KUN2400 – Topics in Avant-garde and Contemporary Art

Course content

KUN2400 is a course where the topic of teaching will alternate.

Topic for the Spring semester 2024 is: Video Art: Theory, Technology, Practice.

The course gives a critical introduction to early analog video and television art - from the proto-televisual impulses in the historical avant-gardes to the increasing proximity between analog and digital technologies in video art in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. We will focus on the various technical aspects of analog video, as well as on artistic practice and early writings on the subject. Topics may include the technics and politics of time; video, feedback systems and ecology; the reconfiguration of the artist’s studio; guerilla politics and alternative TV; video and autobiography; the relation between video and painting; the musical history of video; the invention of new machines; and video as a "television viewer".

Learning outcome

After completion of the course Spring semester 2024 you will:

• Have an overview of the most significant artworks, issues, texts and the theoretical conceptual apparatus related to early Video Art.
• Get an introduction to the main aspects of analog video technology and get perspectives on the relationship between art and technology. In addition, we will read the most important new litterature in the field.
• Be able to perform in-depth analysis of single works related to the topic of this course
• Have competence in presenting and discussing ideas from the course both in oral and written form.

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Recommended previous knowledge

It is recommended that you have passed 40 studiepoeng (equal to ECTS) in Art History, Aestethics and/or Visual studies before taking this course. Examples of recommended prior knowledge are:

KUN1000 – Introduksjon til kunsthistorie (only in Norwegian)
KUN1002 – Billedkunst og arkitektur fra barokk til samtid (only in Norwegian)
KUN2001 – Kunsthistorisk teori og metode (only in Norwegian)

It is also recommended that you have good reading skills in English.

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with KUN4400 – Topics in Avant-garde and Contemporary Art.

Teaching

Each class is organized as a double lecture followed by a one-hour seminar. Following the seminars is highly recommended. We expect you to meet prepared for classes and to participate actively.

In order to qualify to the final exam, you must complete these compulsory activities:

• Oral presentation
• Compulsory attendance for at least 7 out of 9 classes. Additional absence must be justified with documentation to the exam coordinator. Attendance will be taken at every class.

You do not qualify for the final examination unless this compulsory requirement is fulfilled. Read more about guidelines for compulsory activities.

The compulsory activities are only valid one semester.

Access to teaching

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Examination

The examination at KUN2400 is a three day digital home exam.

The length of the assignment should be 6-7 standard pages (2300 characters without spacing, illustrations, notes and reference).

You will take the home exam in Inspera. You must familiarize yourself with the login and submission procedures in timely manner before the exam. Read more about Inspera below.

Also, see semester page for more information.

Language of examination

You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.