AS and A Level Art and Design (Critical and Contextual Studies)

AS and A Level Art and Design (Critical and Contextual Studies)
This is a course aimed at improving your understanding of Art through a critical analysis of artists' work. You will study art in galleries and museums as well as from books and Internet sites.

What does the course consist of?
You will study units 1 and 2 for an AS Level. In year 2 you will take units 3 and 4 to complete the full A level.
Unit 1: Supporting coursework and in-depth study

You will carry out a personal study of an artist, craft worker or designer, or of a movement in art and design, which is explored in terms of style, process and method.
You will also carry out a personal study of art, craft or design by a theme explored across time and place. Past students have studied topics such as 'Art as Graffiti', 'the Body as Art' and 'Self-portraits in Art'. It will focus on the social, cultural, political and spiritual context of that work, and must include comparisons and contrasts from past and present work and from western and non western cultures. You will be expected to investigate a wide range of work and sources. This must include first hand experience in galleries and museums or of buildings or design objects. This research and investigation must be documented and kept in a work journal (book or file) and must demonstrate your understanding of your theme. You can produce your work in a number of formats ranging from illustrated booklets to a video and/or a website.
You will be assessed by coursework

Unit 2: Externally set in-depth study

You must use the starting point from the externally set paper and produce a personal study. During the preparatory period you will be expected to investigate a wide range of work and sources and must include first hand experience and direct observation in galleries and museums or buildings or design objects. This research and investigation must be documented and kept in a work journal (book or file) and must demonstrate your understanding of your theme. The preparatory period may also be used in producing or collecting images which may be incorporated in the work produced during the eight hour examination period. During this time you must complete a personal study with a written content of not less than 1000 words and not more than 3000 words in any format ranging from illustrated booklets to a video and/or a website.
You will be assessed by preparatory work and an external timed exam

Unit 3: Coursework

This unit combines work that has a critical and theoretical focus with a personal study. The critical work will take the form of a short project investigation and particular aspect of contemporary art. This will lead onto a personal study of your own choice that will be in the form of an illustrated essay of between 2000-5000 words. You will develop a range of skills in terms of research, analysis and presentation in order to achieve a deeper understanding of the issues that artists and designers deal with.
You will be assessed by coursework

Unit 4: Externally set assignment

This unit follows the same format as Unit 2 apart from a timed examination which is 12 hours in length. The word limit for the exam is between 2000 and 5000 words.

What else do I need to know? You should have a real interest in the visual arts and an open-minded approach to critical discussion as well as an ability to organise and work independently on personal studies. Good written presentation and organisational skills for the display of personal work are very important.
Your work will be based on discussions and individual research where analysis and the evaluation of critical art and design practice are evident. Essay writing, visits to galleries and exhibitions and first hand criticism through the study of artists' work journals and collected and presented visual material will form the backbone of your course. The course is taught from a specialist seminar room and library equipped with a comprehensive slide and video collection, an extensive library of art books and access to the college IT network facilities.
AS Level Critical & Contextual Studies in Art is an ideal support to those students studying AS/A Level Art and Design. It is an excellent course for entry to university and combines well with Drama and Theatre Studies, English, Film Studies, Media Studies, History and language courses.