgh’s renowned art galleries and , and will have the opportunity to take up work Teaching 18 experience in one of the city’s collections before following in the footsteps of graduates at work in Facilities 20 leading cultural organisations around the world. Careers 22 If you select Fine Art, you’ll combine the study Alumni profile 24 of History of Art with Art Practice. Our highly regarded Fine Art degree programme is unique History of Art & Fine Art reading lists 26 in terms of its five-year duration and the equal weighting given to both aspects of the programme. Frequently asked questions 28 As a Fine Art student you’ll work in purpose- built studios, across the full range of art practice disciplines before going on to develop your ideas with a team of staff from the School of Art and History of Art.

HEATher pulliam HEAD OF HISTORY OF ART, EDINBURGH COLLEGE OF ART

2 3 OUR DEGREE WHY CHOOSE HISTORY OF ART PROGRAMMES & FINE ART AT THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH? Single honours 5-year undergraduate Joint honours 4-year undergraduate degree programme degree programmes You will work alongside leading The University’s own Talbot Rice

academics, many of whom are Gallery exhibits work by leading MA (Hons) Fine Art W150 MA (Hons) French 1 involved in curating or displaying 4 contemporary alongside & History of Art RV13 their work at major international art important historical collections. MA (Hons) German Single honours 4-year undergraduate exhibitions. & History of Art RV23 degree programme Edinburgh’s remarkable museums, MA (Hons) History of Art Our range of teaching specialisms its Unesco-listed architecture, and & Architectural History V360 is one of the broadest in the UK and 5 its vibrant scene MA (Hons) History of Art V350 2 MA (Hons) History of Art covers everything from Celtic and makes it a great place to study & Chinese Studies TV13 early , to contemporary of Art. and the current global . We Studying a joint degree programme from MA (Hons) History of Art also have specialisms in medieval At ECA, history of art works History of Art & English Literature VQ33 and Renaissance, early modern, and alongside academics and researchers MA (Hons) History both 19th and 20th century art. We 6 who are actively involved in all A joint degree programme is a great way & History of Art VV13 also teach about Chinese, Japanese areas of studio practice – making art, to study two subjects at the same time, MA (Hons) History of Art and , and have broad and design of all kinds, and constructing and can offer many benefits: & History of Music VW33 up-to-date coverage of contemporary buildings. art theories and politics. _ A joint degree qualification shows MA (Hons) History of Art employers that you can work across & Scottish Literature VQ35 In Year 3, you will have the a range of disciplines. MA (Hons) Italian opportunity to apply for work & History of Art RV33 3 experience in one of the city’s _ You study two subjects and can choose MA (Hons) Russian Studies collections, and gain behind- courses from across both areas. & History of Art RV73 the-scenes access to Edinburgh’s MA (Hons) Spanish renowned art galleries and

& History of Art RV43 museums. You will also have the opportunity to study abroad.

Watch our on joint degree programmes at: I WAS DRAWN TO EDINBURGH BECAUSE OF THE CITY’S STATUS AS A www.edin.ac/joint-degrees CULTURAL HUB. WITH THE FRINGE FESTIVAL AND MANY AND PIECES OF ART AND LITERATURE COMING OUT OF THE CITY, IT SEEMED LIKE A PLACE THAT WOULD FOSTER ACADEMIC CREATIVITY. THIS PAIRED WITH THE ACADEMIC REPUTATION OF THE UNIVERSITY AND THE FRIENDLINESS AND PASSION OF

THE STAFF, CONVINCED ME TO MAKE EDINBURGH MY FIRST CHOICE.

Tabby Carless-Frost, MA (HONS) HISTORY OF ART STUDENT 4 5 INTRODUCTION TO YOUR DEGREE

Award/s Reading lists Everything you need to know about electives

MA (Hons) Your reading list will be available in For most of our degrees, because of the four- During Welcome Week, the Academic Fair September. year degree structure, electives allow for a is a chance to see all the courses on offer Location breadth of study both within ECA and across and discuss them in more depth, but we Studying abroad the College of , and Social do encourage you to explore elective ideas The University’s Central Area Sciences. before joining us in September. Towards the Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) We offer undergraduate students the end of your first week, your Personal Tutor opportunity to undertake a wide range Your choice of electives may be based on will help to check available places and enrol Awarding body of international experiences. Living and enhancing or complementing your degree, you onto your chosen electives. studying abroad can broaden your or you may choose something totally The University of Edinburgh horizons, enhance your academic unrelated, based purely on interest. perspective and help you make the most Duration of your time as an undergraduate student. All modern languages joint honours students 4 years for History of Art spend a year abroad learning their chosen 5 years for Fine Art language, but even those not studying ECA Hunter Building. a language have a range of Go Abroad Photo: Federica Mentasti. Academic year options open to them:

Comprises two semesters: www.ed.ac.uk/global/go-abroad September to December January to May

Timetables

Usually available after your consultation with your Personal Tutor and elective selection, in the first week of Semester 1. Scheduled teaching can take place on any day of the week, but Wednesday afternoons are usually reserved for sport and cultural activity.

6 7 HISTORY OF ART MA (HONS) DETAILED DEGREE CONTENT

This degree programme is for you Year 1 Year 3 Year 4 if you are interested in art and visual and the histories and ideas that You will study History of Art 1, covering a You will start to specialise and can either You will select courses that build on your they embody. You do not need to have diverse range of art and visual , from focus solely on history of art or choose one subject choices in third year. Again, you studied Art History before, but you the seventh to seventeenth century. The or two courses from other academic areas. can choose solely history of art courses or will be curious to learn about new course examines works produced in Europe, If you are studying history of art with additionally choose one or two courses from ideas, places and times that will the Middle East, India and Japan. another subject as part of a joint programme other academic areas. You will also write challenge the way you see the world. you will take specialist courses from that a dissertation (8 – 10,000 words). If you study history of art with another subject. Our intention is to produce graduates subject as part of a joint programme, you will More information who have an informed and nuanced study compulsory courses from that subject All students will complete either a placement understanding of artistic practice and visual and may be able to choose one elective from within a gallery or cultural institution or You can find more detailed information and material culture at different historical another subject area. a major independent project that focuses on all our History of Art degrees on the periods, who also possess an extensive and on skills relevant to careers in history of art. online Degree Finder, including detailed well-based knowledge and understanding Year 2 Study abroad is possible in your third year. information on programme structure and of art history and its methods of study. entry requirements: You will study History of Art 2, which www.eca.ed.ac.uk/history-of-art-ma begins with the art of the eighteenth-century History of Art lecture. www.ed.ac.uk/ug/37 Enlightenment in Europe and continues until Photo: Ben Shmulevtich. the contemporary art market in China.

As in first year, you will be able to choose two electives from related fields such as architectural history and classical art or, alternatively, from unrelated subjects available across the University.

If you are studying history of art with another subject as part of a joint programme you will take compulsory courses from that subject and may be able to choose one elective.

8 9 Students and staff at National Scotland. Photo: Ben Schmulevitch.

10 11 FINE ART MA (HONS) DETAILED DEGREE CONTENT

This five-year undergraduate programme Year 1 Year 3 Year 5 combines the studio practice of fine art with the academic study of the history Your study is equally weighted between the The emphasis shifts from projects to You will write a history of art dissertation of art. It is unique in its duration and history of art and art practice in first and deadlines and you will have the opportunity on a topic of your choice. This is submitted in the fact that equal weight is given to second year. to engage in external projects and events, early in the second semester. The major each side of the programme during your alongside extended periods of supported, part of the year, two thirds of your time, studies. First year includes the study of , independent study. You can apply for an is taken up with research, and production , and intermedia. international exchange in third year. of your work in the art studios. This Our intention is to produce graduates work culminates in the production who have a professional understanding You will follow studio and research courses Within history of art you may choose from and presentation of your artwork at of artistic practice and who also possess with projects that introduce different a wide variety of specialist topics including the public Degree Show exhibitions. an extensive and well-based knowledge methods, materials and approaches to aspects of ancient, medieval, renaissance and understanding of art history and art practice. and in Europe, and also of More information the methods of its study. Islamic and , or contemporary Within history of art, you will take History art history and theory courses, covering You can find more detailed information While undertaking your practice-based of Art 1 and one more semester-long course cutting-edge practices in the 21st century on all our History of Art degrees on the study you will work in purpose-built that you will choose. These courses cover the in an international context. online Degree Finder, including detailed studios in a friendly and challenging period from the fall of the Roman Empire to information on programme structure and creative practice environment. Your other the end of the Counter-Reformation. You will write an independent history entry requirements: studies will be spent with students from of art project in both third and fourth year. a wide range of arts and humanities Year 2 www.ed.ac.uk/ug/58 subjects studying the intensive art Year 4 history component of the programme. In second year you will be encouraged to develop your work through materials In fourth year you will continue to extend www.eca.ed.ac.uk/fine-art-ma and media appropriate to your ideas. You your studio practice with structured tutorials will also study History of Art and choose and seminars. The emphasis shifts from an additional courses. even split between art and history of art, as in your first to third years, to spending two Within the studio you will begin to study thirds of your time studying history of art with a more focused range of materiality and courses in fourth year. A Critical Portfolio practices. Regular seminar discussion will course in history of art is the main element provide links between art history and studio of study in this year. methodologies. Within history of art, you will take History of Art 2 and choose another history of art course.

12 13 EXAMPLE YEAR BY YEAR DEGREE CONTENT FOR MA (HONS) FINE ART & MA (HONS) HISTORY OF ART Year 2 Year 5 – MA (Hons) Fine Art only

Compulsory courses: This is an example year by year degree Compulsory courses: Rosslyn Chapel – Art, 40 credits content for our MA (Hons) History of History of Art 2 40 credits Architecture, and Experience Fine Art Dissertation 20 credits** Art and MA (Hons) Fine Art degrees. in Late Medieval Scotland 40 credits Both degrees have similar course content Art Practice 2 40 credits* MA Fine Art Studio 5 with occasional exceptions which are Antiquity Recovered: 40 credits highlighted with an asterisk; these Plus 40 credits of option courses across the Imag(in)ing Pompeii MA Fine Art Research 5 20 credits courses are specific to the MA (Hons) College of Arts, Humanities and Social and Herculaneum Plus participation in the Degree Show. Fine Art degree. Please note that the MA Science. Year 4 (Hons) Fine Art degree is a five year Undergraduate degree and the Year 5 Year 3 Compulsory courses: content is specific to this degree. ** Rosslyn Chapel has received an unusual Compulsory courses: Dissertation (History of Art level of popular attention when compared Analysing Art History: and Combined Degrees) 40 credits with other historic buildings in the British If you would like to see additional examples Texts, Objects, Institutions, Isles. Regularly described as ‘mysterious’ of option courses as well as courses for Part One 20 credits MA Fine Art 4 Studio and ‘intriguing’, it is often misunderstood alternative degrees in Edinburgh College and Research 40 credits* or reinterpreted. of Art, please visit: Art Practice 3 40 credits* https://edin.ac/32XRxTu Plus 80 credits of option courses This course examines the 15th century Plus 80 / 100 credits of option courses from the following (list not exhaustive): art and architecture of Rosslyn in detail, from the following (list not exhaustive): encouraging nuanced, historically grounded Stars, Robots, and Talismans: perspectives on this much-praised and History of Art Work Science, Magic & Medieval puzzled-over church. Because the medieval Year 1 Placement 20 credits Islamic Visual Culture 20 credits church was a experience, Rosslyn is explored holistically. The Compulsory courses: Analysing Art History: Art, Culture and Inequality 20 credits course analyses its architecture, sculpture, History of Art 1 40 credits Texts, Objects, Institutions, and evidence of liturgical performances Part Two 20 credits , Dada, (including music) in order for students Art Studio 1A 20 credits* and Beyond 20 credits to understand how they came together Contemporary Artistic to create a functional whole. Art Studio 1B 20 credits* Research 20 credits The Renaissance Body 20 credits Plus 40 credits of option courses across the Sexual Politics and the 20 credits Blood, bones, and bodies: College of Arts, Humanities and Social Buddhist relics in Asia 20 credits Science. CR Mackintosh: Architecture and Design in Edwardian Curating Contemporary Art: Scotland 20 credits Histories, Theories and Practice 20 credits to Expressionism 20 credits 14 15 ECA Degree Show. Photo: Gareth Easton.

16 17 TEACHING

When you arrive you will be assigned Fine Art teaching a Personal Tutor who can offer assistance and advice throughout As a Fine Art student, you will divide your your academic journey, including time equally between Art and History of Art. advice on choosing your electives, In Art, the majority of teaching and learning what to do if you need to take time is through experiential projects of differing out, or need advice when personal time-frames and complexity, situated in the circumstances affect your work. studio environment. Conceptual, material and technical issues are explored through History of Art teaching seminars, lectures, tutorials and critiques. Throughout the programme, you will We use a mixture of teaching methods participate in exhibitions and live projects including lectures, tutorials and workshops, and will be encouraged to experiment in the many of which take place in Edinburgh’s studio and beyond. Within History of Art, galleries and museums. you will take compulsory elements of the programmes in the first two years, before In your first and second year, lecture working on more specialised courses in audiences may be as large as 150, but tutorial third and fourth year. In the first half of fifth sizes are typically 10-12 students. You’ll also year, you will conduct independent research, take part in peer learning groups, where writing a dissertation of 10,000 words on you will discuss art and ideas together with a topic of your choosing, supervised by fellow students. During third and fourth year, a member of staff who is an expert in that you’ll start to specialise and will be taught in field. The rest of your final year is spent in small groups with emphasis on discussion preparation for your degree show. and participation. Assessment If you choose to undertake a work placement in third year, you’ll gain Assessment can take the form of project invaluable experience in an art-related work, coursework, exams, participation in institution within the city. Alternatively, group events and presentations. In third you may choose an independent project and fourth year you will complete at least such as the Critical Portfolio, for which one independent project, and a longer you will write a series of critical reviews of dissertation in your final year. exhibitions you have seen. In fourth year, in addition to taught courses, you will conduct In Fine Art we conduct continuous your own independent research and write a assessment throughout the year, to give dissertation on a topic of your choice under meaningful feedback and to encourage the guidance of a supervisor, who is an experimentation in the studio and beyond. History of Art students at expert in the field. Scottish National Gallery.

18 19 FACILITIES Studios workshop

Purpose-designed studios are situated This large wood workshop hosts a huge throughout our Lauriston Place campus and range of machinery and hand tools for the Edinburgh is home to world-class Foundry and casting room provide a bright, airy space for working. cutting, shaping, and general fabrication collections of historic and contemporary They are also used for displaying student of , as well as metals, , and art that are integral to our teaching. These facilities are provided for both cold work and hosting exhibitions and events. cardboard. The work that goes on here can In addition, the University’s own and hot casting processes, allowing you to be for anything from architecture models gallery, the Talbot Rice Gallery, is work on small as well as large-scale pieces. Photography suite and art pieces, to costume design and one of Scotland’s leading public In the cold casting area you can work with furniture products. spaces for contemporary visual art. , wax, and flexible rubber moulds, The suite has studios equipped for taking The University is also home to an among others materials. In the hot casting photographs, dark rooms for developing in Explore our facilities and virtual tours exceptional Fine Arts Collection, and foundry you can work with non-ferrous a variety of sizes and formats, a finishing online at: containing more than 1,200 items, metals like bronze and aluminium using and mounting room, and a computer suite notable for its Dutch and Flemish art investment casting techniques. containing Hasselblad scanners. www.eca.ed.ac.uk/facilities of the 17th and 18th centuries, Scottish www.eca.ed.ac.uk/tours portraits, and modern Scottish art. Metal workshop suite Printmaking suite. You will also have access to the vast This workshop is equipped to deal with The printmaking suite provides a host of University of Edinburgh library, one of both large and small-scale projects, with facilities for traditional and contemporary the largest academic libraries in the world, a variety of hand tools, welding torches, printmaking processes. The comprehensive which is open and staffed 24 hours a day. and automated machinery for constructing range of techniques available include: screen And if all of that’s not enough, you can prototypes and final pieces. You will be , letterpress, , intaglio, walk to the National Library of Scotland encouraged to develop manual skills such as relief printing and monotype, Risograph (a library entitled to receive copies of welding and folding, as well as having access and Gocco printing. all books published in the UK) to access to the use of the steel guillotine and CNC their collection of six million volumes. plasma cutter, which cuts metal precisely based on work created with design software. Fine Art students work alongside students Metal workshop. on our BA programmes, and make use of Foundry and casting room. our spacious and well-lit studios. Here you will quickly build a supportive, creative community.

ECA offers a diverse range of studios and workshops, libraries and collections, and places to perform and show your work. What’s more, we encourage creativity and skills development, so all of our college-wide technical facilities can be accessed through prior arrangement and discussion with relevant staff, irrespective of your core discipline.

20 21 CAREERS

Information and advice History of Art and Fine Art graduates Our services can be found at work nationally and The Careers Service also offers support internationally, often holding highly The University’s Career Service looks to with additional opportunities available influential positions in all aspects enhance your university experience from to students during their time with us. of the . the moment you arrive, not just in your final year, so we encourage new students to _ Volunteering opportunities within the Studying History of Art prepares engage with our services from day one. University and beyond it. you for a wide-range of careers such as curatorship in galleries and museums, art We’re here to inspire and empower you to _ Go Abroad opportunities. journalism, publishing, art dealing, heritage be the best you can be and fully develop management and auctioneering. Some your potential. We will support you to gain _ The Edinburgh Award – get recognition graduates use their skills and experience experience that will enhance your personal on your final transcript for additional for careers in management or teaching after development and employability, alongside work and extracurricular activities you’ve additional training, while others proceed to your academic studies. In an increasingly been part of during your time with us. postgraduate study in Edinburgh and other competitive employment environment, we leading universities. offer many opportunities to gain the skills _ Part-time and vacation jobs, internships, and experience that will ensure you are graduate jobs and more, via our dedicated As a Fine Art student, you will graduate as well prepared as possible to achieve job site: with a professional understanding of artistic a satisfying and rewarding future. practice, and an extensive knowledge and https://mycareerhub.ed.ac.uk ECA Main Building. understanding of art history, and this opens _ A dedicated careers consultant for your Photo: Nicky Regan. up considerable career opportunities. Our School offering targeted information Fine Art graduates frequently establish resources, newsletters and one-to-ones. themselves within workshops and studios often building international reputations and _ Information and advice in person via our achieving considerable success. drop-in centre in the Main Library, and available 24/7 via our websites, blogs and social media.

_ Careers consultations.

_ CV and applications advice.

_ Careers events: job fairs, themed events, volunteering, creative careers, sustainability, IT, and much more.

www.ed.ac.uk/careers

22 23 ALUMNI PROFILE

Lilly Pugh

History of Art MA (Hons), 2015

Development Researcher for Broadcast, London

Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) is an My final dissertation was a rewarding impressive school with a broad range of experience; I did an interdisciplinary subjects. The truth is we don’t know what research project including Cultural Studies, we’re interested in until we start studying Visual Culture and Urban Studies, as well it, and ECA gives you a lot of scope for as History of Art. It was amazing to have exploration. When I started out I was free reign to apply what I had learnt. very focused on the earlier history courses, but I qualified with a specialism in What has helped me the most since Contemporary Art. graduating is the confidence my degree has given me; when I graduated, I felt like I like how Edinburgh’s small size allows I could do anything. More generally, critical you to build really close friendships. We thinking and a good understanding of were able to develop lots of projects and visual media and a creative mindset are play around with all the available spaces. all invaluable in the fields of production It was very productive. I found the most and digital media, where I now work. challenging part of the course trying to get to grips with philosophical and theoretical The Torrie Collection. texts. It really made me examine my own Talbot Rice Gallery. © The University of Edinburgh, EU 0645. thought processes. Photo: Chris Park.

WHAT HAS HELPED ME THE MOST SINCE GRADUATING IS THE CONFIDENCE MY DEGREE HAS GIVEN ME; WHEN I GRADUATED,

I FELT LIKE I COULD DO ANYTHING.

24 25 HISTORY OF ART & FINE ART READING LIST

Here are selected books from our first ECA’s social media channels year reading list to help you take your first steps into what it’s like to study history of art and fine art both practically and theoretically. www.instagram.com/edinburghcollegeofart

Ways of Seeing John Berger, 2008 www.facebook.com/ECA.edinburgh

Ways of Curating Hans Ulrich Obrist, 2014 twitter.com/eca_edinburgh

Art in Modern Culture : An Anthology of Critical Texts vimeo.com/channels/ecavideos Francis Francina & Jonathan Harris, 1994

The Studio Reader: On the Space of Artists www.linkedin.com/school/edinburgh- Mary Jane Jacob & Michelle Grabner, 2010 college-of-art

Art Since 1900: Modernism, Antimodernist, Postmodernism Hal Foster & Rosalind Krauss, 2016

Art History: The Basics Grant Pooke & Diana Newall, 2008

World Art Studies: Exploring Concepts and Approaches Wilfried Van Damme et al, 2011

A Brief History of Curating Hans Ulrich Obrist, 2008

Beyond Objecthood: The Exhibition as a Critical Form since 1968 James Voorhies, 2017

Introduction to

Kerr Houston, 2013 Intermedia, Art Tasting. Photo: Ben Smulevitch. 26 27 FREQUENTLY ASKED JOIN US QUESTIONS

For further information You’ll find more information online to some about studying History of the questions we get asked the most. of Art or Fine Art, email:

_ Where do I find degree programme listings [email protected] and entry requirements? www.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/degrees Read more about our programmes at: _ Where can I find out about accommodation? www.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/accommodation www.eca.ed.ac.uk

_ Where do I find out about applying? For further information about www.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/apply admissions, contact:

_ Where do I find out about my offer? E: CAHSS.UGAdmissions www.ed.ac.uk/studying/my-offer @ed.ac.uk T: +44 (0) 131 650 3565 _ Where do I apply and track my application? www.ucas.com To apply, visit:

_ What financial support can I apply for? www.ucas.com/apply www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding

_ What information can I get about facilities and support services? www.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/facilities

Front cover: Painted Lady 14 _ Where can I find out about sports facilities? © Jessica Harrison. Centre for Research Collections. www.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/sport Photo: Chris Park.

_ Where can I find out more about transport in and around the city? www.transportforedinburgh.com

_ What do your students think? www.edin.ac/student-life All information is correct at time of going to print. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the University. April 2020 / Issue 10.

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