Course description

An examination of the use and development of Christian symbolism in text and visual arts, from the foundations of the Church to the thirteenth century. The course is divided into three modules, examining the literary, visual and liturgical use of symbolism in the early Church and Middle Ages. Each module explores the history and theory of symbolism. In each module, we examine two representative texts or images (or set of images) in order to understand the use of symbolism in its cultural context.
 

Course requirements

Short Assignment  20%: A short paper (3-5 pp), due 6 October (no extensions)

Term Test 30%: Covers material in lectures, tutorials, and reader, on 3 November (take-home portion: due 5 November)

Final Paper 30%: On a topic (involving texts and/or images) of the student’s choice (to be made in consultation with the instructor); 8-12 pages, due on the last day of classes (1 December, no extensions).

Class and tutorial participation 20%: includes attendance, presentations of assigned texts, discussion of final paper (as work in progress), and participation in class and tutorial discussions. There will be five tutorial meetings.

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Course Readings

A course reader, which includes primary and secondary texts and some images, will be available for purchase in the first class. In the lecture schedule below there are some links to e-texts and images. Consult the ERes course page for slide shows. [Note: slide shows are temporarily unavailable]

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8 September: Introduction

15 September: General Theories of Symbolism [tutorial meeting]

• Additional Bibliography

MODULE ONE: TEXTUAL
22 September:Theory and History

• Augustine, De doctrina Christiana ( eText: On Christian Doctrine)

• Additional bibliography on literary practices

• Dante Alighieri, Letter to Can Grande, Convivio (see Digital Dante)
• Purgatorio 10-12 (see Comedy in translation)

MODULE TWO:VISUAL
(See ERes course page for slide shows)

13 October: Thanksgiving (no class)

20 October: History and Theory: From the Catacombs to Ravenna; Icons [tutorial meeting]

• Ravenna website

• Giotto website

MODULE THREE: LITURGICAL / SACRAMENTAL
10 November: Theory and History [tutorial meeting]

17 November: Close Study I: Durandus on the meaning of the church

24 November: Liturgical Language [tutorial meeting]

1 December: Close Study II: The Medieval Mass

• Table of Items ;  Mass text in Latin and English

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