| Unit name | Aesthetics of Revolution and Resistance: 21st-Century Images of North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean |
|---|---|
| Unit code | FREN30106 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Shilton |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of French |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
This unit on art and activism provides an important insight into the history and culture of Tunisia and countries in the wider region of North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean since the revolutions and protests of 2011. We will begin by examining iconic images, such as the Tunisian flags displaying Che Guevara’s face, while the course will focus on alternative means of resistance through art. Media to be studied range from photography to video, multi-media installations, graffiti, and street dance. Set works may also include literature or film. We will ask, for example, how art contributes in distinctive ways to political debates; how it conveys the past, present and future of countries such as Tunisia (comparisons may be made with the distinct contexts of Morocco, Egypt and Syria); and how such art evokes women’s contribution to the history of these countries. This unit is aimed at students who wish to apply and develop their critical analytical skills in relation to the visual arts. You do not need any previous experience of studying art or visual culture. Students who do already have such experience are also very welcome and will develop their skills in relation to new media and contexts.
How does the unit fit into your programme of study?
Through this unit, you will develop your knowledge and understanding of art, culture and history from countries in and beyond North Africa. You will also develop your analytical skills by interpreting work in a range of art forms, including visual media not studied in Year 1 or 2. To equip you to analyse this material, you will be provided with critical literature (in French and English) from disciplines including history, art history, screen studies and visual culture. This unit reflects recent emphases in Modern Languages on comparison across cultures and media.
An overview of content
This unit interprets work across a range of visual media. We will begin by studying iconic images of revolution and nation, as well as the reasons why many artists have chosen alternative means of resistance. Material to be studied may include art presented or performed in galleries, as well as outdoor or virtual spaces, such as photography and performance by Hela Ammar, Nicene Kossentini and Mouna Karray, JR’s participatory street art project in Tunis, Art Solution’s videos of subversive street dance, and Ouma’s presentation of her graffiti interventions on Instagram.
How will you, personally, be different as a result of this unit?
In addition to gaining a greater understanding of art and culture in relation to revolution and the history of countries such as Tunisia, you will develop a critical decolonial perspective and an understanding of how visual images work. This can be applied beyond this unit in contexts from social media to the street. You will also develop your analytical skills, which is essential preparation for a wide range of graduate jobs.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Learning activities will include close analysis of works of art, comparative analysis of works across media; discussion of secondary critical texts; analysis of how artists present their work and practice via Instagram feeds, reels and interviews; and answering questions related to an exhibition, film screening or other event. Each week, you will be provided with a set of questions to guide you in your reading and analysis of the primary works. These questions will be discussed in the seminar. There will be a dynamic mix of class discussion, pair / group work, and exercises based on a gallery visit / screening / talk, with introductory activities on visual analysis to help you to build your confidence in relation to visual material. These tasks are directly related to the summative assessment, helping you to prepare for this from the beginning of the course. These activities and modes of learning have been chosen to help you to develop your knowledge and analytical skills in diverse, multimedial, and creative ways. They will help you to practise the skills required for your assessments but also for future units and graduate employment.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. FREN30106).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
