| Unit name | Image and Word in Eighteenth Century Art (Reflective Art History Unit) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HART30009 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Cervantes |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of History of Art (Historical Studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts, Law and Social Sciences |
This unit explores how image and word can intersect and define one another at particular points in history. The period c.1730-1800 saw a surge in the publication of illustrated texts and the emergence of the Literary Galleries, but there were also those who were keen to stress tensions between visual and verbal representation. Key themes to be addressed will include: the Literary Galleries, Milton and the visual arts, Shakespeare and visual representation, illustrated children’s literature, and ekphrasis (the graphic, often dramatic description of a visual work of art). Artists to be studied will include William Hogarth, James Barry, Henry Fuseli, and William Blake, amongst many others.
On successful completion of this unit students will have (1) developed a detailed knowledge and critical understanding of the dynamic relationship between visual and verbal representation; (2) in-depth understanding of the particular tensions attending this inter-relation in a key period1730 to 1800; 3) demonstrated the ability to analyse and evaluate a range of literary texts, ekphrases and illustrations (4) demonstrated the ability to identify and evaluate pertinent evidence/data in order to illustrate/demonstrate a cogent argument. Additionally, as part of a level H/6 unit, students will be expected to (5) display high level skills in evaluating, analysing, synthesising and (where apt) critiquing material and ideas.
1 x 2-hour seminar per week.
1 x 24 hour take-home exam (100%), The extended form of this unseen assessment provides the opportunity to assess the depth and detail of students’ understanding and attainment of ILOs (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) at level H/6.
• Burwick, F. and Pape, W. Boydell’s Shakespeare Gallery (1996). • Cale, L. Fuseli’s Milton Gallery. ‘Turning Readers into Spectators’ (2006). • Chayes, I. ‘Picture and Page, Reader and Viewer in Blake’s Night Thoughts Illustrations’, Studies in Romaticism, XXX (1991), pp. 439-72. • Heffernan, J. Museums of Words: the Poetics of Ekphrasis from Homer to Ashbery (1993). • Mitchell, W. J. T. Iconology: Image, Text, Ideology (1986).
