https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/L_AABAMKD116At the end of this course, students are expected to have: 1. knowledge of the crucial developments in the history of western visual and material culture as of 1960 and up to the present day; 2. insight into the scope and demarcation of postmodernism and a number of crucial interrelated terms and concepts in art, media, design, and architecture; 3. insight into the complicated dynamics between interdisciplinarity and disciplinarity in defining postmodern culture; 4. insight into the role of digital media within postmodern and contemporary culture; 5. adopted a critical attitude regarding scholarly and otherwise relevant literature.History of Media, Art, Design and Architecture: Contemporary is the last part of the three History of MKDA courses. History of MKDA Contemporary provides an overview of and insight into the history of visual and material culture from 1960 up to the present: from the 1960s' countercultures, which resisted the ‘modern’ worldview, to the arrival of new media, and from postmodern experiments with cultural appropriation, simulation and fragmented identities to the globalization and digitalization of culture. By discussing a number of characteristic cases and major authors from visual and material culture, also with attention for this era’s newly introduced media, the lectures focus on important common developments and concepts within postmodernism in a wider cultural, historical and theoretical frame. As such, this course traces the persisting effects of postmodernism within contemporary culture.Lectures, seminars, and (self-guided) excursions.Assessment takes place on the basis of a written examination. Access to the final examination depends on the submission of the weekly assignments. Connection between learning objectives and assessment: Learning objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: examination.The literature will be announced in the syllabus/Canvas.1st year bachelor students Media, Art, Design and Architecture (MKDA).For attendance rules, see Teaching and Examination Regulations. Students should be aware that regular attendance is necessary to pass the course.