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- Art and visual culture: Medieval to modern
Art and visual culture: Medieval to modern

What is art? What is visual culture? How have they changed through history? This free course, Art and visual culture: Medieval to modern, explores the fundamental issues raised by the study of western art and visual culture over the last millennium. It moves from discussing the role of the artist and the functions of art during the medieval and Renaissance periods to considering the concept and practice of art in the era of the academies, before finally addressing the question of modern art and the impact of globalisation.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- understand the changing perceptions and definitions of art across history
- understand the relationship between ‘art’ and visual culture
- understand the global dimension of art and how it has changed over time
- understand the significance of notions of ‘function’ and ‘autonomy’ for art history
- understand the role of patronage, institutions and the wider historical context in shaping art.
You can start this course right now without signing-up. Click on any of the course content sections below to start at any point in this course.
If you want to be able to track your progress, earn a free Statement of Participation, and access all course quizzes and activities, sign-up.
Course content
- Introduction
- Learning outcomes
- 1 Medieval to Renaissance
- 2 Academy to avant-garde
- 3 Modernity to globalisation
- Conclusion
- Keep on learning
- References
- Acknowledgements
- This site has Copy Reuse Tracking enabled - see our FAQs for more information.
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About this free course
10 hours study
Level 2: Intermediate
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