Professor:Giampiero Bevagna - M.A.
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This is most recent syllabus. Your final syllabus will be given during your first day of class
Important Note: This course is cross-listed with CLAS 320 and HIST 320. This course was formerly ARAA 320.
Course Description
This course tries to provide answers to two fundamental questions that confront the modern observer of archaeological artifacts:
- Why are these relics important and what importance have they had through the ages in order to have been preserved for us today?
- How does one “read” artifacts in a careful manner and what can be learned from them about a society?
In the first part of the course, the focus will be on Western culture’s debt to the Ancient Greek classical conceptions of aesthetics – an idea of style born in Athens around 500 BCE that went on to condition visual arts in the rest of Greek and Roman antiquity as well as successive eras. You will explore in depth the “meaning” Greek art had for the Romans, and examine the enormous significance given to the classical archaeological heritage in Italy during later periods.
The second part of the course will focus on a detailed examination of specific items of archaeological remains (monuments, sculptures, paintings, graves) in order to gain a sophisticated understanding of what these artifacts can tell us about a society’s values and habits. Thematic elements confronted will include: war, theater, sexuality, sports, and food/drink. In keeping with the first part of the course, the question of what “uncomfortable” elements of classical society later periods chose to ignore, while exalting other elements, will remain at the forefront of discussion. Students will prepare and lead a guided open to the Umbra community during Special Academic Events Week.
Course Objectives
In this course, you will:
- acquire a sophisticated and in-depth understanding of the importance of archaeological discoveries in Italy through the ages;
- develop critical reasoning, formal visual analysis, and comprehension of archaeological experience;
- gain knowledge of the principal elements of ancient culture and tradition; and
- acquire familiarity with and be able to analyze different kinds of archaeological remains.
Course Materials
- Mandatory course readers