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Sexing the Canvas

Art and Gender

Jeanette Hoorn

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Covers important gender and sexuality topics in the creative space

Students learn to increase their understanding of paintings through theories of gender and sexuality

Provides a comprehensive study of the topic

Teaches key terms from gender-related theories of art history and museology

Develops skills in recognizing the operation of ‘the gaze’ in relation to paintings

Course instructors are experts

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Reviews summary

Art, gender, and sexuality exploration

According to learners, this course offers a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of art, gender, and sexuality. Students frequently highlight the engaging lectures delivered by knowledgeable instructors from the University of Melbourne. The content is described as insightful and well-presented, providing a new lens through which to view familiar artworks. While generally highly recommended, some note that the course introduces complex theoretical concepts that may require effort, especially for those new to the subject. The quality of the materials and the structure are often praised, making it a valuable learning experience for anyone interested in the intersection of art history and gender studies.

Introduces potentially complex theories.

"The course introduces some quite dense theoretical concepts which were challenging but rewarding to learn."

"Understanding 'the gaze' and other theories required careful attention, especially if you're new to critical theory."

"While fascinating, some of the theoretical readings were a bit difficult and needed re-reading."

"It's theoretical in parts, which is great for depth, but be prepared for some academic language."

Materials are well-structured and high quality.

"The production quality of the videos and materials was very high. A pleasure to watch and learn."

"Course is very well-structured and the content flows logically from one module to the next."

"I was impressed by the quality of the supplementary materials and readings provided."

"Everything felt polished and professional, reflecting the quality expected from a university course."

Offers fresh insights on viewing art.

"It completely changed how I look at paintings and art in general. A truly new perspective."

"This course gave me a new critical framework for understanding and appreciating art history."

"I appreciate the way it challenged traditional interpretations and offered a gendered reading."

"Learned to identify and analyze themes of gender and sexuality within visual art."

Lecturers are knowledgeable and presenters.

"The lecturers were excellent - very knowledgeable and engaging in their delivery."

"I really enjoyed the lectures; the instructors were passionate and made the complex ideas accessible."

"Presentations were clear, well-structured, and held my attention throughout the modules."

"The professors did a fantastic job explaining the concepts and showing examples from the artworks."

Course explores art, gender, and sexuality.

"This course is absolutely fascinating! It opened my eyes to see art in a completely different way."

"The subject matter is incredibly interesting and relevant. I learned so much about how gender influences art."

"I found the topic of sexing the canvas through a gendered lens to be really unique and thought-provoking."

"It's a really great way to delve into gender and sexuality in art history. Highly recommend for the topic alone."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Sexing the Canvas: Art and Gender with these activities:

Volunteer at a local museum or art gallery

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This activity provides an opportunity to gain practical experience working with art and interacting with the public.

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Find a museum or art gallery that needs volunteers.
Apply to volunteer.
Complete the required training.
Volunteer on a regular basis.

Explore the online exhibitions and resources of the Coursera Art Museum

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This activity provides an opportunity to explore the course material in a more interactive way.

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Visit the Coursera Art Museum website.
Explore the online exhibitions.
Read the accompanying essays and articles.

Review 'The Art of Looking' by James Elkins

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Reading this book provides a comprehensive overview of various ways one can look at and interpret art.

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Read the book in its entirety.
Annotate and highlight key points.
Summarize the key points in your own words.

Five other activities

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Practice identifying and analyzing the use of gender and sexuality in art

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This activity provides an opportunity to practice the skills learned in the course.

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Select a few artworks to analyze.
Identify the ways in which gender and sexuality are represented in the artworks.
Analyze the significance of these representations.

Write a report on the gender and sexuality of a specific artist

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This activity allows you to research and analyze the work of a specific artist through the lens of gender and sexuality.

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Choose an artist to research.
Research the artist's life and work.
Analyze the artist's work through the lens of gender and sexuality.
Write a report on your findings.

Attend a workshop or lecture on gender and sexuality in art

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This activity provides an opportunity to learn from experts in the field.

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Find a workshop or lecture on gender and sexuality in art.
Attend the workshop or lecture.

Create and write a short story that explores the themes of gender and sexuality in art.

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This activity encourages you to think creatively about the course material and express your understanding through a different medium.

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Brainstorm ideas for a story that explores the themes of gender and sexuality in art.
Write an outline for your story.
Write the first draft of your story.
Revise and edit your story.

Start a project to curate and exhibit online an art collection based on the course themes

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This project allows you to apply the knowledge gained in the course to a practical project.

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Research and select the artworks that will be included in the collection.
Write curatorial statements for each artwork.
Design and develop the online exhibition.
Promote and market the exhibition.

Career center

Learners who complete Sexing the Canvas: Art and Gender will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Museum Director

Museum directors manage day-to-day operations, create strategic plans, and foster partnerships between museums and the communities they serve. As this course examines the gendered production and reception of works of art and the role of gender in curatorial practices, it could be exceptionally valuable to aspiring museum directors. By gaining a deeper understanding of these topics, you can make informed decisions about collection development, exhibition design, and public programming that is inclusive and representative of diverse perspectives.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum Director

Art Curator

Art curators oversee the care and display of art collections in museums and galleries. This course explores the gendered history of art and the role of the male gaze. By understanding these topics, art curators are better equipped to develop exhibitions and produce accompanying materials that challenge traditional narratives and promote the understanding and appreciation of art from diverse perspectives.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Curator

Art conservator

Art conservators preserve and restore works of art. This course examines the ways in which art is produced and consumed through the lens of gender. Gaining this perspective can help art conservators to understand and address the unique challenges of preserving and restoring artworks by women and artists from marginalized communities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art conservator

Art historian

Art historians research, analyze, and interpret art. This course explores the gendered nature of art history, including the ways in which women and artists from marginalized communities have been historically excluded from the canon. By engaging with this course, aspiring art historians can develop a more inclusive and critical understanding of art history.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art historian

Art Educator

Art educators develop and implement educational programs in museums, galleries, and schools. This course provides an in-depth examination of the role of gender in the production, interpretation, and consumption of art. This knowledge is invaluable for art educators, as it enables them to design and deliver educational programs that are inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of students.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Educator

Art Critic

Art critics write reviews and articles about art and exhibitions. This course examines the ways in which art is gendered and how this shapes its reception and interpretation. An understanding of these topics is essential for art critics, as it enables them to produce more informed and nuanced critiques of art.

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Gallery Director

Gallery directors manage art galleries and oversee the exhibition and sale of art. This course explores the gendered history of art and the ways in which art is produced and consumed. This knowledge is valuable for gallery directors, as it can inform their decisions about which artworks to exhibit and sell.

See salaries and explore the career path for Gallery Director

Museum Registrar

Museum registrars manage the records and paperwork for museum collections. This course examines the ways in which art is gendered and how this shapes its reception and interpretation. Museum registrars with a deeper understanding of these topics are better equipped to provide accurate and comprehensive information about the artworks in their care.

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Art Appraiser

Art appraisers determine the value of art for insurance, tax, or other purposes. This course examines the ways in which art is produced and consumed and how this shapes its value. By understanding these topics, art appraisers can make more informed assessments of the value of artworks.

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Art dealer

Art dealers buy and sell art. This course examines the gendered history of art and the ways in which art is produced and consumed. This knowledge is valuable for art dealers, as it can inform their decisions about which artworks to buy and sell.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art dealer

Art Collector

Art collectors acquire and manage collections of art. This course examines the gendered history of art and the ways in which art is produced and consumed. This knowledge is valuable for art collectors, as it can inform their decisions about which artworks to collect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Collector

Art Consultant

Art consultants advise clients on the purchase, sale, and management of art. This course examines the gendered history of art and the ways in which art is produced and consumed. This knowledge is valuable for art consultants, as it can inform their advice to clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Consultant

Art Librarian

Art librarians manage the collections and services of art libraries. This course examines the gendered history of art and the ways in which art is produced and consumed. This knowledge is valuable for art librarians, as it can inform their collection development and reference services.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Librarian

Art Publisher

Art publishers produce and distribute books, prints, and other publications about art. This course examines the gendered history of art and the ways in which art is produced and consumed. This knowledge is valuable for art publishers, as it can inform their decisions about which artworks to publish.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Publisher

Art Therapist

Art therapists use art to help people with mental health conditions. This course may be useful for art therapists who want to develop a deeper understanding of the ways in which art is gendered and how this can impact the therapeutic process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Therapist

Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Sexing the Canvas: Art and Gender.

The Art of Feminism

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This reader brings together key texts in art and feminism, providing a comprehensive overview of the field and its key concepts, which can serve as a supplemental resource for the course's focus on gender and sexuality in art.

Art of Feminism: Images that Shaped the Fight for...

Hardcover

The Art of Feminism: Images that Shaped the Fight...

Kindle Edition

The Art of Feminism

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This collection presents seminal and contemporary essays in feminist art theory, providing a foundational understanding of the field and its key concepts.

Art of Feminism: Images that Shaped the Fight for...

Hardcover

The Art of Feminism: Images that Shaped the Fight...

Kindle Edition

The Birth of the Museum

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Examines the relationship between art museums and their publics, offering insights into the social and cultural contexts that shape the reception and display of art, which complements the course's focus on the gendered aspects of art and its consumption.

The Birth of the Museum: History, Theory, Politics...

Paperback

The Birth of the Museum: History, Theory, Politics...

Kindle Edition

A Time of One's Own

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Examines the intersection of art and feminism through various artistic practices, offering insights into the course's focus on gendered representations and feminist perspectives in art.

A Time of One's Own: Histories of Feminism in...

Hardcover

$$$

A Time of One's Own: Histories of Feminism in...

Kindle Edition

Behind the Scenes at the Science Museum

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This reader explores the ways in which museums shape and are shaped by gendered perspectives, offering insights into the course's focus on the curatorial practices and display of art.

Behind the Scenes at the Science Museum...

Kindle Edition

The Nude

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This classic work provides a historical overview of the representation of the nude in Western art, offering insights into the gendered body, idealization, and cultural contexts relevant to the course's focus on the body in art.

The Nude: A Study in Ideal Form

Paperback

THE NUDE: A Study in Ideal Form

Hardcover

(中文) The Nude: A Study in Ideal Form (Chinese Edition)

Hardcover

$$$

The Nude: A Study in Ideal Form (The A. W. Mellon...

Kindle Edition

Miyazakiworld

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Examines the construction of gender and national identity in modern Japan, offering comparative perspectives that can enrich the course's discussions on gender in art.

Miyazakiworld: A Life in Art

Paperback

Miyazakiworld: A Life in Art

Kindle Edition

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