AHPG 859 Early Christian and Byzantine Art and Architecture UNIT GUIDE Semester 2, 2011 Faculty of Arts Department of Ancient History 1. CONTACT INFORMATION Email Important: Please use the Mail link (located in the Course menu on the left side of the unit website) for contacting the convenor. I will check this regularly and will try to reply to you as quickly as possible. Convenor Dr Ken Parry Phone: +61 2 9850-9737 Email: [email protected] Office: Building W6A, Room 518 Research interests: www.anchist.mq.edu.au/staff/kenparry.html Departmental Administrator Raina Kim Phone: +61 2 9850-8833 Email: [email protected] Office: Building W6A, Room 540 Ancient History Fax: +61 2 9850-8840 IT Services Phone: +61 2 9850 4357 Email: [email protected] Macquarie Library Phone: +61 2 9850-7500 Library opening hours (recorded message): 9850-7501 Macquarie University Student Enquiries Email: [email protected] Phone: +61 2 9850 6410 2 2. ACADEMIC CONTENTS Unit description This unit will be concerned with the study of early Christian and Byzantine art and architecture, along with early Jewish and early Islamic art, and the influence of Byzantine art and architecture on Europe, the Balkans, Russia and the Caucasus. It will investigate the interrelationship and interchange of artistic and architectural traditions through Late Antiquity into the Middle Ages. This unit will seek to contextualize visual and material culture and examine the various attitudes to images that are apparent in relation to: geography, chronology, religion, society and politics. Unit outcomes At the completion of this unit, we hope that you will be able to: 1. Understand the ways in which art and architecture of the Late Antique and Byzantine periods have been studied; 2. Recognize and interpret different iconographic traditions and analyse various artistic styles; 3. Cultivate a deeper appreciation of methodological issues when dealing with material culture from the past; 4. Think clearly about issues pertaining to the analysis of material images; 5. Analyse and express your ideas about art historical issues; 6. Conduct independent research and analysis; 7. Participate actively in online discussions. Graduate capabilities 1. Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems. 2. Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy. 3. Problem Solving and Research Capability 3 Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations. 4. Creative and Innovative Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking. 5. Effective Communication We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate. 6. Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation’s historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society. 7. Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability. 8. Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments. 9. Commitment to Continuous Learning 4 Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially. 3. ASSESSMENT IN THIS UNIT Assessment at a glance Task Weight Due Date Linked Linked Brief Unit Graduate Description Outcomes Capabilities Assignment 1 50% Friday 16 1,2,3,4,5,6 1,2,3,4,5,8,9 3500 word September assignment Assignment 2 50% Friday 28 1,2,3,4,5,6 1,2,3,4,5,8,9 3500 word October assignment Assessment Tasks Two written assignments are required of 3,500 words each including footnotes and bibliography, and these should include clear illustrations where appropriate. Students will negotiate the titles of their assignments in consultation with the convenor. Part of the learning process is to formulate questions in relation to the discipline you are studying. Your first port of call in choosing a topic is to go to the ‘Further Reading’ provided in the Topic Planner for each week in Section 7 (see below). As part of your research, you should also consult journal articles as well as books. A list of relevant journals and websites for weekly topics is provided. Please make sure you consult the Style Guide for written assignments. This is available on the home page of the unit website or from the Department of Ancient History’s website: http://www.anchist.mq.edu.au/documents/EssayPres.pdf # Assignment 1 is due Friday 16 September # Assignment 2 is due Friday 28 October Participation You are expected to submit at least 1 message to the online discussion board per week in response to the questions provided on the website. Examination(s) There are no examinations in this unit. 5 Assignment submission 1. For External Students (Distance Education) please submit your assignments in Word format using the Assignments Tool located on the unit website. For information about how to use this, please see ‘Submitting assignments’ in the ‘Start here’ folder on the homepage of the website. You must upload each assignment by the end of the day it is due (at the very latest), unless you have been granted an extension. 2. For Internal Students please submit at the Faculty of Arts Students Centre in W6A Level 1. All assignments must be accompanied by a signed Cover sheet, which is available on the home page of the unit website or from the Arts Faculty website: http://www.arts.mq.edu.au/documents/Student_Assessment_Coversheet.pdf Your signature on the Cover sheet verifies that your assignment is entirely your own work. To attach this to your assignment, print and then complete a copy of the Cover sheet, scan it, and then insert it into the front of your Word document. Note that the University Rules define plagiarism as: ‘Plagiarism involves using the work of another person and presenting it as one’s own’. Information about plagiarism can be found in the Handbook of Postgraduate Studies (pp. 137-138) and at: http://www.student.mq.edu.au/plagiarism/. Extensions and penalties If you anticipate any difficulty in meeting assigned due dates then it is important that you contact the convenor as early as possible. Please avoid asking for extensions (except in extenuating circumstances). Missing deadlines complicate the work of markers and puts you behind. If you have to ask for an extension, request it well before the deadline, and only do so if you face a serious crisis that can be documented in some way (e.g., with a medical certificate). "Getting behind with my work" or "I had other deadlines" are not acceptable. Please note that requests for special consideration are not granted automatically, and are reserved for unforeseen and serious circumstances, such as prolonged illness, hospitalization or bereavement in your immediate family.