ART 202:

Medieval Art

 

Fall 2006                                    

 

 

Course Instructor:

Dr. Heather Holian       email: hlholian@uncg.edu

Office: Cone 229          office phone: 334-5884

Office Hours: M 9:30-10:30, W 3:00-4:00 and by appt.

 

Required Textbook:

Marilyn Stokstad, Medieval Art, Second Edition, New York: Harper and Row, Publishers, 2004. (ISBN: 0813341140)

 

This text is available at the UNCG Bookstore. One copy of this text has also been placed on closed reserve at Jackson Library for this course.

 

 

Course Description:

This course will chronologically examine the architecture, painting, sculpture, and so-called “minor arts,” produced in Europe during the more than 1000 years known as the Middle Ages. The works of art discussed in this course will be analyzed not only in terms of style, but will also be set within their cultural, social, and political environment for a deeper understanding of their important place in medieval life. Attention will also be given to patrons of the arts, the role, training, and status of the medieval artist, as well as the methods and materials they employed.

 

 

Learning Outcomes:

At the conclusion of this course a successful student will be capable of—

·        discussing the major stylistic trends of the Middle Ages, and identifying the characteristics of these styles and their influences.

·        comparing and contrasting works of art verbally and through written words.

·        thinking critically about art.

·        discussing the status and materials of a medieval artist.

 

AND, will have an understanding of the interconnectedness between medieval art and its cultural environment.

 

 

Course Requirements:

1.      Attend lectures. Some of the material discussed in class can not be found in the course textbook, yet it will be included on exams, therefore, regular attendance is essential to success in the course. Attendance will also count towards the final grade.

 

2.      Read assigned readings and come prepared to contribute to any class discussions.

 

3.      Take and pass all four exams.

 

4.      Watch the assigned video and complete the corresponding assignment.

 

Grades:

Grades will be composed of the following components:

 

            Four exams                                          400 (100 points each x 4)

            Attendance                                           75 points

            Video viewing assignment                     40 points                                             

                                                                        _________

            Total:                                                    515 points

 

Final grades will be assigned according to the following grading system:

 

100-99=A+, 98-93=A, 92-90=A-, 89-87=B+, 86-83=B, 82-80=B-, 79-77=C+, 76-73=C,

72-70=C-, 69-67=D+, 66-63=D, 62-60=D-, 59 and below is an F

 

Attendance Policy:

Beginning the second week of the semester, attendance will be taken in class each day by way of a sign-up sheet, which will be circulated after class has begun. Each student is responsible for signing this paper to record their individual attendance. Signing the sheet for another student is not acceptable. Signing the roster and then leaving class is also not acceptable, and will count as an absence.

 

Each student is allowed three absences, either excused or unexcused, during the semester. Beginning with the fourth absence, five points will be deducted from the attendance grade for the course for each subsequent absence.

 

Classroom Etiquette:

Remember to turn off all cell phones and pagers before lectures begin as a courtesy to those around you, as well as the instructor. CD players and tape recorders are also not allowed. Also note, food and drink are not permitted in Cone 103.

 

Please be punctual for class and remain seated for the duration of class time. Class will begin promptly at 1:00, the door will be locked at 1:10 and latecomers will not be admitted. Class will end no later than 1:50. Latecomers distract other students as well as the instructor, as do students who pack up early and prepare to leave. Please refrain from doing either.

 

Since art history classes are taught in with the lights turned down you may be tempted to sleep. Please do not do that in class. Nor should any student be reading the newspaper or other material not related to the class. Instead, come prepared, take notes and be ready to engage in the course material.

 

 

Academic Honor Code:

Students are required to sign the Academic Integrity Policy on each exam. Please refer to the UNCG Undergraduate Bulletin.

 

Course Materials on Blackboard:

Information for this course will be posted on Blackboard, including lists of terms given in lecture, lists of works of art discussed in class, exam study guides, a copy of the syllabus, and all required images not reproduced in the textbook. The site will be updated as the semester progresses to correspond with lecture. Obviously the site should not be considered a substitute for attending class, but you will probably find that printing out the terms, or copying them down before lecture, and bringing them with you, will make note-taking easier.

 

Address to access Blackboard: http:blackboard.uncg.edu

Items to keep in mind when accessing Blackboard—

1. You will need to know your Novell password. This is the password used to log into campus computer labs. You do not have to access Blackboard only from a campus lab, but you will need the Novell password to get onto the page, regardless of your computer’s location.

            2. Use Internet Explorer when accessing Blackboard. Problems occur with Netscape.

            3. You will need Microsoft Word on your computer to view items posted on Blackboard. If your computer does not have Word, you may download a free viewer for Word on the Blackboard page. Go under “Student Resources,” and then click on “hardware and software.”

            4. Any e-communication you may want to do within the Blackboard system can only be sent to UNCG email addresses.

 

Video Viewing Assignment:

As part of the course requirements, each student must view “Cathedral: Story of its Construction” during Weeks 12 or 13 and answer the accompanying questions, which will be available on Blackboard. The 58-minute video will be on reserve at the Teaching and Learning Center under Dr. Holian. The video cannot be checked out of TLC and therefore must be watched on the premises. However, the film will also be shown once during Week 12 and once during Week 13 in our classroom (outside of our regularly scheduled class time). The time and date of these two showings will be announced in class.

 

Test Format:

All exams are “closed book.” All four exams will contain some fill-in-the-blank, definitions, and short answer questions. Some of these questions will be illustrated by slides. In these cases, the slide identification will also be necessary for full points. All slides, which appear on an exam, will be taken from the exam review sheet. An exam may contain slightly longer essay questions. If this occurs, the study guide will provide an example question.

 

Exams will take approximately 45 minutes to complete. Material for all four exams will be taken from lectures and assigned readings. Review sheets will be posted on Blackboard one week prior to the exam.

 

All exams should be written in a blue book with a blue or black pen, no pencil please. Large and small blue books are available at the UNCG Bookstore, as well as Addams Bookstore on Tate Street. Either size is fine for exams. Each student should come prepared with at least one blank blue book for each of the four exams. Each blue book use must be complete with no pages missing.

 

Please note: Exam #4, our final exam will not be cumulative.

 

Mandatory “Progress Meetings” with Dr. Holian:

Students who receive a failing grade on EXAM 1 will be required to meet with Dr. Holian during the week following the return of the graded exam. Failure to do so will result in the deduction of 20 points from the student’s earned score on EXAM 2. Sign-up sheets for meeting times will be available in class. It is the student’s responsibility to make the appointment and attend the meeting. The only acceptable, documented excuses for missing appointments are those accepted for missed exams (see below). No exceptions.

 

These meetings are in place to aid struggling students early in the semester with study skills, note-taking, attendance problems, or other issues preventing a student from performing in the course.

 

Policy Regarding Missed Exams:

Make-up exams will not be given. Should you miss Exam 1, 2 or 3 due to illness or family emergency you must notify the professor within 24 hours of the missed exam, and produce documentation of your illness or personal emergency. If you must miss an exam for one of these documented reasons, your final grade will be averaged minus the points of the missed exam. Should you miss a second exam you will receive a grade of zero for the second missed exam. The final is required of all students (see the Undergraduate Bulletin under “Grading Policies and Grades”).

 

Policy on Late Assignments:

Late video assignments will be deducted five points for each day they are late. As with exams, documented illness or family emergencies will be acceptable excuses for late assignments, however, you must notify the instructor before class time on the date the assignment is due to prevent loss of points in these situations. Late assignments may be turned into the instructor’s mailbox in the Art Department, McIver 158-A. Make sure you have the secretary date your late assignment before putting it into Dr. Holian’s box.

202 Medieval Art

Lecture Topics and Schedule of Required Readings

 

PLEASE NOTE: Readings should be completed prior to class meetings

 

Week 1

 

AUG. 14                      Introduction to Course

 

AUG. 16                      Brief Overview of Late Imperial Roman Art

                                    Reading: Stokstad, bottom of p. 6-10

 

AUG. 18                      Jewish and Christian Art of the 3rd Century

                                    Reading: Stokstad, bottom of p. 3-6, pp. 14-15, also read pages 1-3 of the

xerox packet for course

 

Week 2

 

AUG. 21                      Christian Art of the 3rd Century continued

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 15-top of p. 21

 

AUG. 23                      Constantine’s Politics and the Development of a Christian

Iconography

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 10-11, 21-23

 

AUG. 25                      Constantine and the Invention of Church Architecture

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 23-top of p. 26

 

Week 3

 

AUG. 28                      Constantine and Church Architecture continued

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 26-32

 

AUG. 30                      The 5th Century: Art and Architecture in Rome

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 11-12, 32-38

 

SEPT. 1                       Finish Art in Rome, Begin 5th C. Art and Architecture outside

of Rome

Reading: Stokstad, pp. 13-top of 14, 38-43

 

            Week 4

 

SEPT. 4                       NO CLASS—Labor Day

 

 

 

SEPT. 6                       Justinian and Early Byzantine Architecture

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 45-54

 

SEPT. 8                       EXAM 1

 

Week 5

 

SEPT. 11                     Early Byzantine Architecture continued, Early Byzantine

Mosaics

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 54-66, 1-3                   

 

SEPT. 13                     Early Byzantine Sumptuary Arts

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 67-top of 72

 

SEPT. 15                    Iconoclasm in the East, Begin Early Medieval Art in the West

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 72-79

 

Week 6

 

SEPT. 18                     Continue with Early Medieval Art in the West: Visigoths,

Langobards and the Merovingian Franks

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 79-85

 

SEPT. 20                     Art of the Vikings, Begin the Art of the British Isles

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 86-top of p. 95

 

SEPT. 22                     Continue with Art of the British Isles: Hiberno-Saxon Art,

Introduce Charlemagne

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 95-103

 

Week 7

 

SEPT. 25                     Carolingian Architecture in the Age of Charlemagne

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 103-top of 109

 

SEPT. 27                     Carolingian Art in the Age of Charlemagne

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 109-114

 

SEPT. 29                     Later Carolingian Art

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 114-126

 

Week 8

 

OCT. 2                                    The “Second Golden Age” of Byzantine Art and Architecture

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 127-129, bottom of 133-top of 139

 

 

OCT. 4                                    The “Second Golden Age” of Byzantine Art continued

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 130-133, 141-top of 143

 

OCT. 6                                    EXAM 2

                       

 

Week 9

 

OCT. 9                                    NO CLASS—FALL BREAK

 

OCT. 11                      Illuminated Manuscripts of the Ottonian Empire

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 154-156, bottom of 173-top of 179

 

OCT. 13                      Sculpture and Ivories of the Ottonian Empire

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 180-183, 187-bottom of 188

 

Week 10

 

OCT. 16                      Ottonian Architecture, Begin Lombard-Catalan Style of

Architecture

                                    Reading: Stokstad, bottom of 183-185, 161-65

                                               

OCT. 18                      Speyer Cathedral, Cluny II, Begin Romanesque Art

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 188-190, 166-top of 168, 191-top of 193, 194-196

 

OCT.  20                     Romanesque Art and Architecture in Italy

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 196-top of 199

 

Week 11

 

OCT. 23                      Finish Romanesque Art and Architecture in Italy

                                    Reading: Stokstad, bottom of p. 199-201

 

OCT. 25                      The “Pilgrimage Style” in Languedoc and Northern Spain

                                    Reading; Stokstad, bottom of p. 202-208

 

OCT. 27                      Architecture and Sculpture of Romanesque Burgundy

                                    Reading: Stokstad, bottom of p. 208-210, 212-213

 

Week 12

 

OCT. 30                      Finish Sculpture in Burgundy, Cistercian Architecture

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 211-top of 212, 214-219         

 

NOV. 1                       Romanesque Art and Architecture in Normandy and England

Reading: Stokstad, bottom of p. 222-226                    

 

NOV. 3                       Origins of Gothic Architecture: St. Denis

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 227-233

 

Week 13

 

NOV. 6                       EXAM 3

 

                                   

NOV. 8                       Cathedral of Sens

                                    Reading: Stokstad, bottom p. 233-234top p. 240

 

NOV. 10                     Second Generation Gothic: Laon and Notre Dame

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 240-244

 

Week 14

                                   

NOV. 13                     Early Gothic Art and Architecture in England and the “Year

1200” Style

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 247-255                      

                                    **Last day to turn in Video Viewing Assignment**

 

NOV. 15                     Cathedral of Chartres, including Sculpture and Stained Glass

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 234-240, 259-top of 268, 302             

 

NOV. 18                     High Gothic Architecture: Reims, Amiens, Beauvais

                                    Reading: Stokstad, bottom of p. 268-top of 275

 

Week 15

 

NOV. 21                     French High Gothic Architectural Sculpture

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 275-279, 281-285

 

NOV. 23-25                NO CLASS—THANKSGIVING BREAK

 

Week 16

 

NOV. 28                     High Gothic in England and Italy

                                    Reading: Stokstad, bottom of p. 285-top of 286, 288-top of 293, 294-296

 

NOV. 30                     Finish Architecture of Italy, Art of the French Court

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 296-301

 

DEC. 1                                    Later French Rayonnant Art and its Influence Abroad

                                    Reading: Stokstad, pp. 303-311, 315

 

 

 

Week 17

 

DEC. 5                                    The Art of Late Gothic Italy

Reading: Stokstad bottom of p. 325-p. 334

 

FINAL EXAM (Exam 4)—in our classroom, Wednesday, December 6th , 3:30-5:30