The course is dedicated to the period of the historical avant-gardes and will focus in particular on the Metaphysics, Dadaism, Constructive Abstractionism and Surrealism, framed as international laboratories of new artistic techniques, exhibitions and the dissemination of artistic languages. These movements will be read from a transnational perspective, paying particular attention to the historical-cultural context of the production and use of the works, as well as to the network of international relations and the dialogue between some of their protagonists (artists, writers, and critics). Their technical innovations and artistic languages will be studied in depth, in an attempt to bring out the poetic specificities of the individual movements and their protagonists and, in parallel, the converging elements of their radical linguistic experiments, in order to understand, from a different perspective, some of the most significant works of the twentieth century.

The analysis of artworks and writings by artists and critics will guide the in-depth study of the protagonists of this art Movements, in a chronological span ranging from the 1910s to the early 1930s, with an eye also to the assimilation of the lessons of these movements in the 1940s and 1950s. The course will be divided into four parts:

- Metaphysics (4 lessons);

- Dadaism (4 lessons);

- Constructive abstraction (4 lessons);

- Surrealism (4 lessons).

- The last two lessons will be dedicated to the impact of these movements on the European and extra-European historical-artistic discourse of the forties and fifties, with reference to the assimilation of their lesson in the Neo-Avant-garde season.

Students will acquire basic critical-analytical skills in the recognition of the works examined in class or present in the manuals and demonstrate maturity of critical re-elaboration. Students will acquire full critical awareness and achieve a mature ability to read works of art by placing them in their context, and demonstrating an understanding of both contexts and relationships. They will learn to engage with critical literature and visual documents contemporary with the artists' work, in order to acquire a high level of historical-philological competence. They will be able to apply their knowledge and their understanding and skills to solve problems and tackle new issues, as well as develop the skill to communicate the knowledge they have acquired.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

There are no teaching support activities.

Teaching

In-class lessons.

Attendance

Attendance is highly recommended. In order to be considered attending students, students must attend at least two-thirds of the lessons. 

Course books

Textbook:

- Federica Rovati, L’arte del primo Novecento, Einaudi, Torino 2015 (catalogue entries n. 12-50).

Additional focus:

- Ilaria Schiaffini, Arte contemporanea. Metafisica, dada, surrealismo,  Carocci, Roma 2011.

-        Luigi Paolo Finizio, L’astrattismo costruttivo, suprematismo e costruttivismo, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1990.

Assessment

The final evaluation will be based on the following criteria

a) punctuality and attendance at lessons, class participation: 30% (9/30 of the final grade)

b) assessment through the final test: 70% (21/30 of the final grade). The final assessment will take place through an oral exam. This exam will consist in the recognition of three artworks among those studied in class or present in the reference manuals (7 + 7 + 7 = 21/30). For each image, starting from the recognition of the author, the title, the year and the technique of execution, the student must be able to describe the work of art using the appropriate specific terminology and to demonstrate a mature historical and critical contextualization of movements, expressive languages, and each artist's poetics. Students will also have to demonstrate full command of the assigned bibliography, critical awareness and a mature ability to read works of art, demonstrating an understanding of the relationships between the different movements examined during the course.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Individual study

Course books

Textbook:

- Federica Rovati, L’arte del primo Novecento, Einaudi, Torino 2015 (catalogue entries n. 12-50).

Additional focus:

- Ilaria Schiaffini, Arte contemporanea. Metafisica, dada, surrealismo,  Carocci, Roma 2011.

-        Luigi Paolo Finizio, L’astrattismo costruttivo, suprematismo e costruttivismo, Laterza, Roma-Bari 1990.

-       Alessandro Del Puppo, Duchamp e il Dadaismo, E-ducation.it S.p.A.,Firenze 2008.

Assessment

Assessment through the final test: The final assessment will take place through an oral exam.

- This exam will consist in the recognition of three artworks among those studied in class or present in the reference manuals (7 + 7 + 7 = 21/30). For each image, starting from the recognition of the author, the title, the year and the technique of execution, the student must be able to describe the work using the appropriate specific terminology and to demonstrate a mature historical and critical contextualization of movements, expressive languages, ??and individual poetics. Students will also have to demonstrate full command of the assigned bibliography, critical awareness and a mature ability to read works of art, demonstrating an understanding of the relationships between the different movements examined during the course.

- Two open questions on the supplementary text: Alessandro Del Puppo, Duchamp e il Dadaismo, E-ducation.it S.p.A.,Firenze 2008.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.