Course detail

Towards a post-artistic practice 1

FaVU-CESTY1Acad. year: 2020/2021

The course will introduce students to selected theories of post-art, “usological” turn in art, and the concept of "artistic coefficient" and other non-binary tools to reflect non/artistic practice. Students will get acquainted with examples of existing projects with a double ontology (in art and outside of it) or examples of hybrid practice. The goal in the extended field, which we can call post-art, is mainly to achieve a sustainable (materially, mentally, environmentally), non-alienated and creative practice, which is not entirely in the wake of changing demand of the art market. Collective character and multi-source funding, inherent in most post-art projects, and the reserved attitude to narrow specialization correspond adequately to today's situation of massified art education, the financial recession, but also the current democratized cultural production. The course is designed to speak to students of all disciplines, including the so-called traditional media.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

MgA. Pavel Sterec, Ph.D.

Department

Intermedia Studio (AIN)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

The course aims to contribute to the relief from anxiety-causing or stereotypical concepts of art, i.e. talent, creativity, renunciation, fame, success. It also tackles a pressure on “usefulness” of one's own work, especially through the development of critical thinking, discursive analysis and selected examples from the practice of post-art and practical workshops. At the same time, the course encourages students to become aware of their relationship to art education and professional artistic practice after completing their formal studies.

Prerequisites

The course does not require any specific knowledge and skills. Experience with one's own art practice and openness to critical thinking together with knowledge of the English language is welcomed.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Lectures, screenings, discussions and practical excercises.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

The following conditions are set for the award of the credit: Active participation in teaching or submission of a task prepared on the basis of an alternative assignment in agreement with the lecturer.

Course curriculum

The course consists of introductory lectures on selected topics and facilitated discussions with students on key concepts and texts. Lectures and discussions are complemented by practical exercises, screenings and meetings with guests.
1. Introduction: The end of art? What can the prefix post- reveal to or hide from us.
2. Unlearning, Deschooling: What we should unlearn (in context of education of artists).
3. Usological turn. Shift from artist to instigator and from spectator to user.
4. One universal Art or arts in the plural? Artistic autonomy or artistic coefficient? Subcultures.
5. Failure and frustration in art, second career, art as luxury, class division in culture.
6. Slowdown. Artists in post-practice, strikes in art, tyranny of creativity and dictatorship of performance.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The aim of the course is to reduce students’ uncertainty and anxiety, coming from an outdated, deep-rooted distinctions, i.e. artists vs. amateurs, “fine” vs. “applied” arts, etc. It should also challenge the exclusive focus on professional success, measured mainly through quantitative markers derived from (conservative) art market, and reputation expressed as a list of exhibitions in standard gallery institutions. The course should lead to critical analysis of “professional success” and offer a wide range of strategies of how to keep a fulfilling relationship with art outside categories such as winner or loser.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Teaching takes place in the classrooms of FaVU VUT in the hours determined by the schedule. The minimum participation in lessons is 85%. Replacement of missed classes takes place in agreement with the teacher in the form of alternative assignments.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Not applicable.

Recommended reading

Bey, Hakim. Dočasná autonomní zóna. Praha: Tranzit.cz, 2004, ISBN: 80-903452-1-2
Graeber, David. Fragmenty anarchistické antropologie. Praha: Tranzit.cz, 2013, ISBN: 978-80-87259-19-1
Hedva, Johana, Komanická, Daniela, Lazard, Carolyn, Patsavas, Alyson. Iné telá.txt. Bratislava: Apart, Praha: Display, 2018, ISBN: 978-80-971569-1-6
Holloway, John. V kapitalismu – Proti kapitalismu – Za hranice kapitalismu. Praha: Neklid, 2019, ISBN: 978-80-907562-1-2
Sholette, Gregory. Dark Matter: Art and Politics in the Age of Enterprise Culture. London: Pluto Press, 2010, ISBN: 9780745327532
Wright, Stephen. Towards a Lexicon of Usership. Eindhoven: Van Abbemuseum, 2013, ISBN: 9490757144

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme VUB Bachelor's

    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, winter semester, elective

  • Programme VUM Master's

    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-D , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, winter semester, elective
    branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, winter semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

12 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

MgA. Pavel Sterec, Ph.D.

Seminar

4 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

MgA. Pavel Sterec, Ph.D.

Practical class

4 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

MgA. Pavel Sterec, Ph.D.