Unit information: Art and Architecture of Late Antiquity in 2011/12

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Unit name Art and Architecture of Late Antiquity
Unit code CLAS37008
Credit points 20
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Dr. Hales
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

None,
Co-requisites

None.
School/department Department of Classics & Ancient History
Faculty Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

The enormous religious and political changes of the period between the reign of Constantine and Justinian put enormous pressure on the cultural traditions of the Graeco-Roman world and led to the development of new styles and motifs that have traditionally been seen as evidence of the decline of western civilization. This unit considers this art's relation to that of the classical past and how it responded to new challenges faced, for example, by Christians, in using art within the Church (Can you even look on the face of God?) and at home (How can Christians view 'pagan' art?). We investigate art & architecture from across the empire, particularly Rome, Ravenna, Constantinople and Ephesus, not only imperial statues and monuments and rich church mosaics but also personal, luxury artefacts. In doing so, we consider fundamental issues concerning the role of art in the cultures it serves.

The aims of this unit are:

  • to familiarise students with the range of material and visual evidence of this period of Late Antiquity and to introduce its key stylistic features.
  • to develop skills in reading and interpreting different kinds of images so as to contextualise them in terms of contemporary social, political and religious discourse.
  • to enable students to use the knowledge acquired in seminars and through independent research to construct coherent, relevant and critical arguments concerning the interpretative issues raised by the representation of time in the texts studied.
  • to develop student skills in oral and written communication.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students should:

  • have acquired knowledge of the range of material and visual evidence of this period of Late Antiquity and be able to recognise its key stylistic features.
  • have developed their skills in reading and interpreting different kinds of images and be able to contextualise them in terms of contemporary social, political and religious discourse.
  • be able to use the knowledge acquired in seminars and through independent research to construct coherent, relevant and critical arguments concerning the interpretative issues raised by the images studied.
  • have had the opportunity to develop their skills in oral and written communication, by taking part in seminar discussions in an assessed essay and a written examination.

Teaching Information

Seminars.

Assessment Information

One essay of 3,000 words (50%) and one examination of 90 minutes (50%).

Reading and References

J. Elsner, Art & the Roman Viewer (Cambridge) 1995.

D. James, God & Gold in Late Antiquity (Cambridge) 1998.

R.M. Jensen, Understanding early Christian art (New York) 2000.

S. MacCormack, Art & Ceremony in Late Antiquity (Berkeley) 1981.

T.F. Mathews, The Clash of Gods: a Reinterpretation of Early Christian Art (Princeton) 1999

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