Course objectives:
This is an introduction to the artistic and architectural expression of the Greeks and Minoans from the Early Bronze Age through the second century B.C. We will consider architecture and the figurative arts as evidence for cultural attitudes towards humans, the gods, the physical world, and the exploration of form, colour, and movement. I will place emphasis on the careful discussion of selected monuments illustrated through slides and ancient literary sources.
The goal of the course is to make familiarize you with the major monuments of Minoan, Mycenaean, and ancient Greek art and architecture, the evolution of the style and technology of these monuments over time, and the cultural and historical context of this evolution. You will be expected to learn how to identify the chronology, style, and cultural meaning of the monuments discussed, and to analyze and compare monuments of various genres and periods.
Since the monuments also were intended to communicate with their audience, to reveal the aspirations of the culture that produced them, I hope that gradually you will become more fluent in reading their language. This should help you to think more clearly about issues that concerned the Greeks, many of which still concern us today
Learning outcomes:
1. to introduce students to the culture that helped to formulate Western concepts of form and beauty
2. to initiate understanding of the purpose of critical review of material objects within a proper cultural context
3. to help students to build confidence in the critical evaluation of information
Requirements:
None
Restrictions:
None
Textbooks:
TBA
Method of presentation:
Lecture and in-class discussion
Evaluation method:
TBA
