Theory and History

Course Catalogue WS 12/13

The department of theory and history engages in a reflective practice situated between art, science and design. Consistent with the interdisciplinary tradition of the Weißensee Academy of Art Berlin, it pursues an experimental, research-inspired mode of instruction. This is subdivided into the areas of art and aesthetics, design and media theory, and economics.


The department’s theoretical and historical coursework includes lectures and seminars, workshops and excursions into the theory and history of the arts and media, fashion and design, European and non-European cultures, and economic and legal aspects of prospective professional fields. On the one hand, these activities expand knowledge about the historical foundations of creative artistic work. On the other, they hone perception of the contemporary cultural, political, social and technical environment. The academic curriculum’s explicit foundation in reality makes it possible for artists and designers to recognize and shape their interactions with surrounding contexts.