Studying online

There are now 2 possible online modes for units:

Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.

Click on an offering mode for more details.

Unit Overview

Description

This unit explores the evolution of figural representation in post-Enlightenment Europe. From medical illustration to the avant-garde nude, the representation of the body evolves dramatically in the modern period, revealing new concerns around identity, technology, health, and political control. The body takes on a variety of forms in this period of increased global exchange, and this unit will also consider how Europeans visualised and engaged the bodies of other cultures. By examining how bodies are depicted and understood after the eighteenth century, this unit aims to show how the representation of the human form expresses both modern anxieties and desires.

Credit
6 points
Offering
AvailabilityLocationModeFirst year of offer
Not available in 2025UWA (Perth)Face to face
Details for undergraduate courses
  • Level 2 option in the Fine Arts; Gender Studies; Art History and Curatorial Studies major sequences
  • Level 2 elective
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) identify relevant artists and artworks associated with the visual representation of the body in the modern period; (2) identify the key theoretical concerns about the modern body in the visual arts; (3) use visual analysis to critically examine the changes to bodily representation in the modern period; (4) make arguments about the relationship among visual culture, medical discourse, and the body; and (5) communicate knowledge about relevant artworks and their relationship to theories of the body.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) short essay; (2) long essay; and (3) discursive learning (oral presentation; online discussion; participation). Further information is available in the unit outline.



Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)
Associate Professor Emily Brink
Unit rules
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
HART1000 Great Moments in Art
or HART1003 Ways of Seeing: Themes and Theories in Art
Advisable prior study
ENGL1902 Reading Bodies (ID 1676).
BMED2001 Humanities in Health and Medicine
Contact hours
lectures: 2 hours per week
tutorials: 1 hour per week
  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
  • All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
  • Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
  • Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.