Multiculturalism and Visual Invention: Early Medieval Art in Britain and Ireland (U01137)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : ACE-3-HMedBrit

This course is intended as an introduction to the visual culture of the early medieval West and focuses on Britain and Ireland between the 6th and 10th centuries. It explores the impact of Christian and Mediterranean culture on the native traditions of Britain and Ireland. It investigates the relationship between artistic styles and emerging national identities amongst the Irish, Anglo-Saxon, Pictish, British and Scandinavian inhabitants of these islands. One important theme is the interaction of 'national' artistic traditions and the formation of a shared 'Hiberno-Saxon' or 'Insular' style. Another is that of contact and mutual influence between Insular art and contemporary art on the Continent. The course will look at the development of specifically Christian artistic languages and their use of, and relationship with, pagan and secular traditions. All the principal media are considered and roughly equal attention is paid to illuminated manuscripts, stone sculpture and secular and ecclesiastical metalwork. Particular attention is paid to the Insular gospel-books (e.g. the Books of Durrow, Lindisfarne and Kells) and to Anglo-Saxon, Irish and Pictish sculpture. Issues addressed include patronage, purposes, functions and audiences of the works examined. One of the principal issues to be discussed is that of meaning. What evidence can be drawn on for the interpretation of meaning in images, symbols, styles etc.? Was the meaning of religious imagery closed and unambiguous or, at least sometimes, deliberately polyvalent? How far is it possible to recover the meaning of pagan and secular imagery and symbolism? How did visual art relate to literate culture? How does one go about interpreting fragmentary works of art?

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : A pass in either History of Art 2 or Architectural History 2a and 2b

Subject Areas

Home subject area

History of Art, (School of Arts, Culture and Environment, Schedule A)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 3 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	16:10	17:00	Central

? Additional Class Information : Seminars will take place on Thursdays 1-2.50pm and 3.10-5pm. Students will attend one of these.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

The course is intended to give students a familiarity with the principal surviving works of art and the major artistic styles known from Britain and Ireland between the 6th and 10th centuries and also to provide an insight into arguments involved in dating and localizing the origins of undocumented works. Students are encouraged to develop a critical awareness of the preconceptions and ideological positions, especially those influenced by modern nationalisms, that inform discussions of this material. They are also encouraged to examine original works of art, both with the class and independently. When possible, the course will include a trip, for example to Durham, Jarrow and Monkwearmouth to examine early medieval manuscripts and other works of art, or to Angus to look at Pictish sculpture, as well as a visit to the Museum of Scotland. Students are also encouraged to look beyond what is specifically covered in lectures and seminars, for example by going to public lectures and seminars and meetings of learned societies on themes related to the course. More generally, the course offers an opportunity for students to develop their visual skills as well as their skills in assessing arguments in the literature on this field and in constructing and presenting their own arguments, both in writing and orally, in essay and seminar work.