Art in tGlobal South: Contemporary Practices and Social Change

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

Introduction to contemporary art practices emerging from Africa, Latin America, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East

Understanding of how art reflects and responds to social, political and economic change

Familiarity with basic concepts of postcolonial and global studies

Development of skills in visual analysis and critical discussion

Encouragement of independent research and intercultural dialogue

 

Course Description

This course explores contemporary art created in regions often described as the Global South. It focuses on how artists respond to social change, political conflict, migration, economic inequality and environmental crisis.

The course introduces students to major artists, movements and exhibitions from different parts of the world and encourages discussion across cultural perspectives.

Rather than treating art as isolated objects, the seminar examines artworks as part of broader social and historical processes.

Students will learn how to analyze visual material, connect art to global issues, and develop their own research topics related to contemporary culture and society.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Open to students from all disciplines. No prior knowledge of art history required. Curiosity and willingness to participate in discussion are essential.

Syllabus

Week 1: What is the Global South? History and key concepts

Week 2: Art and postcolonial perspectives

Week 3: Contemporary art in Africa

Week 4: Contemporary art in Latin America

Week 5: Contemporary art in South Asia

Week 6: Contemporary art in the Middle East

Week 7: Contemporary art in Southeast Asia

Week 8: Indigenous artists and cultural identity

Week 9: Art and protest

Week 10: Art and gender

Week 11: Art and migration

Week 12: Art and climate crisis

Week 13: Global exhibitions and biennials

Week 14: presentations

Week 15: presentations

Reading list

Appadurai, Arjun, Modernity at Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1996.

Mbembe, Achille, On the Postcolony, Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001.

Mignolo, Walter D., The Darker Side of Western Modernity: Global Futures, Decolonial Options, Durham: Duke University Press, 2011.

Bhabha, Homi K., The Location of Culture, London: Routledge, 1994.

Spivak, Gayatri Chakravorty, “Can the Subaltern Speak?”, in: Marxism and the Interpretation of Culture, 1988.

Enwezor, Okwui, “The Postcolonial Constellation: Contemporary Art in a State of Permanent Transition”, in: Research in African Literatures, 2003.

Mosquera, Gerardo, “Some Problems in Transcultural Curating”, in: Art Journal, 1994.

Kester, Grant H., The One and the Many: Contemporary Collaborative Art in a Global Context, Durham: Duke University Press, 2011.

Smith, Terry, What Is Contemporary Art?, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2009.