This course integrates practice and theory to address our concepts of art, how they are transformed and the problems of making art in the broader context of social conflict. The lectures survey the histories and discourses of contemporary art, demystify the art world and provide multiple entry points into critical theory. The syllabus offers a solid background in essential histories and discourses of contemporary art to help artists address questions about their practice and its context: about what art is, how it is judged and how it relates to society.