From Upper Paleolithic to Late Middle Ages (Kunstgeschichte 1)
Edith Futscher
Institute of Studies in Art and Art Education, Art History
2025W, Vorlesungen (VO), 2.0 ECTS, 2.0 semester hours, course number S04727
Description
This lecture offers some orientation in the very broad field of artistic practices from about 40.000 BCE to the 14th century CE. The course is organized around basic questions that come along with material and artistic production; we will focus on different functions of cultural artefacts, their roots in cultic or religious practices: We will ask what they can tell us about coexistence, about the way to organize life, and to deal with death and the inexplicable. We will further focus on the formation of centres and ask what role not only squares and monuments but also sculptures and pictorial decoration played in this. Power gestures are just as interesting as the functions of complex sacred buildings in public life. And we will deal with different possibilities of pictorial representation between a claimed real presence and illusion, from presentation to complex structures in storytelling, and have a look at different image politics.
Examination Modalities
Written examinations on 26th of January (Auditorium VZA7), 2nd of March (SR 20, VZA7), and 23rd of March (SR 20, VZA7).
Comments
This lecture is accompanied by a tutorial led by Pia Sophie Michalko (participation is not mandatory, but recommended) - locations and times:
October 28th, 3-4pm, SR 27, VZA7
December 17th, 3-4pm, SR 27, VZA7
January 20th, 3-4, SR 27, VZA7
January 22nd, 3-4pm, SR 27, VZA7
This lecture will be held in English. All introductory lectures (Art History 1–4) will alternate between English and German. Therefore, Art History 1 will be held in German in autumn 2026. Beyond that, you can attend all lectures in any order as they are not designed to build on one another.
Key Words
art history, global art history, visual culture
Dates
13 October 2025, 15:30–17:00 Seminar Room 7
20 October 2025, 15:30–17:00 Lecture Room 1
27 October 2025, 15:30–17:00 Lecture Room 1
03 November 2025, 15:30–17:00 Lecture Room 1
10 November 2025, 15:30–17:00 Lecture Room 1
17 November 2025, 15:30–17:00 Lecture Room 1
24 November 2025, 15:30–17:00 Lecture Room 1
01 December 2025, 15:30–17:00 Lecture Room 1
15 December 2025, 15:30–17:00 Lecture Room 1
12 January 2026, 15:30–17:00 Lecture Room 1
19 January 2026, 15:30–17:00 Auditorium
26 January 2026, 15:30–17:00 Auditorium (examination)
02 March 2026, 15:30–17:00 Seminar Room 20 (examination)
23 March 2026, 13:00–14:30 Seminar Room 20 (examination)
Course Enrolment
From 01 September 2025, 09:00
Via online registration
Curriculum Allocation
Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: GO: Kunstgeschichte (1-4), VO 067/003.11
Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Kunstgeschichte (1-4), VO 067/003.19
Art Education: subject kkp (Enhancements study): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: GO: Kunstgeschichte (1-4), VO 067/003.11
Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: GO: Kunstgeschichte (1-4), VO 074/003.11
Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Kunstgeschichte (1-4), VO 074/003.19
Art Education: subject dex (Enhancements study): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: GO: Kunstgeschichte (1-4), VO 074/003.11
Transformation Studies. Art x Science (Bachelor): Focus! Transformation Areas: Cultural Transformation 162/040.40
TransArts - Transdisciplinary Arts (Bachelor): Theoretical foundations: Theoretical foundations 180/003.01
Expanded Museum Studies (Master): Electives: Art History 537/080.10
Stage Design (1. Section): Kunsttheorie und Kulturwissenschaften: Kunstgeschichte 542/107.01
Stage Design (2. Section): Kunsttheorie und Kulturwissenschaften: Kunstgeschichte 542/207.01
Media Arts: Specialisation in Transmedia Arts (1. Section): Wissenschaftlich theoretische und historische Grundlagen: Kunstgeschichte 566/108.12
Media Arts: Specialisation in Transmedia Arts (2. Section): Wissenschaft, Theorie und Geschichte : Kunstgeschichte 566/208.12
Media Arts: Specialisation in Digital Arts (1. Section): Wissenschaftlich theoretische und historische Grundlagen: Kunstgeschichte 567/108.12
Media Arts: Specialisation in Digital Arts (2. Section): Wissenschaft, Theorie, Geschichte: Kunstgeschichte 567/208.12
Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften (Master): Electives Area 1: Art History 568/005.03
Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften (Master): Electives Area 2: Art History 568/006.03
Cross-Disciplinary Strategies (Master): Study Areas 1-3: Study Area 1: Artistic Strategies and Approaches to Art 569/020.10
Design: Specialisation in Design and Narrative Media (1. Section): Methodological and Theoretical Fundamentals: Art History 576/103.02
Design: Specialisation in Communication Design (1. Section): Methodological and Theoretical Basics: Art History 577/103.02
Industrial Design (1. Section): Art and Cultural Studies - Basics: Art History 580/104.08
Design: Specialisation in Fashion Design (1. Section): Methodological and Theoretical Basics: Art History 584/103.02
Design: Specialisation in Fashion Design (1. Section): Methodological and Theoretical Basics: Free Elective Pool Methodological and Theoretical Basics 584/103.80
Conservation and Restoration (1. Section): Geisteswissenschaften: Kunstgeschichte (Zyklus) I-II 588/104.31
Fine Arts (1. Section): Scientific and Research Practice: Art History 1-4 (VO) 605/102.10
Fine Arts (2. Section): Scientific and Research Practice: Art History 1-4 605/202.03
Fine Arts (2. Section): Scientific and Research Practice: Free Electives out of Scientific and Research Practice 605/202.80
Design: Specialisation in Applied Photography and Time-based Media (1. Section): Methodological and Theoretical Basics: Art and Design History 626/103.02
Design: Specialisation in Applied Photography and Time-based Media (2. Section): Methodological and Theoretical Basics: Humanities 626/203.02
Cross-Disciplinary Strategies (Bachelor): Artistic Strategies and Approaches to Art: Foundation 700/001.10
Cross-Disciplinary Strategies (Bachelor): Artistic Strategies and Approaches to Art: Deepening and Application 700/001.20
Co-registration: possible
Attending individual courses: possible