All about A level History of Art – course information

What’s A level History of Art about?

A level History of Art is a grand tour of two millennia of art and architecture across the continents and cultures of the globe, spanning European, Middle-Eastern, Asian and African societies.

The A level, which is provided by the EDEXCEL (Pearson) exam board, is structured in three core areas: visual analysis, thematic study, and the study of art-historical periods.

• In the visual analysis component, you learn how to analyze European art and architecture from the Classical period to the present day, developing the skills and terminology required to describe works of art and architecture in accurate detail.
• In the thematic component you consider works of art and architecture from different parts of the globe from specific perspectives, comparing and contrasting the different cultural approaches to the same theme – two themes are chosen from a possible three: war, identities, and nature.
• In the art-historical component, you make a detailed study of a specific period in European and / or American art history, considering works in depth with regard to their social, philosophical, and cultural influences, and examining their role and influence in society. You study two periods from a possible five: the Italian Renaissance (1420 – 1520); the Baroque in Catholic Europe (1597 – 1685); the avant-garde in Britain and France in the late 19^th century (1848 – 99); and British and American contemporary culture (1960 – 2015).

Each component of the A level (except visual analysis) incorporates a list of designated artworks from which approximately 15 to 20 works are chosen for in-depth study. Additionally, critical texts are studied in relation to all components of the syllabus (except visual analysis) – these can range from biographical to theoretical and form a core ingredient of the assessment.

The new linear syllabus is particularly exciting, as it is the first time that works of art and architecture, and critical texts, from beyond the Western tradition have been an integral part of A level History of Art. This is the first truly global History of Art A level and, as such, provides the best foundation in the subject to date.

What sort of work is involved?

A level History of Art is a humanities subject, so it requires many of the same skills as subjects such as English Literature and History, along with the specific skills applicable to the study of visual culture. While the ability and desire to undertake close visual study of works of art and architecture is essential for the A level, you should also be able to read texts in a critical manner and be able to formulate your own arguments into clearly structured essays that are fluently expressed. Likewise, an enjoyment of the world of ideas and concepts is crucial to getting the best out of the A level. Needless to say, a strong interest and appreciation of visual culture, in all its diverse forms across the globe, is an essential ingredient for success and enjoyment of the A level History of Art.

What background do I need?

There is no GCSE in History of Art. However, given the essential and dominant requirements of structured written responses in every part of the A level examination, the completion of GCSEs in humanities subjects in which writing skills are acquired and examined, such as English Literature and History, is a significant advantage. Previous experience of visual culture – such as visiting art galleries, museums, and sites of architectural heritage – is a distinct advantage.

Where can it lead?

While most universities do not require students to have studied History of Art at A level if they are applying to study the degree, those students who have studied the subject at A level are very well prepared for an undergraduate degree in the subject. As a humanities subject, A level History of Art also facilitates entry into humanities undergraduate degrees, such as Classics, English Literature, History, and Philosophy.

Additionally, most fine art undergraduate degree courses require a compulsory element of art-historical study for which the A level can be a very useful introduction.

Completing a History of Art degree can provide a helpful background for students wishing to pursue a career in the art world: museum work; jobs in heritage, particularly those related to architectural conservation: and the more commercial side of the art world, such as the commercial galleries and auction houses.

In an increasingly visual world, a History of Art degree can also provide a valuable foundation for the advertising industry and for industries such as the fashion world, product design, and film-making.

One year course?

This very much depends upon a student's interest, ability to write well and willingness to work hard before they begin the A level. It also requires a specific teaching programme rather than simply taking the final year of a school's two-year programme!

Assessment

There is now only one examination board EDEXCEL (Pearson). Your A level grade will be decided by two three hour written exams.

There is no coursework component in the linear exam, but part of the exam papers requires you to comment on works of art and writing which you've not previously studied.

This article was written by Ashbourne Independent College