The Medieval Image: Art and Culture

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

None

This subject traces the origin and development of the concept of the image of Western medieval thought. It examines the roles images played in medieval society through a survey of the various religious, philosophical, cultural and political frameworks in which conflicting attitudes toward image-making were developed. Lectures will introduce the differing ways in which philosophical and biblical traditions regarding figurative art and its value for religion shaped contrasting attitudes and led to aniconism and iconoclasm. The complex relationship Christians, Jews and Muslims shared with the visual arts will be addressed, and the legacy of disputes. Using specific case studies, tutorials will focus on how these attitudes were manifest in particular art works or monuments, with site visits to Univeristy of Melbourne collections and to the National Gallery of Victoria.

Students who complete this subject will:

• acquire a good knowledge of the intellectual history of the visual image;
• become aware of the social, cultural, or historical forces that shaped/affected certain intellectual movements and thus influenced attitudes toward image-making in the medieval period;
• develop an understanding of the different visual strategies employed by artists in the medieval period for representing the divine;
• develop an ability to analyse a work of art during the period in relation to the social, political or religious context in which it was created;
• develop an understanding of the conditions of the reception of medieval images, alongside issues relating to their production.

An essay of 2000 words 50% (due during semester) and a take home exam of 2000 words 50% (due in the examination period). This subject has a minimum hurdle requirement of 80% attendance and regular participation in tutorials. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. All pieces of written work must be submitted in order to pass this subject.

A subject reader will be available, or readings will be provided online.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• have learned how to frame and develop a cohesive and compelling argument;

• have learned how to plan a research project;

• have learned how to communicate the outcomes of their research in seminar presentations.

Students who have completed 106-213 or 670-337 Art,Ideology and Doctrine, 400-1000 are not eligible to enrol in this subject. This subject can be included in a major or minor in Art History.