Course detail
Art, Commerce, Power
FaVU-ACP-LAcad. year: 2019/2020
The course deals with the relationship of art commerce and its relationship with power structures. How is value generated? The course will start with an excursion to 17th century Netherlands and the phenomenon of tulipmania and the consequent burst of the speculative bubble. What is the relationship between tulip bulbs and Damian Hirst's artefacts? We will also look into trade with luxurious goods and art trade in 18th century France and England; we will compare these trade structures to those of the 19th century when art academies and a greater degree of institutionalization of art had a significant impact on artists' position at the market. What is the relationship between the needs of the state, companies, or wealthy individuals to represent themselves through art and how does this need form the content of art? We are also going to look at business manual for art lovers which should help them to get themselves oriented at the art market and contrast this text with the one which criticisez the establishment of values. Towards the end of the course, we are going to look at brand identity in commercial sphere, see how this can be related to the art world(s) and finish with general texts dealing with the critique of neoliberalism.
Supervisor
Learning outcomes of the course unit
Tests will be written in each class from the assigned text. A short final assignment (an essay or gallery report).
Prerequisites
Students must be able to use English on academic level.
Co-requisites
Not applicable.
Recommended optional programme components
Not applicable.
Recommended or required reading
Goldgar, Anne. Tulipmania. (EN)
Abbing, Hans. Why Are Artists Poor. (EN)
Perry and Cunningham. Academies, Museums, and Canons of Art (EN)
Solkin, David. Painting for Money. The Visual Arts and the Public Sphere in 18th Century England. (EN)
Graw, Isabelle. High Price: Art Between the Market and Celebrity Culture. (EN)
Velthuis, Olav. Talking Prices: Symbolic Meaning of Prices on the Market for Contemporary Art. (EN)
Adam, Georgina. The Dark Side of the Boom. The Excesses of the Art Market in the 21st Century. (EN)
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Discussion and written reflections of assigned texts represent the core content of classes. Students' output is crucial for the classes.
Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes
Students must write all 12 - 13 tests. Exam.
Language of instruction
English
Work placements
Not applicable.
Course curriculum
The course syllabus is identical with the bibliography list. We will deal with one text per seminar.
Aims
Students should be more aware of deeper interconnectedness between the creation of value, social demand, social status, symbolic capital, and the distribution of power in society.
Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences
Attendance - max. two absences per semester.
Classification of course in study plans
- Programme Bachelor's
branch ZST , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
- Programme VUM Master's
branch VU-D , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-D , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-D , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-VT , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-VT , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-VT , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-VT , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-VT , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-VT , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-IDT , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-IDT , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-IDT , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-IDT , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-IDT , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-IDT , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-IDT , 1. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-D , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-D , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-D , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-VT , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-VT , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-VT , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-VT , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-VT , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-VT , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-IDT , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-IDT , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-IDT , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-IDT , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-IDT , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-IDT , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
branch VU-IDT , 2. year of study, winter semester, 4 credits, optional
Type of course unit
eLearning
eLearning: currently opened course