Description
MAGIC, MYTH AND MONSTERS: THE MIDDLE AGES (and its influences on modernism)
The Middle Ages was a remarkable thousand-year-long civilization—underscored by a wholly unique culture and artistic tradition. The art of the era was developed by the people of the day, without much influence from what had preceded it. Medieval art evolved from being incredibly naive to highly sophisticated, and its legacy would be lasting.
From the Fall of the Roman Empire (c. 476), to the High Gothic era (c. 1000), and then on to the latter Middle Ages (c. 1300) we’ll visit medieval masterworks of illumination, metalwork, painting, sculpture and architecture in this program. We’ll view the art in both religious and broader cultural contexts–and take a peek at the evolution toward the Renaissance that would follow.
The Middle Ages was not only an exceptional period in the history of art and culture—it also had a profound influence on the art of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. In an effort to escape what more innovative artists saw as the stranglehold of the Renaissance, and the academic traditions it spawned, modernists looked to medieval art for inspiration—and found it.
In this course, we’ll thoroughly explore the exciting art of the medieval world and identify the threads that connect it to subsequent traditions. We’ll see that the art of the Middle Ages has remained very much alive throughout time—and that evolving artistic innovations are quite indebted to it!
ONLINE ZOOM CLASS
Six Sessions: Tuesdays, 04/12 – 05/17 – 10:00 – 11:00 AM
Attendance/Absence/Tardiness Policy: If you are registered for the class, please make every effort to be on time and participate.
Electronic Device Policy: Students are asked to turn ringer tones on their cell phones off during class—and to take any essential calls on their cell phones outside of the virtual classroom.
Meet your Instructor: Jill Kiefer
