Greek Art: The Power of Images in Archaic and Classical Greece

Description

Students come to understand the groundbreaking and vastly influential developments Greek art and architecture from the 8th to 4th centuries BC, both in the technical innovations this period witnessed, as well as in the astonishing advances in the rendering of the human form that set the standard in western art for centuries. Students also examine how sculpture, painting, and architecture relate to aspects of the broader culture of their day; these include political developments, contacts with the ancient Near East, religion (depictions of gods and goddesses, etc.), and parallels in epic and lyric poetry. Ancient views on the powers and limits of artworks will be also explored, as will the role of myth and narrative in Greek art, especially the roles of heroes and figures from the Trojan saga. The social and ideological functions of artworks will be considered as well as the psychology and erotics of viewing artworks within Greek culture.