Arts, Media and Society (BA)
Study programme
The Arts, Media and Society specialisation will let you explore some of the most pressing issues in today’s society, as seen from the many perspectives offered by art, artists, and (digital) media.
What you will learn
This three-year, English-taught Arts, Media and Society programme is a specialisation of the Leiden University’s Art History programme, which means that the first-year introductory courses are jointly offered to Arts, Media and Society students and Art History students. In the second and third year, you will explore a wide variety of contemporary cultural manifestations, ranging from artist collectives and community art to 3d printing, games and protest art, all of which you will learn to place in an art-historical context. You will also gain in-depth knowledge of new developments in contemporary arts and media forms, and you will explore the the cultural roles that arts and media play in today’s society.
Learn academic and professional skills
You will also acquire academic and professional skills. These include a wide variety of competences such as academic writing, presentations, research, working in teams, communication. Many of those skills are sought after by employers and will be of use to you in your further career.
Some of the courses in short
World Art Studies
“This course shows that art history is a truly global enterprise. Artworks par excellence manifest the confluence of different cultures, languages, world views, and ideas, amongst others. You will learn to analyze the interactions between a selection of modern and contemporary artworks and broader societal, political, and environmental issues. Doing so, you will learn how artworks move and move in the world.”
Arts in Europe
Three courses concentrate on art in Europe. We discuss art from before 1800, but we put the emphasis on the most recent histories of the visual and decorative arts and architecture. We deliberately choose to study this rich variety of arts together, because we believe that only by not separating them from each other can we gain maximum insights into their functioning in modern societies.
Imagining Media: Infrastructure, Information, Interface
Television, games, the visual arts, literature and the Internet can be regarded as major forces in western contemporary society. In this course we will discuss the social and cultural implications of the introduction and advance of (new) media. As part of this course, you will research the changing context for these media, and how they influence our views on art, popular culture, power and aesthetics.
World Art and Beyond
In this course you will develop a sense of the visual arts across both space and time. You will also learn how to identify the key questions that should be asked when analysing art as a worldwide phenomenon. Moreover, you will learn to understand the similarities and cultural differences in the creation, use, and perception of art across the world.
Global Renaissance
More and more studies move away from the Eurocentric interpretation of the Renaissance. In this seminar, we discuss how this new field of knowledge is expressed in four central themes, in and outside Europe: people, travel, materials, knowledge. We examine these themes using a variety of early modern artefacts - from paintings to porcelain, from luxurious textiles to ornaments and motifs in architecture. Along what routes did ebony and ivory incorporated in the precious art cabinets come to the Netherlands? Why do we see African figures in paintings by Andrea Mantegna? Why do we see so many feather headdresses in paintings and plays about America?
AMS on Site: Curating the City
In this course, the urban environment will serve as both the site of our work and the object of our critical reflection. This course aims to anticipate the most pressing issues that are shaping (and will continue to shape) contemporary, globalised, curated cities. As part of a team of students, you will explore a subtheme that relates to 'Curating the City'. Your team will develop a framework and a research question that you will investigate in a (partly) out-of-the-classroom setting, from the multiple angles of art, media and society.
Electives, internship and thesis
The third year offers you the flexibility to pursue your interests. You can either follow electives or a minor from another programme in Leiden, do an internship in the Netherlands or abroad, or study abroad at a university in our network. Our Career Services can support you in finding a position as an intern.
You will only have to take one seminar in this year. Depending on your interests and study planning, you can follow this course in the first or the second semester. To conclude the programme you will write a thesis, choosing your own topic on the basis of your chosen seminar’s theme.
Detailed programme
See below for an overview of the curriculum. For a detailed description of the courses, please check the Prospectus. Please note that this Prospectus applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may slightly differ.
Electives
Leiden University offers you the opportunity to tailor your programme in such a way that it suits your own interests and ambitions.
During the third year, you can go for a minor, several elective courses in Leiden or at other universities in the Netherlands or abroad. You could also opt to do an internship, or to study a semester at an international university.
Minor
A minor is a cohesive set of courses on a specific theme or subject. You can take a minor at the Faculty of Humanities or at another Faculty. The minor will help you gain in-depth knowledge on a certain subject, method or discipline. Examples of minors offered at Leiden’s Faculty of Humanities are:
- Cultural Memory of War and Conflict
- Game Studies and Cultural Analysis
- Gender and Sexuality in Society and Culture
Internship, the first step towards a job
An internship is an ideal way to find out what really interests you and what kind of job would suit you. You can explore, for example, the sector in which you would like to be employed, or the kind of work you would like to do. Thinking about these issues during your studies will allow you to chart a more accurate course for the direction you want your career to take later on. An internship will give you work experience, additional skills and valuable network contacts. You could do an internship in, for instance, a museum, art gallery, education, a publishing agency, an NGO or in the public sector. Our Career Services can help you find a suitable position.