Background

The team in the School of Art and Design History is relatively small and the curriculum is based on a modular system. The department services students from a number of disciplines as well as the History of Art, Architecture and Design. As a body of staff, interests go beyond the boundaries of Europe and topics such as cultural identity are already embedded within some modules. Rather than developing 'stand alone' modules which require particular subject expertise, this project will identify different ways in which current course teams can address a broad range of 'differences' within existing historically based modules and within new thematic modules.

Aims and Objectives

A broad-based project to integrate diversity at all undergraduate levels in the History of Art Architecture and Design and in the MA Design History course, including material drawn from outside of Europe, diasporic spaces and Southern and Eastern Europe.

At level 1, a module on Object Analysis is targeted for revision as well as modules on Exploring Contexts, and an introductory course to architecture and design history. At level 2, the Fashioning Gender and Identity course will be expanded to consider debates about body culture and the representation and aesthetics of beauty. Other level 2 modules will be expanded to look at global Modernism in Japan, Cuba and Spain. At level 3, modules exploring material culture will also focus on these countries and others in greater depth. A module on the Politics of Craft will also be revised, as will a module on Modernisms and Postmodernisms in architecture and design. The MA Design History course and Curating Contemporary Design course will also be revised to broaden out concepts of design.

Dissemination of materials and methods will take place within the University through a series of workshops as well as beyond.

Resources

Building up slide resources will be a key part of this project as well as freeing up time for the course team to revise modules. Additional funds are also being provided by the university to purchase books which will support the module changes.

Timescale

Groups Affected

The course team in the History of Art Architecture and Design department. HAAD students at all levels will engage in a sustained manner with the contemporary realities of a multicultural society within a global context. Students from other disciplines taking HAAD modules will also benefit from the global diversity embedded within modules.

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