KUN2306E – Art and visual culture of the later Middle Ages
Course description
Course content
In this course, the art of the later Middle Ages from approximately 1300 to the 1530s will be studied from a perspective where the art works are seen as manifestations of the visual culture of the period.
Rather than approaching them as works of art in the conventional sense, the course will focus on the way the objects have made sense to their original beholders by virtue of the visual and material qualities that constitute their essential characteristics.
We will review medieval theories of vision, visuality and materiality, and discuss the perception, reception, and use of images in various cultic settings, i.e., from Norwegian stave churches to convents on the European continent, as well as in secular contexts. The discussions concern art works of various media, with some extra attention given to manuscripts, relics/reliquaries, and polychrome sculpture.
The course is taught as a combination of lectures and seminars, and these will take place either at campus or in museum collections.
Learning outcome
When you have completed this course, you:
- understand the concepts of vision and visuality as they were perceived in the Middle Ages, and you have learnt to apply this in the interpretation of medieval images.
- are trained in recognizing and analyzing the various dimensions of signification that medieval images has communicated to their beholders, not merely as illustrations of textual sources, but primarily as objects that carry meaning through their inherent visuality and/or materiality.
- have an understanding of how contemporary theoretical thinking related to visual culture and material culture is relevant to the study of medieval images.
- have improved your skills in oral and written academic English.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb..
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures..
Recommended previous knowledge
Some knowledge of Medieval art history, as in KUN1001 – Billedkunst og arkitektur fra antikken til renessansen or similar.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with KUN4306E – Art and visual culture of the later Middle Ages.
Teaching
The course is taught in 2 hour sessions twice a week, totaling 28 hours.
Following the seminars is highly recommended. We expect students to meet prepared for classes and to participate actively.
Mandatory activities:
1. Minimum 60% attendance is required for the lectures/seminars
2. Oral presentation, individual, topic to be assigned.
Examination
3-day home examination.
You submit your assignment in the digital examination system Inspera. Read about how to submit assignments in Inspera.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.