Issues in Contemporary Art
UndergraduateCUR-VIS192025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Question the last fifty years of arts practice from social, political and cultural points of view. Put recurring themes in contemporary art up for discussion. Dig into modernism and post-modernism. Focus your art history study on theory and context.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 25 May 2025
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Price from
- $1,286
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Issues in Contemporary Art
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will:
- analyse issues that have faced contemporary art in the late 20th/early 21st century and in terms of historical, social, political and cultural contexts
- research and analyse the critical and theoretical underpinnings of various contemporary art movements and how they have influenced each other
- present research using appropriate technology.
- Art theory and context
- Practices of seeing
- Art, politics and ideology
- Commodity, culture and desire
- Identity and the body
- The persistence of abstraction
- Conceptual art
- Landscape art and the environment
- Modernism and postmodernism
- Art science and technology
This subject provides an introduction to the major theoretical issues of contemporary art with a strong emphasis given to contemporary practice. Theories of seeing and of cultural production are examined and illustrated through examples of contemporary art practices.
Please Note: If it’s your first time studying a Curtin University subject you’ll need to complete their compulsory ‘Academic Integrity Program’. It only takes two hours to complete online, and provides you with vital information about studying with Curtin University. The Academic Integrity Program is compulsory, so if it’s not completed your subject grades will be withheld.
Find out more about the Academic Integrity module.
- Online test (20%)
- Essay 1 (40%)
- Essay 2 (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
Start your career with Curtin’s globally recognised courses and extensive industry connections. Through OUA, their online courses offer an interactive and collaborative learning experience that gets you the same degree as if you studied on campus. Curtin is a global university with a vibrant culture of innovation and collaboration and is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.
Learn more about Curtin University.
Explore Curtin courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 14
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 15
Entry requirements
Others
You must have a high level of proficiency in the English language and competent essay writing skills.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Student feedback
8 student respondents between 19 Feb - 26 Aug 2024.
75%of students felt the study load was manageable
87%of students felt this subject helped them gain relevant skills
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Arts (Digital and Social Media) (Visual Culture)
UndergraduateCUR-ICV-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Digital Experience and Interaction Design) (Visual Culture)
UndergraduateCUR-DDV-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Professional Writing and Publishing) (Visual Culture)
UndergraduateCUR-PVC-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Visual Culture)
UndergraduateCUR-VLC-DEG
Undergraduate Certificate in Art History
UndergraduateCUR-ART-CTF
Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) (Visual Culture)
UndergraduateCUR-FAV-DEG
UndergraduateCUR-JPN-DEG
UndergraduateCUR-CHN-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Digital and Social Media)
UndergraduateCUR-NET-DEG
UndergraduateCUR-FIA-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Korean Studies)
UndergraduateCUR-KOR-DEG
Bachelor of Arts (Professional Writing and Publishing)
UndergraduateCUR-PWP-DEG
Single subject FAQs
What’s a single subject?
Single subjects are the individual components that make up a degree. With Open Universities Australia, you’re able to study many of them as stand-alone subjects, including postgraduate single subjects, without having to commit to a degree.
Each of your subjects will be held over the course of a study term, and they’ll usually require 10 to 12 hours of study each week. Subjects are identified by a title and a code, for example, Developmental Psychology, PSY20007.
How can I use single subjects to get into a full degree?
First, find the degree that you would like to study on our website.
If that degree allows entry via undergraduate subjects, there will be information about this under the Entry Requirements section. You will find a list of 2-4 open enrolment subjects you need to successfully complete to qualify for admission into that qualification.
Once you pass those subjects, you will satisfy the academic requirements for the degree, and you can apply for entry.
Our student advisors are here to help you take that next step, so don’t hesitate to reach out when you’re ready! We’ve also made it easier to figure out the right way to get started on our pathways page.
Can anyone help me choose a subject?
Our student advisors are more than happy to help you plan your online study. Get in touch with an advisor by:
How do I pay for my subjects?
You can pay up front with your credit card, or you may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government depending on your citizenship status and where you’ll live during your studies.
For more information about how to pay for your studies visit our fees page or contact a student advisor.
How do I enrol?
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enrol now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
When is the cut-off date for enrolling?
Close of enrolment times vary between universities and subjects. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting key dates.