ICONS, RELIGION, AND EMPIRE: EARLY CHRISTIAN AND BYZANTINE ART, CA. 200-1453
Why did early Christians consider art necessary, if potentially dangerous? How did they adapt and compete with Roman and Jewish traditions? How were the visual propaganda and monumental architecture of the Roman Empire transformed during a millennium of Byzantine (East Roman) rule? These are key questions addressed as we explore the role of architecture and images in religion and imperial politics of the Mediterranean basin between the 3rd and 15th centuries. Other broader topics include the cult of the saints; theories and functions of icons and iconoclasm in Orthodox Christianity; text and image in illuminated manuscripts; multi-sensory aspects of sacred space and ritual; Byzantium's role in global cultural exchange.
Topics
- the cult of the saints
- theories and functions of icons and iconoclasm in Orthodox Christianity
- text and image in illuminated manuscripts
- multi-sensory aspects of sacred space and ritual
- Byzantium's role in global cultural exchange
Topics explicitly listed in official catalogue description
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Sophomore standing Course Designation: Core GenEd - Humanities & Arts Breadth - Humanities Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2024 Learning Outcomes: 1. Ability to "read" visual images (iconography) Audience: Undergraduate 2. Critical reading and discussion skills with particular attention methodology Audience: Undergraduate 3. Respect and value different points of view Audience: Undergraduate 4. Develop written and oral communication skills with emphasis on articulating arguments based on visual and material evidence of the objects of study Audience: Undergraduate 5. Develop bibliographic and research methods Audience: Undergraduate 6. Competence using digital image databases Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Ability to "read" visual images (iconography) Audience: Undergraduate 2. Critical reading and discussion skills with particular attention methodology Audience: Undergraduate 3. Respect and value different points of view Audience: Undergraduate 4. Develop written and oral communication skills with emphasis on articulating arguments based on visual and material evidence of the objects of study Audience: Undergraduate 5. Develop bibliographic and research methods Audience: Undergraduate 6. Competence using digital image databases Audience: Undergraduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027