93018 - History of Muslim Art and Archaeology (1) (LM)

Course contents

THE COURSE WILL TAKE PLACE FROM THE 2nd OF FEBRUARY TO THE 4th OF MARCH 2021

 

The course explores 15 themes that are deemed relevant for the development of Islamic material and visual culture. Starting with the late antique roots of early Islam, the course discusses a series of turning points that help explaining the idiosincrasies of Islamic art and archaeology before the rise of the three early modern empires. The course includes, if the circumstances allow it, the vist to Civic Museum of Medieval Art in Bologna or to the International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza.

 

1. Features of late antique archaeology in the Eastern Mediterranean
2. Early Islamic inscriptions and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem
3. The hypostyle hall and the early mosques
4. Early Islamic throne halls between Syria and Iraq
5. Early islamic palatial decoration
6. The bevelled style and the 9th century turning point
7. Lustre ceramic technique and trade with China
8. Islamic calligraphy and early islamic Qurans
9. The domed hall and the Seljuk mosques in Iran
10. Art and architecture of Fatimid North Africa and Egypt
11. Art and architecture in al-Andalus
12. Visit to the museum (Civic Museum of Medieval Art in Bologna or International Museum of Ceramics in Faenza)
13. Medieval Islamic metalworks / Islamic ceramics (depending on which museum has been visited)
14. Seljuks from Anatolia and the mamluks in Egypt
15. Monuments and book painting in the Ilkhanid and Timurid period

Readings/Bibliography

Grabar, Oleg and Ettinghausen, Richard, Islamic art and architecture, 650-1250, New Haven [Conn.]: Yale University Press, 2001:

Capitolo 1, pp. 3-6;

Capitolo 2, pp. 10-79;

Capitolo 3, pp. 83-101;

Capitolo 4, pp. 105-130;

Capitolo 5, pp. 139-163;

Capitolo 6, pp. 187-213; 234-265.

Blair, Sheila and Bloom, Jonathan, The art and architecture of Islam 1250-1800, New Haven [Conn.]: Yale University Press, 1994:

Capitolo 2, pp. 5-15;

Capitolo 3, pp. 21-35;

Capitolo 4, pp. 37-50;

Capitolo 5, pp. 55-69;

Capitolo 6, pp. 70-84;

Capitolo 8, pp. 97-103;

Capitolo 9, pp. 114-131;

Markus Hattstein e Peter Delius (eds.), Islam. Arte e architettura, Konemann:

Capitoli: "Siria e Palestina", "Iraq, Iran ed Egitto"; Tunisia ed Ehitto"; "Siria, Palestina ed Egitto"; "Spagna e Marocco"; "Asia centrale e Asia minore"; "I mongoli islamizzati"; "Asia centrale".

 

Bibliography for those students who do not attend the course:

Grabar, Oleg and Ettinghausen, Richard, Islamic art and architecture, 650-1250, New Haven [Conn.]: Yale University Press, 2001: Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Blair, Sheila and Bloom, Jonathan, The art and architecture of Islam 1250-1800, New Haven [Conn.]: Yale University Press, 1994: Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9.

Markus Hattstein e Peter Delius (eds.), Islam. Arte e architettura, Konemann.

Teaching methods

Each seminar is subdivided into two sections. A first part consists of a collective discussion on the theme of the day and a second part consists of a frontal lecture offered by the instructor.

The course also includes one visit to one collection of Islamic art located in the area of Bologna.

Assessment methods

Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

The final mark consists of the average between the assessment of the written essay and the assessment of the final oral exam.

The essay consists of a written piece of around 3000 words on a theme decided together with the professor.

With regard to the written essay, students will be evaluated assessing their skills in:

• Structuring the written essay according to the theme;
• Formulating an accurate formal analysis of the object/building focus of the written essay;
• Reviewing the existing literature;
• Outlining the historical and artistic context of the assigned object/building;
• Producing a written essay provided with high-quality images and a consistent and accurate footnoting and bibliography.

The oral exam consists of an analysis of two objects/buildings discussed during the course and shown in slides during the exam and of a question regarding one of the themes discussed during the course.

In the oral exam the student will be assessed according to the:

• Capacity of analysis developed by the student also at the light of the written essay;
• Command of the specific language of the subject;
• Ability in summarizing the most important topics of the subject.

29-30 e lode: a written essay that successfully meets all the above-mentioned five criteria together with the acquisition by the student of an excellent command of the technical language of the subject and an all-around knowledge of the themes discussed during the oral exam.

25-28: a written essay that successfully meets at least four of the above-mentioned criteria together with the use of a rather correct technical language and an accurate exposition of the subject during the oral exam.

21-24: a written essay that successfully meets at least three of the above mentioned criteria together with some inadequacies in the use of the technical language and a superficial exposition of the subject during the oral exam.

18-20: a written essay that meets at least three of the above mentioned criteria together with a patchy and poor exposition of the subject during the oral exam or a written essay that meets less than three among the above mentioned criteria together with a very basic exposition of the subject during the oral exam.

Failure: a written essay that meets less than three among the above mentioned criteria together with a patchy and poor exposition of the subject during the oral exam.

Contents of the exam for those students who do not attend the course:

Contents of the exam for those students who do not attend the course:

1) Discussion of an essay (of at least 5000 words) devoted to a topic related to Islamic art.

2) Two questions on Topics related to the history of Islamic art.

Details:

1) The student selects a theme and sends an outline of the essay together with a preliminary bibliography to the professor by email. Once the theme is approved, the student writes the essay and sends it to the professor at least one week before the date of the exam.

2) to prepare the two questions related to the history of Islamic art, the student is invited to read the bibliography listed in the above section "readings/bibliography"

Teaching tools

All seminar presentations and readings will be made available through the e-learning platform (IOL).

Office hours

See the website of Mattia Guidetti