Fall, 2008

Friday, August 29: review material included on webpage entitled Art and Politics. Pay careful attention to David's Oath of the Horatii, and respond in your journal to the questions raised on this page concerning the David painting.

Wednesday, September 3: review the material on the webpage entitled Images of Authority I. Pay special attention to the Palette of Narmer and the Victory Stele of Naram-Sin. Articulate the ways the artists have constructed the power of the principal figures in these images. Consider the nature of their authority.

Friday, September 5: Images of the pharaoh are central to any examination of Egyptian art. Images like the seated statue of King Khafre (Chephren) and the standing statue of King Menkaure (Mycerinus) with his Queen are typical of Egyptian art. Examine these statues and articulate their common characteristics. In a consideration of the materials and treatment of the forms, how are they effective as ruler images? How do they conform to your expectations of what a portrait should be? Write your responses to these questions in your journals.

Khafre (Cheprhen) from Gizeh, Dynasty IV, c. 2520-2494 BCE. Diorite.

Menkaure (Mycerinus) and Queen Khamerenebty (?), from Gizeh, Dynasty IV, c. 2490-2472 BCE.

Wednesday, September 10: we will look at Greek Art. Review the webpage entitled the Greeks and the Other. Pay particular attention to the comparison between the so-called "snake goddess" from Minoan Crete and the images of Medusa from Archaic Greek art.

Monday, September 15: Consider the Adam and Eve image of the Fall of Man found on the webpage Greeks and the Other.Review the webpages entitled Images of Authority II: The Greek Example and Polyclitus's Canon and the Idea of Idea of Symmetria. Also consider the page entitled Man the Measure of Things.

Wednesday, September 17: The Parthenon, the most famous Greek Temple, was constructed between 447-432 BCE under the patronage of Pericles. It can be seen as a response to the great victory over the Persians in the Second Persian War (480-479 BCE), and as a statement of Athens as the supreme Greek city-state. Review the page dedicated to the Parthenon.

In your journal, I would like you to respond to the following question: The Parthenon is one of the most identifiable symbols of western culture. We glorify it as a symbol of the democratic traditions in the west. The building becomes a symbol of rational order and moderation and balance. I would like you to consider how a non-Athenian from a different city-state would feel about the building. Remember that during this period Athens was asserting its position as the dominant city-state. Scholars talk about the Athenian Empire in the middle of the fifth century. In your discussion, pay special attention to the statue of Athena Parthenos. This work can be seen as a symbol for fifth century Athens. What messages does this statue convey?

Wednesday, September 24: we will examine the relationship between art and politics in Roman Art. Review carefully the webpages entitled Roman Power and Roman Imperial Art and Panel Reliefs of Marcus Aurelius and Roman Imperial Iconography. As a way of giving focus to our discussion, consider how the Augustus of Primaporta is an effective representation of his power?

Monday, September 29: I want to say a little more about the Ara Pacis and the the Aurelian panels, but we will examine the political implications of Roman Architecture and its influence on the tradition of Western architecture. Review the webpage entitled Roman Power / Roman Architecture.

First Paper Assignment: rough draft due on October 6 and final draft due on October 13.

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