DESCRIPTION
The aim of this course is to provide a history and interpretation of ancient art within its broader social, political and cultural context. To this end, the course explores many diverse fields of ancient human experience: namely, theatre, music, sport, religion, education, and daily work. Through these explorations we will come to understand the importance of the Greek Tragedy, the philosophy of Plato, the Olympic Games, the Roman sense of morality, and the Roman state itself in the production of ancient art. In general, our methodology will be to practice a critical approach to the interpretation of images and iconographies in terms of their meanings, style, and significance.
The itinerary for the course begins with the 8th century B.C.E. and continues through to the fourth century C.E. and is organized according to the following themes: Greek classical art, relations between Greek and Roman art including Roman copies of Greek originals, revival of Greek art in the Augustan period, Roman imperial art and the dissolution of the classical style, and, finally, classical heritage in European art. The goal is to help students gain not only a broad, more nuanced interpretation of ancient art within the context of Greek and Roman life, but also an appreciation for the importance of the classical ideal to modern life. The study of ancient art equips us with a visual vocabulary to decode the hidden significance of the various pictures we meet in our daily lives today: in art, television and cinema, advertising, and even the photos we take with our own cameras.
The course will include visits to museums in Perugia and Rome.
TEXT
A course reader of selected readings will be available.
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