Demystifying Tate Modern
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- Start Date: 06 Dec 2025End Date: 06 Dec 2025Sat (Daytime): 10:30 - 14:00In PersonFull fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00
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What is the course about?
With its pioneering ‘thematic’ arrangement of works, interspersed with ‘artists rooms’ dedicated to single artists, Tate modern is a museum full of thought-provoking connections and juxtapositions. It can also seem like an overwhelming and confusing museum if you want to understand more about the development of art since 1900. This course offers an accessible, structured guide to the UK’s most important collection of international modern art, which will help you to develop a historical understanding of the art displayed.
We will explore works by a wide variety of modern and contemporary artists, including Pablo Picasso, Natalia Goncharova, Joan Miro, René Magritte, Joseph Beuys, Andy Warhol and Agnes Martin, as well as work by several less well-known artists. The session will include discussions on Cubism versus realism, international surrealism, the ‘pioneers’ of abstraction and abstract Expressionism, photography, conceptual art, performance and sculpture. We will look at some of the major shifts in the way art has been conceived since 1900, for example, from self-contained object of contemplation towards the notion of art as an experience that challenges the spectator’s assumption of conscious control. We will also think about how artworks find their way into the displays, and how the museum performs its role of presenting modern and contemporary art today.
What will we cover?
• Key themes in the display of modern and contemporary art at Tate Modern
• Key works in the Tate Modern collection
• The role of the art museum in the consumption and promotion of contemporary art.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Describe at least 3 works from Tate Modern's collection with confidence
• Discuss the social and cultural contexts of the works you have described
• Discuss how the contemporary art world operates, and the role of the art museum within it.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course will be taught offsite with a guided gallery visit, group discussion and short group activities.
Museum/gallery-based courses take place during public access hours. Tutors are not able to control sound levels or behaviours of visitors outside of the course group. Unless you are a wheelchair user, and have confirmed access details with us (as levels of access can vary between galleries), you will need to be able to walk between exhibits and stand for some time while looking at them (you may bring your own portable stool if you have one, but we cannot guarantee access to any gallery stools.) If you feel you may be impacted by these environmental variations, please inform the department on humanities@citylit.ac.uk before the course begins, to discuss reasonable accommodations we can make to assist your learning in the museum space.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Gallery entry is free, and entry to all the displays that we will be visiting will be free.
You might wish to bring a notebook, pen and pencil. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list given out in class.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Contemporary art in London
Introduction to contemporary art: ideas and origins.
Sarah Jaffray holds a BA and MA in Art History with an emphasis in 19th/20th century France and a minor in the Italian Renaissance. She holds a second MA in Cultural Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London. Sarah was a lecturer for several colleges and universities in the Los Angeles area before relocating to London in 2012. She has worked in curatorial roles at the British Museum and Wellcome Collection. In addition to her current teaching at City Lit, Sarah is a lecturer at the University of Arts London and the Tutor Coordinator for City Lit's Art History programme. Her art historical practice focuses on experimental narratives, artistic process, art pedagogy, politics and philosophy. Sarah's current research is focused on translation and empathy.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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