JCU Logo
JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AH 141-2"
COURSE NAME: "World Art I: Visual Culture of the Ancient World"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2018
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Erick Wilberding
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 6:00-7:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This survey course focuses on the art, archaeology and architecture of the Mediterranean world, roughly between 2500 BC – AD 300. The course investigates the material culture of the diverse cultural groups that shaped this cosmopolitan world: Sumerians, Assyrians, Minoans/Mycenaeans, Egyptians, Greeks, Etruscans, Persians, Italics and Romans. Special attention will be given to the interconnectivity and dynamic relationship of inspiration between these cultures. The aim is for a firm contextual understanding of the works examined, and of the cultural, political and historical aspects that shaped these. The course will also assist students in cultivating basic art-historical skills, in particular description, stylistic analysis, and iconographic and iconological analysis.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This survey course focuses on the art and architecture of the Mediterranean world as well as Southeast Asia, Mesoamerica and Africa between c.3200 BC – 300 AD.  The course investigates the material culture of the diverse cultural groups. Special attention will be given to the interconnectivity and dynamic relationship of inspiration between these cultures. The aim is for a firm contextual understanding of the works examined, and of the cultural, political and historical aspects that shaped these. The course will also assist students in cultivating basic art-historical skills, in particular description, stylistic analysis, and iconographic and iconological analysis.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will have an understanding of the development of art and architecture from c.3200 BC to 300 AD.  They will recognize basic works and learn basic facts concerning their cultural and political contexts.

Students will learn the questions that art historians pose of the visual culture of the past.  They will learn more about the difficulties of interpretation as well as the basic subject matter and iconography, the purpose and function of the work of art, and issues touching on patronage.

Students will develop their skills of visual analysis and learn how to place a work of art within its historical period by its formal characteristics.

Students will develop an awareness of the different attitudes towards the artist and the artwork in different cultures of the world.

Students will understand better the unique resources of the city of Rome which has works from several of the periods that we study.

Students will learn how to speak and write about visual culture.  In particular students will deepen their understanding of historical writing that largely is directed to questions of cause and effect as well as significance.   They will understand better the basic structure of historical writing (point, explanation, justification).
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Gardner's Art through the AgesFred. KleinerCengageeBook ISBN: 9781337241083 I believe this electronic book can be purchased through the Cengage UK site: www.cengage.co.uk   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Participation and academic professionalism Contribution to the academic milieu of the class: contribution to class discussions, willingness to share own observations, and collaborative behavior 10%
3 Visual analyses and a single oral report (3-5 minutes)3 Visual analysis of three works from diverse periods, cultures and media. The oral report will be on a work from the Roman Unit. 20%
Research paper Short research paper (5-6 pages)20%
Midterm exam Identifications of individual works, term definitions, multiple choice questions, analytical comparisons20%
Final examinationIdentifications of individual works, term definitions, multiple choice questions, analytical comparisons30%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
A student cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. 
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

 
SessionSession FocusReading AssignmentOther AssignmentMeeting Place/Exam Dates
September 3 (Monday)Introduction to the course: content & assignments. The resources in Rome. Option to use Instagram to share art experiences. The conduct of class: lecture and discussion. Short oral reports in Steve Jobs-style (very little text on slides). 3-5 minutes long. A safe space for discussion. The importance of personal participation for developing skills. Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning:  Memory, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation. What is maieutic questioning?  Discussion: What is art?  What is architecture? 
September 5 (Wednesday)China: Shang Dynasty Bronzes & Zhou Dynasty Jade The Indus Valley: Mohenjo-Daro, Pakistan   
September 10 (Monday)Egypt Pre-Dynastic & Old Kingdom The Palette of Narmer. Imhotep and Djoser: The Development of the Pyramid Sculpture and Painting: Royal Conventions: Idealism and RealismGardner, 15th edition, pages  
September 12 (Wednesday)The Middle Kingdom: Senusret III. The Tombs of Beni Hassan and their reliefs. The New Kingdom: Deir el-Bahri: The Temple of Hatshepsut. Abu Simbel: Temple of Ramses II. Akhenaten. Tutankhamun.Gardner, 15th edition, pagesThe Head of Mentuhotep II (Vatican Museums) The Obelisk of Thutmosis III (Lateran); The Obelisk of Ramses II (Piazza del Popolo) 
September 17 (Monday)Ancient Near East: Rediscovering the Ancient Near East: 19th century Expeditions; Sumerian: Ziggurats & Sculpture, The “Standard of Ur”; Akkadian: Sculpture. How to make a bronze bust? The lost wax process. Ur: Gudea of Lagash. Babylonian: The Stele of HammurabiGardner, 15th edition, pagesIn class exercise: comparison/contrast question: Egyptian sculpture & Sumerian Sculpture. 
September 19 (Wednesday)Ancient Near East: Assyrian:  Citadel of Sargon II, The reliefs from the Palace of Ashurnasirpal and Palace of Ashurbanipal. The recovery of the Epic of Gilgamesh. Neo-Babylonian: Ishtar Gate. Achaemenid: The Palace at Persepolis.Gardner, 15 edition, pagesRelief with Winged Genius, North-West Palace of Ashurnasirpal II, 883-859 BC, Vatican Museums. Relief with Assyrian soldiers, South-West Palace of Sennacherib, 704-681 BC. Vatican Museums. Relief with Arab tent set alight, North Palace of Ashurbanipal, 668-631 BC, Vatican Museums. 
September 24 (Monday)Aegean Art: Cycladic Art. Minoan Art. Mycenaean Art.Gardner, 15 edition, pagesCycladic female statuette, Museo di Scultura Antica Giovanni Barracco 
September 26 (Wednesday)Greece: The Geometric & Orientalizing Periods. How the Greeks made and painted vases. Vessel Forms. Archaic Vase Painting: Black Figured Style.Gardner, 15th edition, pagesFIRST ANALYSIS DUE 
October 1 (Monday) Greece: Red Figured Vase Painting. Archaic Sculpture: Kouros and Kore. Architecture and Architectural Sculpture. Doric and Ionic Orders.Gardner, 15th edition, pagesExekias, Achilles and Ajax playing a dice game, c.540-530 BC 
October 3 (Wednesday)Greece: Architecture: Temple of Artemis, Corfu; Siphnian Treasury, Delphi; Temple of Hera II, Paestum; The Parthenon; PropylaeaGardner, 15th edition, pages  
October 8 (Monday)Greece: Ionic Temples. Erechtheum. Corinthian Capital. Town Planning and Theaters. Standing Youth (The Kritios Boy). Charioteer, from Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi.Gardner, 15th edition, pages  
October 10 (Wednesday)Greece: Greek originals, Roman copies, literary descriptions Zeus/Poseidon. Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs. Riace Warrior A. Riace Warrior B. Roman copy of Polyclitus, The Spear Bearer (Doryphorus). Roman copy of Myron, Discus Thrower. Dying Niobid. The Parthenon Program.Gardner, 15th edition, pages  
October 15 (Monday)Nike, from the balustrade of the Temple of Athena Nike. Grave Stele of Hegeso. Classical Painting.Gardner, 15th edition, pages  
October 17 (Wednesday)The midterm examination will include 10 slide identifications, 15 Multiple Choice Questions, 3 Compare & Contrast Questions, and a Mystery Slide Identification (identify the culture and period of a work and justify your answer by reference to works studied in class. Choice of 1 from 4).MIDTERMImages for the identifications as well as sample examination questions will be posted on the intranet before the first class in September. MIDTERM
October 22 (Monday)Greece: Fourth century sculpture: Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Scopas. Praxiteles. Lysippus. Hellenistic Sculpture. Epigonos. Pergamum AltarGardner, 15th edition, pagesApollo Belvedere, Vatican Museums Apollonios, Belvedere Torso, Vatican Museums 
October 24 (Wednesday)Greece: Hellenistic Sculpture (continued). Nike of Samothrace. Laocoon Group. Greek and Hellenistic Coins and their importance.Gardner, 15th edition, pages  
October 29 (Monday)EtruscansGardner, 15th edition, pagesSECOND ANALYSIS DUE 
October 31 (Wednesday)Southeast Asia: Vedic and Upanishadic Period. The Rise of Buddhism. Representing the Buddha. Maurya Dynasty: Ashoka. Shundra, Andhra, and Kushan Dynasties.Gardner, 15th edition, pagesSuggested viewing: The Story of the Buddha’s Life (BBC Documentary) 
November 5 (Monday)China: Qin Dynasty. Terracotta Army, Lintong. Han Dynasty. Wu Family Shrines. Wuwei Flying Horse. Han Houses and Palaces.Gardner, 15th edition, pages  
November 7 (Wednesday)Mesoamerica Mesoamerica: Olmec Culture. Pre-classic West Mexico. Teotihuacan. Classic Maya.Gardner, 15th edition, pagesSelected works from the Museo Nazionale Preistorico Etnografico "Luigi Pigorini" 
November 12 (Monday)Africa (Nok and Lydenburg). Nok head from Rafin Kura, Nigeria. Head, from Lydenburg, South Africa. Rome: Republic Temple of Portunus. Temple of Vesta. Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia. Roman Concrete. Sculpture: Roman Verism. Gardner, 15th edition, pagesSelected works from the Museo Nazionale Preistorico Etnografico "Luigi Pigorini" 
November 14 (Wednesday)Roman: Pompeii: Architecture: Forum and Amphitheater. The Roman House. Painting: The Four Styles of Augustus Mau (1840-1909): First Style: Samnite House, Late 2nd Century, Herculaneum. Second Style: Villa of the Mysteries (Pompeii), cubiculum from Villa of Publius Fannius Synistor (Boscoreale), Triclinium from Villa of Livia (Primaporta). Third Style: Cubiculum from Villa of Agrippa Postumus (Boscotrecase). Fourth Style: Room 78 of Nero’s Domus Aurea (Rome); Ixion Room in the House of the Vettii (Pompeii).Gardner, 15th edition, pagesOral report(s) 
November 19 (Monday)Roman: Wall mosaics. Private portraits. Still Life Painting. Early Empire: Augustus and the Julio-Claudians. Augustus as General. Livia. Ara Pacis Augustae.Gardner, 15th edition, pagesOral report(s). THIRD ANALYSIS DUE 
November 21 (Wednesday)Forum of Augustus: Maison Carré. Pont du Gard, Nimes, France. Porta Maggiore. The Golden House of Nero. The Flavian Amphitheater (Colosseum). Flavian portraiture. Arch of Titus.Gardner, 15th edition, pagesOral report(s) 
November 26 (Monday)Trajan: The Forum, the Column, the Markets. Hadrian: The Pantheon, the Villa at Tivoli. Antoninus Pius: Base of the Column. Marcus Aurelius: Equestrian Statue.Gardner, 15th edition, pagesOral report(s). RESEARCH PAPER DUE 
December 3 (Monday)Roman: Sarcophagi. Mummy Portraits. The Late Empire: The Severans. The Baths of Caracalla. The Soldier Emperors. Ludovisi Battle Sarcophagus. Sarcophagus of a philosopher.Gardner, 15th edition,Oral report(s) 
December 5 (Wednesday)Diocletian and the Tetrarchy The Palace of Diocletian ConstantineGardner, 15th edition, pagesOral report(s) 
December 10-14FINAL EXAMINATION: DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCEDFINAL EXAMINATION: DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCEDFINAL EXAMINATION: DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCEDFINAL EXAMINATION: DETAILS WILL BE ANNOUNCED