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Unit Overview

Description

This unit investigates the power of contrasts in the art and literature of the (mainly) British Grand Tour to Italy by articulating a changing sense of fundamental oppositions between here and there, then and now, over more than three centuries of travel. It addresses the works of outstanding writers and artists such as John Evelyn, Joseph Addison, Canaletto, Piranesi, Goethe, Stendhal, William Hazlitt, J. M. W. Turner, Samuel Palmer, Ruskin, Gustave Dor, William Gibson and John Cleese to understand how contrast serves as a fundamental instrument for finding and imposing cultural meaning though travel. The unit is interdisciplinary as well as intercultural in drawing on history, philosophy, psychology and gender studies in addition to art history and literature. It also contemplates the relationship between European travel and colonial travel and includes Western Australian perspectives.

Credit
6 points
Details for undergraduate courses
  • Level 3 elective
Outcomes

Students are able to (1) analyse the changing cultural significance of contrasts in outstanding examples of the art and literature of the British Grand Tour and mass tourism to Italy over three centuries; (2) articulate the analytical and critical interpretations through an understanding of contrast as a universal technique of understanding the world according to the psychological theories of Gregory Bateson and others; (3) show how contrasts provide historiographical insights into the theoretical underpinnings of comparative analysis that are integral to learning techniques in many art history units; (4) gain insight into the history of the discipline by studying and constructing narratives about the reception of art in successive historical relationships between words and images about a range of iconic places; (5) construct narratives on the reception of art in successive historical relationships between words and images about a range of iconic places; (6) evaluate the way in which the representation of contrast between home and away in visual and literary media signify the underlying conceptual frameworks and institutional ideologies that give them meaning, which affords students a means of understanding travel to multiple destinations within the globalised and culturally diverse environment in which they will be living and working; and (7) present logical arguments about the intellectual frameworks motivating specific Anglo-Italian contrasts through skillful evaluations of primary and secondary documents and application of the contemporary theories that best interpret them.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) two written assignments; (2) an oral assignment and tutorial tasks measuring ongoing verbal participation; and (3) active listening and constructive feedback. Further information is available in the unit outline.



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

Unit rules
Prerequisites
MEMS2001 Classical Traditions and Transformations in Medieval and Early Modern Europe
or any Level 2 History of Art unit
Incompatibility
VISA2247 The Grand Tour: Visual and Verbal Contrasts from the Age of Enlightenment to the Era of Mass Tourism
Contact hours
lectures: 2 hrs per week
tutorials: 1 hr per week
Note
Enrolled students can access unit material via the LMS (Learning Management System).
  • 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.
  • Unit readings, including any essential textbooks, are listed in the unit outline for each unit, one week prior the commencement of study. The unit outline will be available via the LMS and the UWA Handbook one week prior the commencement of study. Reading lists and essential textbooks are subject to change each semester. Information on essential textbooks will also be made available on the Essential Textbooks. This website is updated regularly in the lead up to semester so content may change. It is recommended that students purchase essential textbooks for convenience due to the frequency with which they will be required during the unit. A limited number of textbooks will be made available from the Library in print and will also be made available online wherever possible. Essential textbooks can be purchased from the commercial vendors to secure the best deal. The Student Guild can provide assistance on where to purchase books if required. Books can be purchased second hand at the Guild Secondhand bookshop (second floor, Guild Village), which is located on campus.
  • 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.