Module 'ELECTIVE AND OPTIONAL MODULE'

MODULE OF ELECTIVE AND OPTIONAL SUBJECTS 16 ECTS

I. Elective sets of general subjects
A –Theoretical elective set
• History of Estonian Art
• Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art
• Art in Postmodern Society
B – Pedagogical elective set
• Art Pedagogy
• Developmental Psychology
• Andragogy
C (C I and C II) – Creative elective set
• Graphics
• Creative Project

II. Optional subjects (Free electives)


MODULE OF ELECTIVE AND OPTIONAL SUBJECTS

I. Elective sets of general subjects

A – Theoretical elective set

HISTORY OF ESTONIAN ART
AESTHETICS AND PHILOSOPHY OF ART
ART IN POSTMODERN SOCIETY
8 ECTS (for T, L, M, F, Pa, Ph and S curriculum)


The objective is to provide students with basic knowledge about theoretical approaches to art that they could use in assessing and planning their artistic and creative activities.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the set of subjects, students will
• have an overview of contemporary art and philosophy as well as their relations to broader cultural background;
• have basic knowledge of aesthetics, philosophy of art and history of contemporary art, including Estonian art;
• be able to creatively and critically relate themselves to surrounding reality with the help of cultural theory, aesthetics and philosophy of art;
• be familiar with the issues of postmodern art field and connect these to non-art-related fields, such as media, cultural, political, economic, etc. ideologies;
• be able to theoretically interpret their activities as artists and associate their practical artistic activities with acquired theory.


History of Estonian Art (Estonian Art after the World War II) 3 ECTS, VI semester, non-differentiated assessment*
Description
• Estonian art after the World War II - from 1945 until today.
• Socialist realism and the re-establishment of aesthetic position in Estonian art; new analyses and interpretations.
• Paradigm shifts, Estonian avant-garde art and the stagnation period of the 1980s.
• Postmodern ideology in Estonian art, new wave of national romanticism.
• Art and art life in the 1990s, institutional changes and the impact and significance of new technologies and media for Estonian art.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will
• have acquired an overview of Estonian art history from 1945 until today;
• be able to connect Estonian art history to art processes in rest of the world and see the big picture;
• understand the most important societal and cultural processes that have influenced Estonian art;
• have acquired certain knowledge of art history;
• be able to independently find and use professional literature, interpret and describe visual material.

Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art 3 ECTS, VII semester, non-differentiated assessment*
Description
Aesthetics
1. Concept, history and scope of aesthetics. Matter and form.
2. Immanent and philosophical aesthetics.
3. Anti-Essentialism and the metaphysical foundations of traditional aesthetic interpretation. Plato.
4. Aesthetic approach to art, “aesthetic attitude“.
5. Interpretation and intention.
6. Evaluation and appreciation of art, immediate experience.
7. Test of time in art evaluation.
Philosophy of art
• Concepts of philosophy of art: art, artwork, definition of art.
• Institutional art theory.
• Psychoanalytical, phenomenological, existentialist, Marxist, etc. approaches to art.
• Criticism in the philosophy of art in the 20th century.
• Contemporary phenomenological approach to art.
• Concepts: expression, content and romanticism, form and formality, interpretation, beauty, benefit, space, colour, line, body, world, artwork, truth.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will
• have a general overview of topics, methods, problems and leading figures of aesthetics and philosophy of art;
• be familiar with the main fields of analytic aesthetics relating to the creation, evaluation, conservation and experience of art;
• be familiar with the historical forms of interpretive philosophy of art and related contemporary theories;
• be able to interpret the connected problems of phenomenological and aesthetic approaches to art in the 20th century philosophy of art;
• have an understanding of how philosophy and aestheticism view art and of trends in this field.

Art and Postmodern Society 2 ECTS, VII semester; non-differentiated assessment*
Description
• Economic, political and cultural characteristics of postmodern society.
• Postmodern art and the diffusion of discipline borders. Mass culture phenomenon.
• Document in postmodern art. Art and history.
• Media-reflexive art. Advertising.
• Political art. Cultural and arts politics. “Culture wars”.
• Interpretations of body and sexuality in contemporary art.
• Autobiographical art. The problem of „the other“ in Western culturology.
• Representation of “landscape” and “territory” in contemporary art.
• The “double game” of contemporary art.
• Results of digital image creation in art and its interpretation.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will
• have an overview of the relational shifts between cultural disciplines in modern and postmodern societies; functional mechanisms and trends of modern art since the 1960s;
• have an overview of different interpretations of modern art and art criticism;
• be able to analytically discuss the inherent and contextual issues of contemporary art, disappearance of art borders and dematerialisation of the object of art;
• be able to see relations between art and media, political, economic, etc. ideologies;
• be familiar with different ideologies of modern art, methods of their creation and distribution.



B – Pedagogical elective set

ART PEDAGOGY
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
ANDRAGOGY
8 ECTS (for T, L, M, F, Pa, Ph and S curriculum)

The objective is to provide students as prospective art teachers with an overview of main disciplines relating to pedagogy.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will
• have a basic knowledge of main concepts, methods and techniques of art pedagogy, developmental psychology and andragogy;
• be familiar with the possibilities of using psychology and pedagogy related knowledge in the development of learning and teaching methods;
• be able to take into account various factors and processes when preparing and teaching lessons;
• have an understanding for and fundamental skills for continuing studies and working as an art teacher.


Art Pedagogy 3 ECTS, VI semester, non-differentiated assessment*

Description
• History of art pedagogy (general trends, methods).
• Preparation for teaching art and atelier work, compiling a syllabus and work plan for different target groups.
• Different learning and teaching methods.
• Assessment of art and learning results. Motivation and feedback.
• Shaping the learning environment.
• Stages of children's representational activities. Theory of multiple intelligences.
• Creativity and abilities. Developing creativity.
• Practical assignments; visiting a kindergarten, art hobby group and/or (art)school.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will
• have basic knowledge of art pedagogy and history of art teaching;
• be able to set objectives for the study process, compile a syllabus, study tasks, lesson programme and work plan for art education and atelier work;
• be familiar with the learning, teaching and assessment methods of art teaching;
• be familiar with the principles of shaping a creative and developing learning environment;
• be able to take into account children's developmental stages in teaching creative activities;
• be familiar with the factors inhibiting and promoting motivation and creativity;
• have acquired a practical experience in art teaching.

Developmental Psychology 2 ECTS, VII semester, non-differentiated assessment*

Description
• The scope and main problems of developmental psychology.
• Overview of the factors inhibiting human development.
• Motoric, cognitive, social and emotional development from the prenatal period to late adulthood.
• Development of an infant, school child and teenager. Adulthood. Old age.
• Different developmental theories.
• Methods of assessing and studying development.
• Developmental problems and disabilities.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will
• have knowledge about motoric, cognitive, social and emotional development;
• be able to describe changes characteristic to different age groups and developmental stages;
• be familiar with possibilities and methods of assessing development;
• be familiar with normal development and developmental problems.

Andragogy 3 ECTS, VII semester, non-differentiated assessment*
Description
• Adult education and andragogy in the education system, their characteristics, professional standards and legal regulation.
• Basic concepts, themes and methods of adult education; differences of teaching adults and children or the andragogy model.
• Principles of planning and conducting the teaching process.
• Preparing a training session, selecting methods, adapting learning materials and conducting a training session for fellow students.
• Models of skill development, personal development and social learning.
• Connection between learning methods and results: focusing on the teacher, student and discipline.
• Institutions providing learning opportunities to adults in Estonia.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will
• be familiar with the main concepts of adult education;
• have acquired knowledge, experience and skills as a teacher and learner;
• be able to plan, prepare and conduct a training session for adults;
• be familiar with different learning and teaching methods; be aware of connections between learning methods and results and able to select the most appropriate methods;
• be able to summarise the learning and teaching process, give feedback, analyse oneself and evaluate a training session as a learner and teacher.

C I – Creative elective set

GRAPHICS
CREATIVE PROJECT
8 ECTS (for T, L, M, F, Pa, Ph and S curriculum)

The objective is to develop students' individual talents so that they could be more creative, bold and free in their everyday work, which is a prerequisite for the development of an integral artistic personality.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will
• be able to create original artworks;
• be able to apply the tools and possibilities of creative work techniques in expressing their ideas;
• be able to interpret, analyse and if necessary verbalise their creative process and its results;
• have considerably developed their discipline-specific competences and thus expanded their opportunities on the labour market.

Graphics 3 ECTS, VI semester; non-differentiated assessment*
The objective is to develop students' individual creative talents, manual skills and discipline-specific competences through theoretical study and practice of printmaking techniques.
Description
• Relief print, linocut.
• Intaglio, drypoint.
• Possibilities of using printmaking techniques in applied art disciplines.
• Composition and working in techniques.
• Creating and compiling an exhibition project.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will
• have acquired knowledge about printmaking techniques;
• have an overview of the history of classical printmaking techniques;
• be able to recognise different printmaking techniques;
• be able to use relief print and intaglio techniques in an original manner;
• be able to analyse and employ acquired knowledge and skills in their professional activities; be familiar with the possibilities of using printmaking techniques in applied art disciplines;
• be able to compile a (group) exhibition from the works made during the course.

Creative project 5 ECTS, VII semester, non-differentiated assessment*
Drawing and painting
The objective is to further develop students' previously acquired skills and use their creative potential to visualise surrounding environment and individual ideas.
Description
The course may end with an exhibition project. The share of drawing and painting at the courses vary.
Drawing
• Human figure, nude.
• Point of view.
• Rules of perspective and proportion.
• Creative visualisation of ideas (drawing from imagination tasks on various themes).

Painting
• Complex painting problems.
• Different painting techniques.
• Generating ideas and finding practical solutions.
• Possibilities and themes of modern painting art.
• Mystification and narrative in painting.
• Word and image.

Results
Drawing
Upon completion of the course, students will
• be able to represent a human figure in different poses and from various points of view applying the rules of perspective and proportion;
• be able to work with a model;
• be able to combine rules of drawing from life with their ideas and elements of drawing from imagination;
• have developed their skills of perception, thinking, analysis and representation;
• be able to carry out creative activities, independently and creatively represent the surrounding environment, their ideas and professional drafts.

Painting
Upon completion of the course, students will
• have a better overview of the movements and styles of contemporary painting art;
• have a systematic understanding of the possibilities of painting techniques and possess different technical skills;
• be able to set objectives, generate ideas and find practical solutions;
• be able solve thematic assignments and produce complex painting compositions in a creative and original manner;
• be able to interpret, analyse and verbalise the process and results of their painting process.


C II – Creative elective set

GRAPHICS
CREATIVE PROJECT
8 ECTS (for T, L, M, F, Pa, Ph and S curriculum)

The objective is to develop students' individual talents so that they could be more creative, bold and free in their everyday work, which is a prerequisite for the development of an integral artistic personality.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will
• be able to create original artworks;
• be able to apply the tools and possibilities of creative work techniques in expressing their ideas;
• be able to interpret, analyse and if necessary verbalise their creative process and its results;
• have considerably developed their discipline-specific competences and thus expanded their opportunities on the labour market.

Graphics 3 ECTS, VI semester; non-differentiated assessment*
The objective is to develop students' individual creative talents, manual skills and discipline-specific competences through theoretical study and practice of printmaking techniques.
Description
• Relief print, linocut.
• Intaglio, drypoint.
• Possibilities of using printmaking techniques in applied art disciplines.
• Composition and working in techniques.
• Creating and compiling an exhibition project.

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will
• have acquired knowledge about printmaking techniques;
• have an overview of the history of classical printmaking techniques;
• be able to recognise different printmaking techniques;
• be able to use relief print and intaglio techniques in an original manner;
• be able to analyse and employ acquired knowledge and skills in their professional activities; be familiar with the possibilities of using printmaking techniques in applied art disciplines;
• be able to compile a (group) exhibition from the works made during the course.


Creative project 5 EAP,VII term, non-differentiated assessment*
Paper sculpture and paper decorating techniques

The objective is to express oneself through form and space; understanding the structures and forms created by nature and human activity, their interrelations, meaning and appliance

Description
Paper sculpture(3 EAP)
• The architectonics of form
• Paper sculpturetechniques
• Ornamental paper structures and their history
• Creating ornamental paper structures using different principles
• Module combination
• The architectonics of form in the contemporary art practice
• Creating an exhibition project
Paper Decorating Techniques (2 EAP)
• Introduction to the paper techniques (a short historical overview)
• Materials necessary for paper decoration
• Different paper decorating techniques (paste paper, marbled paper, batik paper, salt paper, plastic wrap paper, etc.)
• Paper molding

Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the paper sculpture course, the students:
• can solve creatively architectonic assignments
• know different paper sculpture techniques and are able to use them creatively
• understand the connections between the architectonics of form and the contemporary art practice
• understand the construction of the structures and forms created by nature and human activity; notice connections in the surrounding environment

Upon completion of the paper decorating techniques course, the students will:
• know different paper decorating techniques
• be able to use paper as material and employ paper decorating techniques creatively in their work
• orientate in the history of paper decorating techniques


*Since 01.09.2011 Tartu Art College uses non-differentiated assessment in the elective set of general subjects, except when the course is taught in another higher education institution and ends with differentiated assessment or when the instructor has exceptionally agreed otherwise.




II. Optional subjects (Free electives)

Scope 8 ECTS, (for T, L, M, F, Pa, Ph and S curriculum), non-differentiated assessment*

General learning outcomes of the set of subjects
Upon completion of the set of subjects, students will
• have advanced various knowledge and skills according to their choice;
• be able to collect, select, analyse and critically evaluate new information and relate it to their previous knowledge and experience;
• be ready for creative and continued self-development both in terms of theory and practice.

Selection principles of free electives
Free electives can be selected from amongst the courses taught in Tartu Art College and in other higher education institutions.

*Non-differentiated assessment is used in the free elective courses of TAC, except when the course is taught in another higher education institution and ends with differentiated assessment.