[ART 181] Survey: Ancient and Medieval Art

Introduction

In this class, students tour among other places the ziggurats of Mesopotamia, pyramids of Egypt, theaters of Greece, temples of Rome, and cathedrals of Medieval Europe. By visiting these iconic locations, students will gain a better understanding of the lives of the people who created these works and the societies in which they lived.

Description

UW Colleges Catalog Course Description for ART 181: Survey: Ancient and Medieval Art - 3 credits. Art and architecture from the old stone age to the Gothic era. This course fulfills the UWC requirement for Fine Arts (FA).

This course presents a survey of major works of sculpture, architecture and painting made in Europe and the Middle East from their origins in the Paleolithic period (c. 30,000-10,000 BCE) to the 14th century CE.

In studying these monuments we will place equal emphasis on formal analysis and on contextual history. Students will learn how to identify some of the most important works of art and architecture, to describe their basic elements, to distinguish those elements that characterize different cultures and styles, and to begin to explain the formal and historical reasons for these differences.

Proficiencies

Institutional proficiencies assigned to this course

Successful completion of this course will enhance students' ability to

• interpret and synthesize information and ideas;
• construct an argument in support of a conclusion;
• communicate clearly, precisely, and in a well-organized manner;
• critically reflect upon a work of art.

Department-specific proficiencies assigned to this course

By successfully completing this course students will be able to

• identify works of art by artist, title, date, location, and style;
• develop both historical and art historical vocabularies;
• expand critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in historical analysis.
• recognize, analyze, and discuss, in writing, form and iconography of the major monuments of Western art;
• recognize, analyze and discuss, in writing, the progression of art through scholarly consideration of artists, monuments, and movements;
• recognize, analyze and discuss, in writing, historical, political, philosophical, economic, and social factors that contributed to the production of art and achitecture.

Requirements

Software

• Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat Reader.

  All your work must be submitted as Microsoft Word documents. Work submitted in other formats, such as Word Perfect or Microsoft Works, will not be accepted. The most current edition of MS Office (containing MS Word and other valuable programs) is available to University of Wisconsin students at discounted prices through the Wisconsin Integrated Software Catalog.

  Acrobat Reader is freely distributed software that lets you view and print Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, please download it by visiting: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.

Hardware

• High Speed DSL is recommended.
  The opening and timely access to many JPEGS are required for exams in this visual arts course.

About the Instructors

• Paul Bacon
  Associate Lecturer, Art
  BA, Augustana College
  MA, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  
• Tim Booth
  Lecturer, Art
  BA, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
  MA, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee