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2021/22 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

CLAS3680 Greek Art and Society

20 creditsClass Size: 24

Module manager: Dr Emma Stafford
Email: E.J.Stafford@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

Pre-requisite qualifications

There are no formal prerequisites for this module, but a basic level of knowledge of the ancient Greek world will be assumed. This might have been acquired via an A-level in Classical Civilisation or Ancient History, via a Classics Level 1 or 2 module at Leeds (e.g. CLAS1300 Greek World, CLAS1610 After Troy, CLAS2700 Homer’s Iliad), or via private study. Students unsure about the suitability of their prior experience should consult the module leader before enrolling.

This module is mutually exclusive with

CLAS2680

Greek Art and Society

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module is suitable for Level 3 students with at least a basic knowledge of the Greek world. It aims to introduce the student to Greek art of the archaic and classical periods (c.800-330 BC), covering vase-painting, free-standing and architectural sculpture. Technical and stylistic developments are outlined, but the emphasis of the module is on placing the works of art in their social and cultural context.

Objectives

On successful completion of this module, students are expected to be able to:
- discuss, both orally and in writing, the development of Greek art over the archaic and classical periods;
- identify and analyse individual examples of Greek vase-painting and sculpture, both free-standing and architectural;
- relate individual works of art to their social-historical context;
- discuss the role of the artist in Greek society;
- assess the significance of visual imagery for our understanding of Greek society.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- demonstrate a coherent and detailed understanding of the concepts, information and techniques which are standard features of Greek art;
- appreciate and employ a variety of methods of enquiry in Greek art history, and critically evaluate the appropriateness of different methods;
- describe and comment on particular aspects of current research, appreciating the uncertainty, ambiguity and limitations of knowledge in the sub-discipline;
- highly effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis relating to Greek art in a variety of forms;
- show an advanced knowledge of Greek art history, including an appreciation of the place of artists and their work in the Greek world, and the significance of visual imagery for our understanding of Greek society.

Skills outcomes
In addition to broader/transferable skills, students will have had the opportunity to acquire the following subject-specific skills:

- ability to identify the shapes and decorative techniques of Greek pottery of different periods/places;
- ability to identify Greek sculpture, both free-standing and architectural, of different periods/places;
- ability to analyse the different types of visual narrative presented by Greek art;
- ability to assess the social significance of individual examples of Greek art.

Syllabus

This module aims to introduce the student to Greek art from the Geometric to the late classical period. Technical and stylistic developments in vase-painting, free-standing and architectural sculpture are outlined, but the emphasis of the module is on placing the works of art in their social and cultural context. Lectures follow a roughly chronological progression. In the first half of the module we cover the archaic period, looking at vase-painting from the emergence of figure scenes in the eighth century BC, through the developments of Attic black-figure and early red-figure, alongside developments in free-standing and architectural sculpture, from the earliest stylised figures of the late seventh and sixth centuries BC to the beginnings of naturalism in the early fifth. In the second half of the module we cover the classical period, looking at the red-figure vase-painting of later fifth-century Athens and fourth-century South Italy, alongside fifth- and fourth-century developments in free-standing sculpture, as well as the architectural sculpture of such well known buildings as the temple of Zeus at Olympia and the Pathenon at Athens. We conclude with three thematic lectures, on the development of monumental painting, funerary art and portraiture over both the archaic and classical periods. Fortnightly seminars will allow us to discuss in more depth issues such as techniques for the visual expression of narrative, the meanings of free-standing sculpture, and the transhistorical significance of the Parthenon Marbles. Optional additional sessions will make use of Leeds City Museum’s Ancient World gallery and the University’s own small collection of Greek antiquities.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	20	1.00	20.00
Seminar	5	1.00	5.00
Private study hours			175.00
Total Contact hours			25.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Lectures and seminars provide a total of 25 hours contact time, with 2 hours of optional sessions. In addition, students are expected to do 175 hours of private study as follows:
- 3 hours of study per lecture (= 60): this time would typically be divided between reading of books and articles, pursuing of online resources, and note-taking.
- *2 extra hours reading if not attending optional museum/University-collection sessions.
- 3 hours preparation/follow-up for each seminar (= 15 hours).
- 68 hours planning, research and writing for the coursework essay.
- 35 hours revision for the end-of-semester exam.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored via participation in seminars.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,500 to 3,000 word essay	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Online Time-Limited assessment	48 hr 00 mins	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 06/07/2021 16:18:15

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