KUN4235 – Archaeology of the Moving Image
Course description
Course content
Technologies of light and shadow - from the camera obscura to cinema and beyond - represent a relatively recent but crucial development in the history of images. Screen-based projection, which was industrialized by the movies and is today experimented with in the gallery space, has its background in 17th-century developments in optical media, whilst the idea of capturing shadows, although as old as the history of picture-making itself, one could argue, was technically implemented by inventions in photography ("writing with light") in the early 19th century.
This course investigates the media history of light and shadow, situating itself within the emerging field of inquiry called "media archaeology," which looks at the history of images and technologies, not in the sense of teleological development, but in terms of repetitions and ruptures. The course studies specific technological and conceptual turning points - from the magic lantern to chronophotography, for instance - so as to understand the recurrent forces, motives and forms of experience that have animated images for the past 500 years. It explores images of all kinds - artistic, scientific, religious, and popular. It investigates images in relation to the body and its sensations and movements as well as the mind and its concepts and imaginations, in addition to the systems of power within which these have been variously shaped.
The course requires willingness to engage in interdisciplinary study across art history, media studies and philosophy. Furthermore, the course requires students to critically reflect on their own relationship to the history of visual media - relationships that may be productive, poetic and arbitrary as much as they are disciplined, rationalised and controlled.
Learning outcome
After completion of this course you should be able to:
Analyse, contextualise, historicize and theorize past and current developments in visual media
Evaluate and articulate key historical, anthropological and philosophical approaches to the study of images and technologies
Prepare and deliver clearly argued and informed work
Locate, retrieve and present relevant information for a specific project
Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the media archaeological method and debates around it
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Students enrolled in other Master`s Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Recommended previous knowledge
It is recommended that you have passed 60 studiepoeng (equal to ECTS) in Art History, Aestethics and/or Media studies before taking this course
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with KUN2235 – Archaeology of the Moving Image.
Teaching
Classes consist of combined lectures and seminars. The classes will be held at Blindern Campus.
We expect you to meet prepared for classes and to actively participate in discussions and to give a presentation on assigned topics/texts.
In order to qualify to the final exam, you must complete these compulsory assignments:
- Compulsory attendance at class. You have to attend class, at least 7 out of 9 classes.
- Oral presentation
In case of additional absence, this is how you apply for a valid absence from compulsory activities/compulsory attendance. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of every class.
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
The examination is a portfolio exam.
The portfolio is divided into three assignments related to the topics/subject areas covered in the course.
Each must be 4-5 pages long (à 2300 characters without spaces, not including illustrations, notes and reference). In total, the portfolio must consist of 12-15 pages (à 2300 characters without spaces, not including illustrations, notes and reference).
The portfolio will be given an overall grade.
The assignment will be handed in using Inspera. You must familiarize yourself with the login and submission procedures in timely manner before the exam. Read more about Inspera below.
When writing a portfolio exam you are entitled to individual guidance by you teacher. To be eligible for this guidance you must submit a draft of your paper that meets certain requirements. More detailed information about guidance and how to submit your draft will be given by the teacher during class or in Canvas.
Language of examination
You may submit your response in Norwegian or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.