syllabus2004

CLAS/FINE 5159:
Hellenistic Art and Archaeology

Prof. Diane A. Conlin
492-0153 (Classics)
Depts. of Classics and Art and Art History
Spring 2004
conlind@colorado.edu
TR 2:00-3:15

Required text available at UMC Book Store under Classics:
J. J. Pollitt, Art in the Hellenistic Age (Cambridge 1986) - We will be reading the entire text of this highly influential, advanced survey of art and architecture in the Hellenistic world.

Recommended text available through online bookstores:
R. R. R. Smith, Hellenistic Sculpture (New York 1991) - A copy of this book will be on reserve in Norlin for the required readings and as a resource for topic papers.

For this graduate seminar, grades will be based on two criteria:

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION (25%)

Students are required to attend class and participate in discussions. Two excused absences are permitted. Should a prolonged illness or other emergency arise, you must contact me as soon as possible. In a graduate seminar environment, discussion and debate are paramount. In order create lively and significant discussions, everyone must complete all assigned readings before class meetings. Be sure to read carefully and critically, recording your questions and opinions on paper for easy reference during class.

DISCUSSION TOPICS AND READING SCHEDULE FOR WEEKS 1 - 8

DISCUSSION TOPICS AND READING SCHEDULE FOR WEEKS 9 - 16

TOPIC PAPERS (75% total)

Each student must complete three 10-12 page papers that explore major topics in Hellenistic art and archaeology. Each paper is worth 25% of the final grade. All papers must be typed in 12-point font and double-spaced. References must be footnoted with full citations listed in a selected bibliography. I have selected topics to ensure both breadth and depth and they are listed with details below. The resources for these topics will be on reserve in the Norlin Library. In order to avoid inaccessibility of books on reserve, we will follow a system for scheduling research:

First, students will sign up for a topic with a maximum of three students for any topic unit. There are a total of five topics available for papers. Once you sign up for a topic, please do not ask to change it; some topics are more challenging and therefore the task more rewarding.

Second, books and articles will be checked out for a maximum of 72 hours each. Each student will be allowed a maximum of two books or articles for each check-out period. This should provide ample time to use the resources and allow each student opportunity to use all the resources. You will also find the Pollitt text and the on-line reradings very useful for these issues. In order to have the time to fully investigate all resources students should begin their research as soon as possible.

Paper 1: due in class on Thursday, March 4th
Paper 2: due in class on Thursday, April 1st
Paper 3: due in class on Thursday, April 29th

TOPICS FOR PAPERS:

Below are the five topics for papers in this seminar. I have listed focus questions under each topic that address several significant issues. Consider these questions when researching and writing your paper, but do not allow them to restrict your ideas or structure your text. The most influential texts for these topics in English are on reserve in Norlin. Feel free to investigate references to sources not on reserve but do not spend an inordinate amount of time researching external references. In your paper, be sure to refer to and illustrate (photocopies are fine) specific monuments or objects related to each topic. In order to save time and money, illustrate only those monuments or objects you feel are most pertinent to your paper. Each topic paper must included footnotes/endnotes and a selected bibliography.

	Portraiture and the Individual How do the surviving portraits in sculpture and on coins relate to Pollitt's notions of individualism and the scholarly mentality? Which historical, political, religious and philosophical factors may have affected Hellenistic portraiture? How did Alexander's images influence later royal iconography? What external (non-Greek) influences may have contributed to the development of Hellenistic portraiture?
	Hellenistic Architecture How do temples, tombs, palaces and other structures reflect contemporary ideas about the nature of divinity, death, power and civic organization? How well do Pollitt's labels of 'theatricality' and 'didatic tradition' apply to Hellenistic structures? What was the role of the Corinthian Order in Hellenistic Architecture? Which external traditions most influenced this stage in the development of Greek architecture?
	Regionalism and Stylistic Diversity How are regionalism and stylistic diversity expressed through art and architecture during this period? Which "cultures" appear most influential? What are some of the recent debates about Greek vs. non-Greek influences? How has the apparent diversity of subjects, contexts and styles affected traditional methods of art historical analysis for the Hellenistic period? You may select a specific region to examine (i.e. Egypt, Bactria, Italy, Syria, etc.) but you will need to find additional resources not on reserve in Norlin.
	Female Images in Hellenistic Art How do the many 'costumes' worn by women in Hellenistic art illustrate attitudes about female identities in the Hellenistic period? What roles do female images play in Hellenistic politics, religion, and civic identity? How does the 'Aphrodite series' illustrate Hellenistic expressions of eroticism and feminine power?
	Case Study: the Laocoon What is "Hellenistic" about the Laocoon? How do the post-classical histories of the Laocoon illustrate changing academic attitudes towards antiquity? How does the Laocoon, as a piece of sculpture, relate to the dichotomy between the creative original and the uninspired copy?

If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require accommodations, please let me know early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Disabilities Services Office in Willard 322 (phone 303-492-8671).