Critical and Theoretical Studies (CATS) is a course in theoretical and contextual studies of visual arts designed specifically for art students, to enable them to apply this knowledge to their own studio practice.
This program is supported by staff with professional expertise in the fields of art history, theory, criticism and practical experience in visual art. Studies in this course draw on the extensive resources of the VCA Library, as well as collections in the nearby National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) and exhibitions at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI), the numerous commercial galleries and art spaces in the precinct.
Students normally enrol in one Critical and Theoretical Studies subject per semester of their candidature, to a total of six subjects.
Each tutorial/seminar group within each Critical and Theoretical Studies subject has a quota.
Important Notes and Dates:
Sign up for CAT 4,5 and 6 will be on Thursday 10 July 2008, from 8:45am-5pm at the Student and Academic Services (SAS) unit. Be early to secure your preference. Students signing up must be enrolled in either of these subjects in Semester 2, 2008 ONLY.
Please see below for information on the CATS 4,5, and 6 seminars that will be available for Semester 2.
Current Art students should also visit the University of Melbourne's Learning Management System, where important information on classes will be posted up by the lecturers.
The first year course website is now available to all enrolled students. To access the site, login at www.lms.unimelb.edu.au/login using your University username and password.
Sign up for one of the following seminars:
Seminar A and B:
Catastrophism: the art of ending the world
Lecturer: Ted Colless
Screening and Lecture: Thursday 4:15pm – 6:15pm in the Art Auditorium
AND choose one of the following tutorials:
• TUESDAYS 10am-11am
Room: L1.20
• TUESDAYS 11.15am -12.15am
Room: L1.20
Seminar C:
The Perfect Crime: art as a crime of passion
Lecturer: Ted Colless
• WEDNESDAYS 2pm-5pm
Art Auditorium
Seminar D:
What is ‘it’? The Power words of contemporary art
Lecturer: Bill Sampson
• THURSDAYS 4.15pm -6.15pm
Art Admin Room L1.20
Seminar E:
Essential Oils
Lecturer: Caroline Miley
• WEDNESDAYS 2pm-4pm
Inside mousehole entrance at the National Gallery of Victoria and Ian Potter Gallery at Federation Square
Seminar F:
Bumper to Bumper
Lecturer: Caroline Miley
• TUESDAYS 2pm-4pm
Inside mousehole entrance at the National Gallery of Victoria and Ian Potter Gallery at Federation Square
Seminar G:
Artrage: Contemporary Art and Iconclasm
Lecturer: Norbert Loeffler
• TUESDAYS 10am – 12pm
Art Admin Room L1.19
Seminar H:
Art and Beauty: A Problematic Liaison
Lecturer: Norbert Loeffler
• WEDNESDAYS 10.00am – 12pm
Art Admin Room L1.19
Full seminar details are available to download here.
All CATS 4, 5 amd 6 Semester 2 classes commence the week of July 14th
Edward Colless
Head, Critical and Theoretical Studies
VCA Art
Phone: (03) 9685 9471
Chantal Faust
Lecturer, Critical and Theoretical Studies
VCA Art
Phone: (03) 9685 9474
Norbert Loeffler
Lecturer, Critical and Theoretical Studies
VCA Art
Phone: (03) 9685 9472
Dr Caroline Miley
Lecturer, Visual Art Theory and History
VCA Art
Phone: (03) 9685 9473
To search for an email address for a staff member at the VCA
please follow this link or use the email form on this website.