Literacy in critical and historical studies can focus on written and oral accounts of an artist’s practice, a response to an artwork using one or more interpretive frames and research into aspects of the conceptual framework. In artmaking students develop their literacy skills using their visual arts diary to record experiments, the development of ideas and judgements about their artworks. Students also develop visual literacy through the development of skills in viewing and interpreting a diverse range of artworks as text.

 

In the unit students learn to critically evaluate information and recognise a range of forms of written expression. They learn to interpret and construct different styles of writing and accounts of art using specific vocabulary relating to the frames and conceptual framework to investigate how meanings can be interpreted and explained in visual arts. They learn to communicate in written and verbal modes and to develop their listening skills.

 

In the elective course students use a range of text types to explain and defend judgements, prepare texts for different audiences, and apply the frames and conceptual framework to critical interpretations and historical explanations about art.