Unit information: Using Visual Culture in 2012/13

Unit name	Using Visual Culture
Unit code	CLAS12368
Credit points	20
Level of study	C/4
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 people of the ancient world lived in an exceedingly visual culture. Ancient audiences responded to a wide variety of visual stimuli - from formal works of art and architecture to performance and ritual. Successful participation in religious, political and social life relied on the ability to interpret visual information. Using a number of different methodological approaches and a series of case studies from the Roman world, this unit equips students with the tools needed to study these visual aspects of ancient culture. In providing both the practical skills of 'reading' images and the theoretical issues involved in studying visual material, we will ask: What questions can we ask of visual evidence? How does art communicate meaning? The ultimate aim of this unit is to enable students to use visual culture with confidence in their wider studies of the ancient world.

Aims:

The aim of this unit will be to enable students to use visual culture in their wider studies of the ancient world. It will equip students both with the practical skills of 'reading' an image and the theoretical issues involved in studying visual material.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students should:

• have acquired the basic tools with which to read and explore visual

evidence.

• be aware of the major methodologies used in interpreting visual culture .

• have an idea of how visual evidence can contribute to the study of the

Classical World.

• have had the opportunity to develop their communication skills in class

discussion and in the composition of written work.

Teaching Information

22 Lectures/Seminars (including traditional lectures, seminars, small-group work, informal student presentations, visit to local museum/gallery)

Assessment Information

One continuous assessment essay (2000 words) - 50 marks

One written examination of 90 minutes:

(a) Comment on two out of eight images - 2 x 15 marks

(b) Write on one out of six essays - 20 marks Total 50 marks

Reading and References

M. Beard & J. Henderson, Classical Art (2001)

J. Berger Ways of Seeing (1983)

J. Elsner, Imperial Rome & Christian Triumph (1998)

R. Howells, Visual Culture (2003)

M.A. Staniszewski, Believing is Seeing: Creating the Culture of Art (1995)