Description:

This course will acquaint students with the arts and ideas of world civilizations from the prehistoric period to the beginning of the Italian Renaissance. The course will examine the aesthetic elements that mark the styles of major periods in two-dimensional, three-dimensional and architectural works. Particular attention will be paid to the relationship between artistic elements and their various cultural and historical contexts. 3 hrs./wk.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor’s course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Prerequisites: NONE

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the historical development of art and artifacts of selected Western civilizations from the Prehistoric to the Early Italian Renaissance.
2. Identify and describe the artistic, cultural and historical importance of selected works of art within their cultures.
3. Recognize and describe the aesthetic elements which mark selected periods and artists.
4. Discuss ways in which cultural values are communicated through works of art.
5. Recognize and describe the function and stylistic elements of selected works of art.
6. Define and demonstrate use of the terminology, classifications and methods used in the study of art history.
7. Explain the interdisciplinary role of art within the humanities and its relationship to current cultural issues.
8. Discover the implications of the course material for understanding oneself.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Prehistoric Art in Europe
   A. Paleolithic period
      1. Identify and describe various examples of small sculpture and
cave paintings.
      2. Compare various theories explaining the creation of Paleolithic
art.
   B. Neolithic period
      1. Identify and describe significant artifacts from the Neolithic
period including rock-shelter art, architecture, sculpture and ceramics.
      2. Describe the issues involved in the production and social use of
Neolithic art and architecture.

II. Art of the Ancient Near East
   A. Architecture
      1. Identify and describe the similarities, differences, uses and
materials used in ziggarats, palaces and city gates.
      2. List the characteristics involved in the decoration of these
structures.
   B. Describe and differentiate between sculpture used for religious
purposes and that created for political use.

III. Art of Ancient Egypt
   A. The Old Kingdom
      1. Explain ways in which religious and political factors influence
painting, sculpture and architecture.
      2. Identify and describe the canon of proportions used to represent
the human figure in both paintings and sculpture.
      3. Discuss the evolution of funerary architecture, its various uses
and types of decoration.
   B. The Middle Kingdom
      1. Discern the reasons for changes in funerary architecture.
      2. Identify the new stylistic characteristics of Middle Kingdom
sculpture and painting.
      3. Explain the Egyptian concept of town planning.
   C. The New Kingdom
      1. Identify and describe the great temple complexes.
      2. Evaluate the impact of the Pharaoh Akhenaten and the Amarna
style.

IV. Aegean Art
   A. Describe the idol figures from the Cycladic Islands and discuss the
various theories about their meaning.
   B. Crete and the Minoan Civilization
      1. Identify and evaluate the secular palace architecture.
      2. Describe and evaluate various theories about various types of
sculpture.
      3. Describe various significant artifacts including metalwork,
ceramics and wall paintings.
   C. Mainland Greece and the Mycenaean Civilization
      1. Compare and contrast the architectural style with that of the
Minoans.
      2. Identify and describe the stylistic characteristics of
significant artifacts including sculpture and metalwork.

V. Art of Ancient Greece
   A. Archaic Period
      1. Discuss the development of democratic city-states and the concept
that “man is the measure of all things.”
      2. Summarize the Greeks’ religious beliefs and distinguish between
the major deities.
      3. Identify and describe the three Greek architectural orders.
      4. Describe the characteristics and uses of temples including
architectural sculpture.
      5. Identify and describe freestanding sculpture and evaluate the
theories about its use.
      6. Compare and contrast the significant Greek vase shapes and styles
of painted decoration.
   B. Classical Period
      1. Describe the evolution and development of both architectural
sculpture and freestanding sculpture.
      2. Discuss the stylistic development in vase painting.
      3. Identify, describe and evaluate the architecture of Athens.
      4. Describe and identify stela sculpture.
   C. Hellenistic Period
      1. Identify and describe the characteristics of Greek theaters.
      2. Compare and contrast both freestanding and architectural
sculpture with the two earlier stylistic periods.
      3. Identify unfamiliar examples of architecture, sculpture and
painting.
      4. Summarize the Greek influence on art and architecture created
presently.

VI. Etruscan Art
   A. Compare and contrast an Etruscan city with its Greek counterpart.
   B. Describe Etruscan temples and their decoration.
   C. Identify and compare tombs with those of earlier cultures.
   D. Evaluate the significance of artifacts made of bronze.

VII. Roman Art
   A. The Republic and beginning of the Empire
      1. Compare and contrast government, religious and domestic
architecture in both Rome and the provinces and identify significant
examples.
      2. Identify the stylistic characteristics of Republican sculpture
and compare those with Augustan sculpture.
      3. Identify significant examples and distinguish between the various
styles of wall painting.
   B. The Empire
      1. Identify and describe the significance of major architecture in
Rome and throughout the Empire.
      2. Distinguish between Roman building techniques and materials with
those of earlier cultures.
      3. Identify significant examples and then compare and contrast
relief sculpture, portrait sculpture and architectural sculpture with the
Roman Republic and earlier cultures.
      4. Describe and identify examples of wall paintings and mosaics.
   C. The Late Empire
      1. Discuss ways in which the last architecture of the Empire
reflects the political changes within the Empire.
      2. Identify and describe the significant portrait sculpture and wall
paintings of the late period.
      3. Evaluate ways in which Roman art and architecture has influenced
Western aesthetics to the present era.

VIII. Early Christian Art
   A. Discuss the impact of Dura Europas on Early Judaism and Early
Christianity.
   B. Describe the major events in the iconography of the life of Jesus.
   C. Architecture 
      1. Identify and describe the characteristics of both basillican and
central plan Early Christian churches.
      2. Discuss the role of the church in the late Roman Empire.
   D. Identify and describe major examples of painting, sculpture and
mosaics.

IX. Byzantine Art
   A. Early Byzantine
      1. Discuss the role of the Emperor Justinian and the development of
Byzantine architecture both in Constantinople and in Ravenna.
      2. Describe the significance of pendentive construction.
      3. Compare and contrast wall paintings and mosaics with those of the
Early Christian style.
      4. Describe and discuss the role and significance of manuscript
illuminations.
   B. Late Byzantine
      1. Discern the significant differences between late architecture and
the architectural style of the early period.
      2. Compare and contrast the paintings, mosaics and manuscripts of
the late period with examples of both the early Byzantine style and Early
Christian.
      3. Discuss the role of painted icons in late Byzantine art.

X. Islamic Art
   A. Relate the life and teaching of the Prophet Mohammed to the
architecture and decoration common in Islamic art.
      1. Distinguish between the major architectural plans for mosques.
      2. Identify the characteristics and discuss the significance of
palace architecture.
      3. Evaluate the role of calligraphy in Islamic architectural
decoration and manuscript illumination.
   B. Describe the secular artifacts from Islamic culture including
textile arts, carpets and portable arts.
   C. Discuss the influence of Islamic culture on the architecture and
decorative arts of Western Europe during the Middle Ages.

XI. Early Medieval Art
   A. Migration Period
      1. Identify the artifacts created by the Vikings.
      2. Discuss the development of monasticism in Western Europe and the
role of the monasteries in creating artworks.
      3. Describe and compare Hiberno Saxon manuscript illumination and
sculpture with Early Christian examples.
   B. Carolingian Period
      1. Discuss the emergence of monumental architecture and how it
differs from Roman/Early Christian examples.
         a. Evaluate the development of the Westwork as a major component
of Christian architecture.
         b. Describe and identify the parts of a typical Medieval
monastery.
      2. Identify the significant examples of manuscript illumination.
   C. Ottonian Period
      1. Describe and identify significant examples of church
architecture.
      2. Summarize the emergence of large scale, freestanding sculpture.
      3. Describe important examples of book illustration.

XII. Romanesque Art
   A. France and Northern Spain
      1. Discuss the meaning of “Romanesque” and evaluate how the
phenomenon of Pilgrimage impacts architecture.
      2. Identify the characteristics of French and Northern Spanish
regional Romanesque architecture and architectural sculpture.
      3. Enumerate the stylistic characteristics of freestanding
sculpture, wall painting, and book illumination.
   B. Britain and Normandy
      1. Compare and contrast the architecture of Normandy and Norman
England with that of the Pilgrimage routes in France and Spain.
      2. Identify the important examples and stylistic characteristics of
manuscript illumination.
      3. Discuss the techniques and subject matter in creating textiles
and embroidery.
   C. Germany
      1. Discuss the regional differences found in German Romanesque
architecture.
      2. Identify significant examples of metalwork and book
illustrations.
   D. Italy
      1. Evaluate the important similarities and differences between
Italian Romanesque and Early Christian architecture.
      2. List the stylistic characteristics and building forms of Italian
Romanesque architecture and architectural sculpture.

XIII. Gothic Art
   A. French Gothic
      1. Discuss the emergence of the Gothic style in the Ile de France
and the reasons for the stylistic changes.
      2. Identify and explain the significance of the architectural
decoration and stained glass windows of Gothic cathedrals.
      3. Discuss the development of independent sculpture and identify
ways in which Gothic sculpture leads to the Renaissance.
      4. Identify the major artifacts from Gothic books.
   B. English Gothic
      1. Determine ways in which church architecture differs from that
created in France.
      2. Describe and distinguish the characteristics of castle
architecture.
   C. Determine the regional characteristics of Spanish Gothic
architecture.
   D. German Gothic
      1. List the regional characteristics of German Gothic architecture.
      2. Identify and describe major works of freestanding sculpture.
   E. Determine ways in which Italian Gothic architecture falls outside of
the mainstream of the Gothic style and ways in which it is similar.
   F. Proto-Renaissance
      1. Ascertain the importance of the outbreak of the Bubonic Plague on
Western Europe and its artistic development.
      2. Evaluate the evolution of relief and freestanding sculpture and
identify specific ways in which these works forecast the coming of the
Renaissance.
      3. Determine the role of Giotto and other fourteenth century Italian
painters in making significant breaks with the painting traditions and
techniques of the Middle Ages.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

Tests (50-70% of grade): A minimum of three hour exams will be given.

In addition, testing may include quizzes and a comprehensive final exam.

Writing Assignments (20-40% of grade): These may include response papers,
research assignments or daily/weekly exercises.

Individual Assignments/Class Participation/Attendance (5-15% of
grade)

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.