BA in Arts, Culture and Media

Are you fascinated by films, music or theatre? Do you love to discuss what art is, how to interpret a particular movie, pop song and performance and to study the effects that media can have on our societies? Then Arts, Culture and Media should become your Bachelor's programme.

In our Bachelor’s programme students acquire a deepened analytical, historical and theoretical understanding of (a) two art forms chosen from film, music, theatre/performance, visual arts or literature; and (b) specialized scholarly knowledge in one of two frameworks: ‘Arts, Policy and Cultural Entrepreneurship’ or ‘Analysis and Criticism.’ This broad multi- and interdisciplinary combination makes it unique.

Studying works of art like music videos, novels or computer games in a scholarly way – how they are produced, distributed, used, perceived, appreciated and how they function socially – is what our Bachelor’s programme is about. It thus paves the way for a variety of professional avenues in the field of arts and media. Our students have found jobs as critics, scholars, curators, organizers of art events, members of art councils and many more.

In our programme students enrol in one or two of the arts disciplines offered by our own department: Film, Theater, Music. Literature and Visual Arts can be chosen as second arts disciplines only.

Why study this programme in Groningen?

The Arts Culture and Media programme is unique because it offers an

• Interdisciplinary study within modules that examine the mutual interdependence of the arts
• In-depth study of one art form
• A socially relevant study examining the social, ethical, and ideological dimensions of contemporary art worlds in order to build bridges between academic institutions and living artists, communities, and arts organisations for their mutual and healthy proliferation in society.

Year 1

The first semester surveys the history of the arts in society, from prehistoric times to today. You are introduced to the social function of the arts, while also developing your academic skills in writing and research.

In the second semester, you follow the two arts discipline courses (film, music and theatre/performance). You also engage with arts philosophies relevant to the contemporary art world. In short, the first year offers a diverse and grounded foundation for the following two years of the programme.

Courses

• Arts Sociology I and II (10 EC)
• Introduction to Audiovisual Arts A and B (10 EC)
• Life Imagined: The Arts in Culture A and B (10 EC)
• Thinking about Art I: Philosophy of Art (5 EC)
• Film I (10 EC)
• Music I (10 EC)
• Theatre I (10 EC)
• Arts and Cognition (5 EC)

Year 2

The second year focuses intently on your arts specialisation of film, music or theatre. You study these discipline's history and theory while also choosing one of two frameworks related to contemporary professional arts worlds:

1. Arts Policy and Cultural Entrepreneurship 2. Arts Analysis and Criticism

Both tracks offer arts education as a focus. You also receive an introduction to the philosophical background of your arts specialisation, acquiring a more theoretical understanding.

• Empirical Methods: Arts Policy Education (10 EC)
• Film II: Film History (10 EC)
• Mediality to Intermediality (10 EC)
• Music II: Topics in Classical Music (10 EC)
• Theatre II: History and Theory (10 EC)
• Cultural Entrepreneurship (10 EC)
• Film III: Film Theory (10 EC)
• Music III: Popular Music Theory and Analysis (10 EC)
• Narrativity Across Media (10 EC)
• Theatre III: Theory and Analysis (10 EC)

Year 3

In the first semester of the third year, you follow the minor of your choice. There are several options for this minor, for example, a study abroad minor or a career minor. In the second semester, you follow three courses: in your arts specialization and related to your framework. In this semester you also write your Bachelor's thesis, combining a topic related to your chosen arts discipline and professional framework.

• Minor (30 EC)
• Evaluating the Arts (5 EC)
• Film/Music/Theatre Advanced Seminar (5 EC)
• Arts in Practice: Film Project, Theatre Project or Music Festival (10 EC)
• Organisation and communication in the Arts (10 EC)
• Thesis (10 EC)

The first semester of Year 3 focuses on the Minor. These 'future-oriented' Minors should help you prepare for choosing a follow-on degree programme or a career. You can opt for a pre-master's Minor, a Minor abroad, a career-oriented Minor, a teacher-training Minor or a University Minor.

Programme options

• Music (specialization)
• Film (specialization)
• Theatre and Performance Arts (specialization)
• Arts Analysis and Criticism (specialization)
• Arts Policy and Cultural Entrepreneurship (specialization)
• Minors (minor)

Study abroad

• Study abroad is optional
• Maximum of 40 EC

Job prospects

Once you have graduated, you will be qualified to work within organizations related to the arts.

You can work within organizations such as theatres, arts companies, concert halls, popular music venues, orchestras and museums. You could also work for a publishing firm, within government institutions, for research companies, or within public media organizations (radio, TV or internet). Your employment tasks will range from arts curatorship and arts research and evaluation to management and policy consultation.

Job examples

• Research Positions
• Criticism and Analysis
• Arts Education (as MA specialisation)
• Arts Policy and Marketing