Women in Arts: From 1900 until today
Discover the women creators who shaped modern and contemporary art and those who continue to make huge impacts today.
Duration
7 weeksWeekly study
2 hours
Women in Arts: From 1900 until today
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Delve into art history through the extraordinary works of women artists
On this seven-week course, you’ll journey through an alternative history of modern and contemporary art – one that is centred on the brilliant women creators in the movement.
Through a series of videos, quizzes, and activities, this interactive course will help you discover women in art, from 1900 to the present day.
From visual artists, sculptors, painters and photographers, to video and performance artists alike, these women artists of all different nationalities have shaped art throughout the 20th and 21st centuries and continue to do so.
Explore powerful artists such as Linda Nochlin
You’ll discover where women stand in art history and explore the interconnectedness between art and feminism.
With a spotlight on the pioneering Linda Nochlin, you’ll take a deep dive into women artists throughout history and explore how their works challenged and changed art as we know it today.
Understand how women shaped the Avant-Garde sequence
As you journey through art history, you’ll stop at pivotal moments to gain a full understanding of the role of women in art.
You’ll explore how women shaped the Avant-Garde from 1910-1930, the feminist turning points in the 1960s and 1970s, and gender trouble from 1980 to today.
Learn from the experts at Centre Pompidou
Throughout the course, you’ll be guided by the specialists at Centre Pompidou, home to the National Museum of Modern Art.
Not only will you explore art history and gain an understanding of where women in art stand today, but you’ll also have the opportunity to make art yourself in response to what you have learned on the course.
Syllabus
Week 1
Why "Women" ?
Welcome to Centre Pompidou’s MOOC
Here is a short introduction to our MOOC.
Why "Women" ?
Why is it still necessary today to offer courses and exhibitions and to publish books or articles entirely dedicated to women artists? Aren’t they already well represented? Don’t they have the same rights as male artists?
Deep Dive
In the “Deep Dive” sections, you will find articles, interviews, exhibition archives and artwork commentaries that you can use to learn more about the subjects of each sequence.
Let's talk together
Throughout the MOOC, join us on these forums to exchange
News
Here you'll find weekly news about women artists : exhibitions, new online content, quotes, events, etc. Stay tuned !
Bibliography
Find here a selection of books related to our content : exhibition catalogs, theory, monographs and even literature ! If you want to make a review on books, or add others, you are welcome to write it on commentaries.
Week 2
Where Do Women Stand in Art History?
Panorama: Women in Art History
In this video, Thérèse St-Gelais, professor at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) and specialist in feminism in art, explores the way art history has been written.
Spotlight: Linda Nochlin
As Thérèse St-Gelais explains in the previous video, art historian Linda Nochlin is an emblematic figure of feminism in art.
Visual Summary
For this MOOC, Centre Pompidou has called on the talented comic artist Pénélope Bagieu to create a visual summary of each sequence. Check out an interview with the artist in week 6 in which she discusses the term ‘woman artist.’
Deep Dive
In the “Deep Dive” sections, you will find articles, interviews, exhibition archives and artwork commentaries that you can use to learn more about the subjects of each sequence.
Your turn!
In this section you will find a creative activity to boost your imagination.
Test yourself: Where do women stand in art history?
It’s time to test what you've learned this week.
News
Here you'll find weekly news about women artists : exhibitions, new online content, quotes, event, etc. Stay tuned !
Bibliography
Find here a selection of books related to our content : exhibition catalogs, theory, monographs and even literature ! If you want to make a review on books, or add others, you are welcome to write it on commentaries.
Week 3
Women Shaping the Avant-Garde: 1910-1930
Panorama: Women shaping the avant-garde 1910-1930
“A light here required a shadow there.” Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse (1927)
Spotlight: Dora Maar
Long confined to the role of Picasso’s wife and muse, Dora Maar was also a great artist herself.
Visual Summary
For this MOOC, Centre Pompidou has called on the talented comic artist Pénélope Bagieu to create a visual summary of each sequence. Check out an interview with the artist in week 6 in which she discusses the term ‘woman artist.’
Deep Dive
In the “Deep Dive” sections, you will find articles, interviews, exhibition archives and artwork commentaries that you can use to learn more about the subjects of each sequence.
Your turn!
In this section you will find a creative activity to boost your imagination.
Test yourself: Women shaping the avant-garde 1910-1930
It’s time to test what you have learned this week.
News
Here you'll find weekly news about women artists : exhibitions, new online content, quotes, events, etc. Stay tuned !
Bibliography
Find here a selection of books related to our content : exhibition catalogs, theory, monographs and even literature ! If you want to make a review on books, or add others, you are welcome to write it on commentaries.
Week 4
The Feminist Turning Point: 1960-1970
Panorama: The feminist turning point of the 1960s and 1970s
Struggle and creation “A woman who is not afraid of men frightens them.” Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex (1949)
Spotlight: ORLAN, The Kiss of the Artist
On her website, the artist defines herself as follows: “ORLAN writes every letter of her pseudonym in uppercase because she doesn’t want to stay inside the lines.” (translation from her French biography)
Visual Summary
For this MOOC, Centre Pompidou has called on the talented comic artist Pénélope Bagieu to create a visual summary of each sequence. Check out an interview with the artist in week 6 in which she discusses the term ‘woman artist’.
Deep Dive
In the “Deep Dive” sections, you will find articles, interviews, exhibition archives and artwork commentaries that you can use to learn more about the subjects of each sequence.
Your turn!
In this section you will find a creative activity to boost your imagination.
Test yourself: The feminist turning point 1960-1970
The questions of this quiz are based on the videos Panorama and Spotlight of The feminist turning point 1960-1970.
News
Here you'll find weekly news about women artists : exhibitions, new online content, quotes, events, etc. Stay tuned !
Bibliography
Find here a selection of books related to our content : exhibition catalogs, theory, monographs and even literature ! If you want to make a review on books, or add others, you are welcome to write it on commentaries.
Week 5
Gender Trouble: 1980 to today
Panorama: Gender Trouble: from 1980 to today
Disrupting norms. “All styles are good, except the tiresome kind” Voltaire, L’Enfant prodigue (1738)
Spotlight: Alexandra Bachzetsis, “Escape Act”
In “Escape Act”, performer and choreographer Alexandra Bachzetsis offers a poetic performance investigating the mechanisms of desire.
Visual Summary
For this MOOC, Centre Pompidou has called on the talented comic artist Pénélope Bagieu to create a visual summary of each sequence. Check out an interview with the artist in week 6 in which she discusses the term ‘woman artist.’
Deep Dive
In the “Deep Dive” sections, you will find articles, interviews, exhibition archives and artwork commentaries that you can use to learn more about the subjects of each sequence.
Your Turn!
In this section you will find a creative activity to boost your imagination.
Quiz: Gender Trouble: 1980 to today
The questions of this quiz are based on the videos Panorama and Spotlight of Week 5: Gender Trouble: 1980 to today. Good luck! Thanks for your participation.
News
Here you'll find weekly news about women artists : exhibitions, new online content, quotes, events, etc. Stay tuned !
Bibliography
Find here a selection of books related to our content : exhibition catalogs, theory, monographs and even literature ! If you want to make a review on books, or add others, you are welcome to write it on commentaries.
Week 6
What About Now?
Panorama: A new art history
Artist? Present! “The past, sir, is the past, and we are the people of the present.” Molière, The Imaginary Invalid (1673)
Guest Artists
Here, we spotlight the voices of contemporary women artists. From youthful thirty-somethings to proud ninety-somethings, these artists discuss their work and their experiences as women artists, each completely different!
Spotlight: Zanele Muholi, Faces and Phases
Self-proclaimed artist-activist from South Africa, Zanele Muholi produced a series of portraits titled Faces and Phases in 2006, aimed at restoring a positive image of African lesbians who are proudly presented here.
Visual Summary
For this MOOC, Centre Pompidou called on the talented comic artist Pénélope Bagieu to create a visual summary of each sequence.
Deep Dive
In the “Deep Dive” sections, you will find articles, interviews, exhibition archives and artwork commentaries that you can use to learn more about the subjects of each sequence.
Your turn!
In this section you will find a creative activity to boost your imagination.
Test yourself : What about now ?
The questions of this test are based on the videos Panorama and Spotlight of Week 6 : What about now ?
Georgia O'Keeffe Guided Tour
The art historian Katy Hessel met our curator of Georgia O’Keeffe exhibition, Anna Hiddleston-Galloni
News
Here you'll find weekly news about women artists : exhibitions, new online content, quotes, events, etc. Stay tuned !
Bibliography
Find here a selection of books related to our content : exhibition catalogs, theory, monographs and even literature ! If you want to make a review on books, or add others, you are welcome to write it on commentaries.
Week 7
Who is the Artist Now?
Panorama: Carolina Arantes – Body and Territory
Carolina Arantes is a Brazilian photographer living in Paris. She creates long-term documentary works based on themes that aim to help the viewer reflect on crucial topics, such as: gender, race and environment.
Your turn!
In this section you will find a creative activity to boost your imagination.
Before the end
It's almost the end of the MOOC, but you still have some work to do.
Bibliography
Find here a selection of books related to our content : exhibition catalogs, theory, monographs and even literature ! If you want to make a review on books, or add others, you are welcome to write it on commentaries.
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Develop your knowledge on art history
- Describe a piece of art
- Discuss with experts and other learners
- Experiment your talent by doing Art work
- Explore the huge female artiste production
- Compare the place of women in art
- Improve your art acquaintances
- Identify a work of art or an artist
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about the role of women in art. It will be of particular interest to those who enjoy studying art history and feminism.
Who will you learn with?
Curator at national museum of moderne art Centre Pompidou
Professor of Art History, specializing in gender studies and feminism at the Université du Québec à Montréal
Lecturer at the Centre Georges Pompidou
Who developed the course?
Centre Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou introduces visitors to the art of the 20th and 21st centuries. Enter the world of art and creation through videos, documentary resources and various educational activities.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
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