Anotace
Art and Society in Pre-modern Europe The course is intended as an introduction to the visual culture of pre-modern Europe. During each session, we will analyse various types of images and discuss their social and religious background. The aim of the course is to demonstrate connections between art and society in a wider anthropological perspective. The participants should learn about the background of different pre-modern visual traditions, many of them also present in modern culture. Moreover, they should learn how visual sources could be used to enrichen our understanding of society. Syllabus:
1) Medium is the message. Medieval "art", its transmission and functions
2) Christ's Body. Eucharistic cult and miraculous depictions of Christ
3) Jewish sow. The rise of anti-judaism and its visual representations
4) Everyday Hell. The depiction of Hell and everyday morality
5) In Praise of Folly. Fools and their function in visual art
6) Power of women. Gender in pre-modern society and images of strong women and weak men
7) Love hurts. The medieval concept of love and its visual representation
8) Medieval obscenities. Scatology and sexuality in pre-modern art and their function
9) The rise of the living dead. Ghosts and other revenants, the triumph of death
10) Naughty priests. Critics of the Church, reformation, anti-reformation and their propaganda
11) Good King. Wenceslas National saints and their role in pre-modern society
12) Diabolic Pope. Medieval Heretics and the Roman Church