The Digital Dispositif of Contemporary Art
Jakob Schillinger
Art Sciences and Art Education, Art Theory
2023S, scientific seminar (SEW), 4.0 ECTS, 2.0 semester hours, course number S04317
Description
Over the past two decades, digital technologies have fundamentally transformed practically all social spheres and all areas life: from shopping to dating, from finance to medicine. But what about the field of art? The seminar will examine the effects of digitization on art since 2000. On the one hand, we will ask how digitalization is transforming the production, distribution, and reception as well as the formal aspects of art; on the other hand, we will explore how art reflects these transformations. Rather than subscribing to technological determinism, the aim is to illuminate which practices and forms are favored, made possible, or made more difficult by certain socio-technological frameworks. Considering different artworks (for example by American Artist, Loretta Fahrenholz, Sondra Perry, Seth Price, Hito Steyerl) and exhibitions (p.e. Speculations on Anonymous Materials at Fridericianum Kassel or Art Post-Internet at UCCA Beijing) as case studies and drawing on recent art criticism (p.e. Carly Busta/New Models, Michael Sanchez) and research (Shane Denson, Noam Elcott, Legacy Russell, Ravi Sundaram,Marina Vishmidt among others), we discuss phenomena such as Post-Cinema, Glitch Feminism, NFTs and web3, Post-Internet Art, Flip Art and Zombie Formalism, AI and the turn from opticality to visuality, Infrastructural Critique, and the platformization of the art system.
Examination Modalities
The grade for this course is composed of three components: 1.) participation (20%), 2.) presentation and discussion facilitation (30%), and 3.) written commentaries on the course readings (50%).
1.) Participation refers to your active engagement in seminar discussions. This includes formulating questions and statements regarding the material that advance our discussion, but also listening and responding to other participants' contributions.
2.) Instead of a term paper, short commentaries of ca. 300 words each are required for each of the main readings in advance of the session. These reading commentaries should sumarize the main argument of the text and formulate a question or hypothesis, such as: a critical commentary concerning concerning the text's argument, method, or case studies (for example with regard to potential contradictions); pointing out the text's blind spots; a critical comparison with other texts from the same or previous sessions.
3.) Each student develops a short presentation (15 minutes) for one of the sessions (either individually or in a team). Presentations should be based on the assumption that everyone has read the main text for the session. They should focus on situating the argument theoretically and historically and draw on the recommended readings in order to do so. The aim is to prepare, introduce, and facilitate a discussion. Presentations should therefore include a strong thesis and at least two questions.
Comments
The seminar will be held in concentrated blocks. Space is limited. If you're interested in enrolling, please join the introductory session. (Dates tbd.) The seminar will be held in English, but there is no requirement of a perfect command of the language. Anyone feeling comfortable to join a discussion in English is most welcome.
Key Words
contemporary art, infrastructure, digitization, art system, media, technology, internet, platforms, blockchain, social media
Course Enrolment
From 01 January 2023, 00:00 to 15 March 2023, 00:00
Via online registration
Curriculum Allocation
co-registration: possible
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Art Education: subject kkp (Master): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE
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Art Education: subject kkp (Enhancements study): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis
Art Education: subject tex (Master): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE
Art Education: subject dae (Master): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE
Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis
Art Education: subject dex (Master): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE
Art Education: subject dex (Enhancements study): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Seminar aus dem Bereich Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften
Art Education: subject dex (Enhancements study): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis
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Expanded Museum Studies (Master): Electives: Art Theory
Stage Design (2. Section): Kunsttheorie und Kulturwissenschaften: Kunsttheorie
Media Arts: Specialisation in Transmedia Arts (2. Section): Wissenschaft, Theorie und Geschichte : Kunsttheorie
Media Arts: Specialisation in Digital Arts (2. Section): Wissenschaft, Theorie, Geschichte: Kunsttheorie
Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften (Master): Electives Area 1: Art Theory
Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften (Master): Electives Area 2: Art Theory
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Fine Arts (2. Section): Scientific and Research Practice: Art Theory, Cultural Studies, Art History, Philosophy
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Individual courses: possible