Art History & Cultural Policy - Queer Art Histories
What is queer art and who makes it? Has there always been queerness in art? In this module, we will look at art-historical practices from a variety of historical, geographical, and social contexts, to explore how queerness, same-sex desire, or “homosexuality” have been represented, and how these representations changed over time, at intersections with their sociopolitical contexts.
Duration
Autumn Trimester - September to December
MODE OF DELIVERY: Face-to-Face
Eligibility
Not applicable to this module.
Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
Careers / Further progression
Open Learning means you can fit university around your life. Whether you're looking to progress your career, or you've just finished school and wondering if university is for you, Open Learning fits around your schedule and gives you all the benefits of being a full-time student, without the full-time commitment.
Open Learning allows you to select the modules you wish to study, set the pace of your study, and whether you undertake the module assessment. It also can lead to undergraduate degree entry in UCD if you are taking the Certificate in Open Learning (30 credits) or if you are a Mature Student you can take one module (5 credits) in lieu of the MSAP exam.
There are 14 Progression Pathways to choose from Students who earn 30 credits (6 x 5 credit modules) receive a NFQ Level 7 Certificate in Open Learning. This can be used to apply through the CAO for dedicated places on 14 different UCD degree programmes depending on Grade Point Average (GPA) and modules completed.
Further information
TRIMESTER: Autumn
To get started, you need to first complete and submit an online pre-registration form. Applications will reopen again on 8 August 2023.
While the module has a predominantly contemporary focus, we will begin with an examination of historical examples of same-sex desire in art before the 19th century. We will then look at the modern developments brought by the Enlightenment and scientific progress which first invented and categorised “homosexuality” as a medical category and deviance, prompting 19th century artists to develop an elaborate language of coded homoeroticism. Following this historical introduction to the module, the focus will shift to a thematic approach: we will cover a broad range of distinct practices and reflect on many different meanings of queerness, including: the US gay liberation history and the AIDS epidemic; thriving spaces of queer cultures such as waterfront and nightclubs; Irish, Polish, and Jewish queer artistic practices; and gender binary-defying practices of two-spirit Indigenous Americans and Indian Hijras. We will also look at queer exhibitions and exhibiting queerness in various international contexts, and explore instances of explicit or implicit censorship of same-sex desire in art institutions. The module will feature a visit to an exhibition (TBC) and guest speakers (TBC).
The objective of the module is to unearth and discover histories and contexts which often remain hidden and silenced, and to develop a good understanding of how queerness and “homosexuality” have been shaped and reshaped by various historical and social factors. The module’s focus is also on decolonising knowledge of queer histories which often are only ascribed to Western Europe and the US or the global North. An important aspect of this module is to decentralise this Western knowledge production and introduce a broad variety of selected queer artistic practices.
We have a dedicated team who supports the Open Learning programme:
Jenny Doyle, Centre Operations Manager - jennifer.doyle@ucd.ie
Lucy and Ciarán are members of our Operations Team and they can also help you with your queries. Get in touch with us by emailing all@ucd.ie