Unit name | Sculpture |
---|---|
Unit code | CLAS10037 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | C/4 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Knippschild |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Department of Classics & Ancient History |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Classical sculpture is often hailed as the cornerstone of ‘western’ art. But it was not simply beautiful adornment. In a largely illiterate society, successful participation in religious, political and social life relied on the ability to interpret visual information. Sculpture told mythic narratives and community history; commemorated victories and deceased relatives; praised individuals, whether kings or athletes; and provided access to the divine. In this unit, we will learn how to identify the different forms and styles of ancient sculpture and interpret its meanings and themes but more importantly we will discover the roles it played in society. How did ancient audiences engage with the sculpture around them? We will also explore the ways in which that sculpture has been displayed, recontextualised and re-interpreted since antiquity and consider how the aesthetic importance we have placed on it has affected our understanding. How might we most effectively engage with this material?
Aims:
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
1 x 2hr lecture and 1 x 2hr workshop
1 x 2500 word project report (70%);
1 x 60-minute exam (30%) [both assess ILOs 1-4]
M. Beard & J. Henderson, Classical Art. From Greece to Rome (Oxford) 2001
R.T. Neer, Art & Archaeology of the Greek World (London) 2012
R. Osborne, Archaic and Classical Greek Art (Oxford) 1998
J. Pollitt, Art in the Hellenistic Age (Cambridge) 1990
T.J. Smith & D. Plantzos eds, A Companion to Greek Art (Oxford) 2012