The Art of Ancient Greece & Rome

ARTH 341 * Spring 2012

Department of Fine Arts CVPA

M/W 2-3:15 - Rutledge 127

Dr. Laura Rinaldi Dufresne

102 McLaurin, x 2661, Office Hours: MW 3:30-5pm& by appointment

Email

Required Readings:

  • Greek Art by Nigel Spivey, Phaidon Press, any recent edition
  • Roman Art: Romulus to Constantine, by Nancy and Andrew Ramage, Prentice Hall, any recent edition
  • Article of choice, to be approved
  • Other readings as assigned for discussion

Recommended Readings:

Dictionary of Subjects & Symbols in ArtJames Hall;

Wren ,Linnea, Perspectives on Western Art: Source Documents, Harper & Row

Any art history survey text

Course Description: Study of the art and architecture of Ancient Greece and Rome from the Aegean through the Late Roman Empire. No Prerequistes. GLI: This course participates in the Global Learning Initiative by its very nature."
GNED:ARTH 341 fulfills GNED requirements for Historical Perspective, and Humanities and the Arts. Goal 1.1Read, write and speak standard English is met through writing assignments and essay exam questions, Goal 3.2Analyze and use a variety of information gathering techniques is met through the research paper assignment, Goal 4. 1Analyze diverse world cultures, societies, languages, historical periods, and artistic expressionsandGoal 6.1To understand aesthetic values, the creative process, and the interconnectedness of the literary, visual, and performing arts throughout the history of civilization are met through reading, lecture, research and exams on course description content.

Expected Student Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the course, students should be able to identify major artists and work from the period and discuss them within their specific historical and cultural contexts in satisfactory written and oral formats, and display competent citation skills.

Course Requirements: 100 points total

50 2 exams @ 25 points each

15article review (typed) & presented in class

30 Research Paper (typed) & presented in class as power point

5 Attendance & Participation

Grading Scale: 94-100% = A; 90-93 = A-; 87-89 = B+; 84-86 = B; 80-83 = B-; 77-79 = C+; 74-76 = C; 70-73 = C-; 67-69 = D+; 64-66 = D; 60-63 = D-; 59 or less = F

Hints for Success:

Do not be late to class; do not sleep in class or prop head on arms

(DObring coffee or eyelid props)

No use of computers, ear phones, cell phones, texting etc.

Do not miss class (more than 3 absences = point loss)

Do participate in class, do take good notes, and do be enthusiastic

Do not turn in anything late without a doctor’s excuse,

Keep up with Readings!

Do see me with any problems or questions

If you have disabilities requiring special accommodations call 323 2233.

Calendar– check often! (subject to change)

M / Jan 9 / Introduction
W / Jan 11 / Cycladic Art & Art of Near East / ReadSpivey Ch. 1
M / Jan 16 / No Class MLK Holiday
W / Jan 18 / Minoan
M / Jan 23 / Egypt
W / Jan 25 / Mycenean
M / Jan 30 / Geometric Greece / Read Spivey Ch. 2
W / Feb 1 / Archaic / Read Spivey Ch 3
M / Feb 6 / Archaic
W / Feb 8 / Archaic / Early Classical or Severe Style / Read Spivey Ch 4
M / Feb 13 / Early Classical
W / Feb 15 / High Classical / Read Spivey Ch 5
M / Feb 20 / Article Review Presentations
Extra Credit Tues. Feb. 21st 7-8:30 Emerging Scholars and Teachers in the Arts R119. 2points
W / Feb 22 / Article Review Presentations
M / Feb 27 / High Classical
W / Feb 29 / Late Classical / Read Spivey Ch 6
M / March 5 / EXAM ONE HANDED OUT
W / March 7 / Hellenistic / Read Spivey Ch 7
M / March 12 / SPRING BREAK
W / March 14 / SPRING BREAK
M / March 19 / Hellenistic - Etruscan / Read Ramage Intro & Ch 1
W / March 21 / EXAM ONE DUE IN CLASS
Extra Credit: Sunday March 25th 1-3pm Mint Museum Art History Symposium (4 points) cultural event!
M / March 26 / Etruscan - Rome: Republic & Augustus / Read Ramage Ch 2 & 3
W / March 28 / Rome: Julio Claudians / Read Ramage Ch 4
M / April 2 / Rome: Flavians & Trajan / Read Ramage Ch 5 & 6
W / April 4 / Rome: Hadrian & The Antonines / Read Ramage Ch 7 & 8
M / April 9 / Rome: The Severans & Soldier Emperors & Constantine / Read Ramage Ch 9-12
W / April 11 / Rome, Byzantine & Western Europe
M / April 16 / Presentations
W / April 18 / Presentations
M / April 23 / LAST CLASS – Presentations, Evaluations
EXAM TWO HANDED OUT 4/23
Research Paper Due 4/23 in class
FINAL EXAM DUE: 11:30 a.m. Tues., 5/1 102 McLaurin

I.Article Review Due Feb 20 & 22nd 15 points

Format:

3-4 double-spaced typed pages

proper citation of your article (MLA, endnotes, or footnotes required!)

include image of pertinent works

staple!!!

Also To be presented in class AS POWER POINT (7-10 min)

Objective:

Current Issues in Classical Archeology & Term Paper Topic.

Choose an article from Archeology, Art Bulletin or another scholarly journal to Review.

Review your article with regard to the attached handout.

Be sure to consider the form or style of the objects/buildings discussed as well as their function and social context.

Additionally, keep in mind that your final research paper project (see below)should explore some aspect of this topic in greater depth.

**if you have another topic you wish to explore not covered in these journals, please see me

for help.

Examples of Articles to consider for Review THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE!

Check JStor database at Dacus library site

Classical (Greece & Rome)

Arch. Jan/Feb. 2001Snake Goddess, Fake Goddess, K.Lapatin

Arch. Nov/Dec 2000Labyrinths & Bull-Leapers

Arch. March/April 2000 Subway to the Past, Athens, Stavrakakis

““Fallen Heroes, Pericles, M. Rose

Arch. Jan/Feb 2000Insights to Roman Life on Danube ,J. Wiseman

““Antiquarian Delights – 3 Museums , A. Schuster

Arch Sept/Oct 1999At the Museums-Pompeii , A. Schuster

““Oasis of the Dead :Romans in Egypt, Z. Hawass

Arch. Nov/Dec 1998Dialogue w/the Firmament: Astronomy, A. Aveni

Arch. May/June 1999At the Museums-Parthenon Marb.Custody , A Brysac

Arch July/Aug 1999A Cache…9 Roman Ships, A. Slayman

AB Dec 1999Time in Space: Narrative in Classical Art, J. Small

AB March 1999The Gods on the Parthenon Frieze, J. Neils

AB March 1997Roman Triumphal Ptg, P. Holliday

General: Gladiator Gymnasiums, Roman villas, mosaics. Basilica, undersea archeology (greek and roman shipwrecks), Etruscan tombs, greek vases, roman mural painting, roman marriage portraits, preservation techniques, the getty collection of ancient art & controversy, the elgin marbles, architecture in turkey and north Africa, minoan ceramics, kore sculpture, athletes, Roman festivals, greek clothing, imperial portraits, cult of dionysius, tombs,

Arch = Archaeology

AB = The Art Bulletin

Broude & Garrard Feminism and Art History

Ch. 2ScullyThe Great Goddess & Palace Architecture of Crete

Ch 3HavelockMourners on Greek Vases

Ch. 4KampenThe Social Status and Gender in Roman Art

II.Term Paper Due April 25th(20 Points)

Power PointDue April 16-23rd(10 Points)30 pts total

Format:

6-7 double-spaced typed pages

5 bibliographic sources (at least one BOOK)

proper citation of sources (endnote, footnotes or MLA required!)

Do you know what plagiarism is? Paraphrase all ideas not quoted.

include images of pertinent works

staple!!!

Also to be presented in class as well (7-10 mins).

Objectives:

Follow up on article w/ in-depth research on same/related topic.

Your initial article review (see above) will introduce you to a current archeological issue of interest today. After your review, you need to find out what others have written on the same topic – what were the earlier ideas? Are there any opposition to these new ideas? What do the great scholars in the field think? You can go forward or back in time with your research – but it must be related to your article review*– a continuing dialogue. You can broaden or narrow the topic. Your research should allow you to render an opinion on the matter in your conclusion. Do address style, function and context of art objects/buildings.

*(If you wish to change topics discuss with me first)

Art: Introductory Study Guide

Style: The way in which a thing is done.

  • What are the various visible characteristics that make up a work of art’s general appearance? (Read Sylvan Barnet’s “Asking Questions” chapter in A Short Guide to Writing about Art for help with analysis.)
  • Does it exemplify a period or era?(as STYLE PERIODS: Historical and Cultural divisions of art, For example: Classical Greek, Byzantine, Renaissance, and Dada)

Formal Elements: These are the visual elements of creating style:

  1. COMPOSITION: The arrangement of the artwork. Where is everything? At the top, bottom, middle…lower left? Is it balanced, symmetrical, organized in registers, diagonals?
  2. SCALE: Size: a) Bigger than a breadbox? Colossal? Tiny? b) In a painting or relief- forms in relationship to one another. (Are the people bigger than the house?)
  3. SHAPE: Geometric? Soft, indistinct? Irregular? 3-d? 2-d?
  4. MEDIUM: Material the work is made of: bronze, wood, marble, paper, mosaic, fresco, oil, clay, watercolor, pastel, woodcut, engraving, plastic, trash…
  5. SPACE: Is there an illusion of depth? Why or why not? Are the shapes shaded & modeled to suggest 3-d? Are the items in the background softly indicated to suggest distance? Does the design stress the 2-d aspect of the surface?
  6. COLOR: What are the colors: Warm, cold, monochromatic, bright, subdued, or muddy? What does this contribute to the work?
  7. LINE: Thick, even, curvilinear, uneven, jerky, straight, ragged, sketchy? Are the forms strongly outlined? Is line used within the form?
  8. TEXTURE: Is the surface rough, smooth, textured paper, thick paint? Is it indicated in a painting? Ex. Stubby beard, satin gown
  9. MOVEMENT: Do the forms imply movement (diagonals) or stability (triangles) or rest (horizontals)?
  10. TONE: what is the emotional feeling implied by the piece? (Active, still, violent, serene, harsh, melancholy) Is it intended by the artist, or is it your personal reaction?

Iconography: meaning, symbolism, and subject matter in art

Function: What is the purpose of the piece? How was it used? How does that affect its appearance? Is it a jug, a church, a portrait? Is it narrative, symbolic, decorative, or religious, political, secular? Also, consider the following:

  • WHO: Who made it? Who was it made for? (group of people)
  • WHAT: What is it? What is its subject? Does it do anything?
  • WHEN: When was it made? (What century or era?)
  • WHERE: In what country and or city? Significance of cites.
  • WHY: Why was it made; for what purpose? Is it functional? What does the object suggest about the society to which the artist belonged?
  • HOW: How was it made? What was the process utilized?

COMMON WRITING ERRORS TO AVOID

Titles: ALWAYS put titles of works of art in on of the following:

The Annunciation or the Annunciation or “The Annunciation”

Words & Phrases to avoid

-Talks or talks about:

Use a thesaurus – use discusses claims, wrote, argues….

-Seems or seems like:

Just strike it out – too passive, be strong!

-Feels or feels like:

“Tone” a better word choice – again use thesaurus

-Really:

Just avoid it

-Fabulous – too over the top – describe it well, and this will not be necessary

-Do not start a sentence with:

“And”, “But”, or “Because”

Other errors:

-No contractions!

Example…Use do not (not don’t) etc… in a formal paper

-Avoid these phrases:

The author “starts out”---- (begins is a better choice)

The author “goes on to” -- (explain)

-Do not use the same phrase or word over & over…boring – use your thesaurus!

-Do not begin paper with birth date & place of the artist ---

Too unimaginative – Find an interesting fact or quote about them or something!!

UPDATED: HOW TO REVIEW AN ARTICLE/BOOK

Dr. Laura Rinaldi Dufresne (2009-10)

StateAuthor, Title of article, Journal / Book Title, Date of Publication.

  1. Demonstrate you understand the Author’s Thesis
  1. Thesis Statement. Why was this article/book written? Purpose?

State Thesis in One or Two sentences only! Be concise – then elaborate: What are the supporting points/ evidence used to support the thesis?

  1. How is the article/book structured? Thematic or Chronological subheadings?
  2. Identify (if any) rhetorical strategies the author uses to persuade the reader – concern for fairness / justice? Appeal to logic, reasoning? A plea to emotions?
  3. Identify any obvious methodological approach use by the author (hint: what is their background, education, training, career)

Aesthetic/Formal? Cultural/Sociological? Psychological? Historical/biographical? Political (ex. Feminist? Marxist) Iconographic? Groundbreaking? Theoretical? Other?

  1. Is there an obvious tone to the article? Persuasive? Emotional? Scholarly? Logical? Educational? Detached? Personal? Humorous?
  2. Who is the intended audience? Students? Colleagues? Artists? Public?

II Was the article successful?

  1. Once you establish that you understand the author’s thesis (Part I), you can address how successful you believe the author was in proving or persuading you (the reader) regarding his or her thesis.
  2. Do you agree or disagree in whole or in part with the author’s thesis? Ground your response in sound reasoning, evidence or experience.
  3. Were there any particularly exciting and memorable observations that you found important or persuasive?
  1. Keep in Mind
  1. The articles are often difficult to read. This is not necessarily a fault.
  2. You are not grading the article on whether it is well written or not – rather, you should focus on the merit of the ideas presented.
  3. Paraphrase as often as you can. Avoid long quotes.
  4. Cite all sources properly, even when paraphrasing.
  5. If presenting review in class – do not read from a highlighted Xerox of the article! Have note cards or written statement.

GUIDE LINE FOR FORMAL PRESENTATIONS

.

TEXT:

  • Each double spaced typed page =2-3 minutes read aloud
  • PRACTICE READING PAPER ALOUD SEVERAL TIMES – ARE THEIR WORDS YOU HAVE DIFFICULATY PRONOUNCING? WRITE THEM PHONETICALLY IN YOUR TEXT IF NECESSARY. Don’t say in presentation “I don’t know how to pronounce this word”.
  • TRY TO READ SLOWLY & CLEARLY
  • MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH THE AUDIENCE AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE
  • IF YUOU ARE NERVOUS, JUST READ PAPER. DON’T TRY TO “AD LIB.”

IMAGES (IF DESIRED):

  1. NOTE ON YOUR PAPER WHEN TO CHANGE IMAGES IN YOUR TEXT
  2. SUGGESTIONS FOR POWER POINTS:
  3. FIRST “SLIDE” SHOULD HAVE YOUR PAPER TITLE & YOUR NAME
  4. GOOD CLEAR IMAGERY AGAINST SIMPLE BACK GROUND (BLACK)
  5. LIMITED TEXT-DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR ENTIRE PAPER!!!
  6. IDENTIFICATION OF ALL IMAGES USED
  7. LOOK AT YOUR IMAGES DURING PRESENTATION – YOU MIGHT HAVE THE WRONG ONE UP! POINT OUT IMPORTANT DETAIL WHEN APPROPRIATE.
  8. CAN HAVE BIBLIOGRAPHY AT THE END
  9. ALWAYS CHECKOUT THE ROOM AND ITS TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT AHEAD OF TIME IF AT ALL POSSIBLE TO AVOID PROBLEMS.
  10. AT THE END OF A PRESENTATION SAY SOMETHING LIKE:

“THANK YOU, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?”

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