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 honours seminar examines how the representation and exhibition of bodies evolved in the modern era. From the illustration of anatomy to the academic study of the nude, this seminar explores how medical science and art reshaped the understanding and visualisation of the human form after the Enlightenment. In this pivotal moment, new visual technologies and populist philosophies transform human representation, and we will analyse how the increased accessibility and legibility of the body impacted its role in art. This unit treats the body as a subject, but also as a medium, and we will consider how bodily matter – cells, blood, bones, and flesh – have been depicted, manipulated, and displayed since the eighteenth century. Incorporating archival material, alongside object collections and curatorial displays, this seminar offers a rich survey of the human form across a variety of materials and representational practices.

Credit
6 points
Offering
AvailabilityLocationMode
Not available in 2025UWA (Perth)Face to face
Details for undergraduate courses
  • Honours option in History of Art [Bachelor of Arts (Honours)]
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) apply research skills to develop concise, nuanced and original arguments appropriate to honours level; (2) present research findings in both oral and written form; and (3) analyse and apply curatorial techniques, material evidence, and textual sources.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) oral assessment; (2) research proposal; and (3) research paper. 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)
Dr Emily Brink
Unit rules
Prerequisites
enrolment in
honours in History of Art
Incompatibility
VISA4403 Studies in Art History 2
Advisable prior study
Students not completing HON-HYART History of Art may be eligible to complete this unit with the approval of the Honours Coordinator
Contact hours
3 hour seminar per fortnight
  • 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.