New Introductory Courses in History (200-0-22)
Topic
American Religious History from 1865 to the Great
Instructors
Robert A Orsi
847 4675175
Crowe Hall, 1860 Campus Drive, 4-141
Meeting Info
Lutkin Hall: Mon, Wed 12:30PM - 1:50PM
Overview of class
Judaic material artifacts have transcended their traditional cultic usage, have acquired new religious, political, and cultural significance, and have shaped visual aspects of modern Jewish life. Yet their origins, historical modifications, physical shape and metaphysical meaning, ritual function and artistic transformation still remain a mystery for the majority of those who are interested in Jewish culture broadly conceived. By exploring various artifacts from the library, museum, and archival depositories, this course connects the material world of modern Jews to Judaic antiquities, demonstrates deep metaphysical and political meaning of Jewish ritual artifacts, traces parallels between Judaic material objects and the material culture of the surrounding Christians, and emphasizes spiritual/textual underpinnings of the material world of the Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jews. Lectures and seminars are based on ample visual material which is made available through power-point presentations. These presentations draw from the pool of about 2,000 photographs exhibiting above-all Jewish museum artifacts made of textile, wood, paper, silver, copper, gold, glass, clay, porcelain, and stone.
Learning Objectives
Mastering ways to present Jewish artifacts as historically significant; learning how to trace Jewish artifacts to classical texts; familiarizing with the plethora of Jewish material culture objects; studying how to bring together philological, archeological, theological, architectural, artistic, and socio-political contexts to understand Jewish history in its material manifestations.
Evaluation Method
Three 2-page response papers analyzing Jewish artifacts (33 percent), active participation in seminar discussions (33 percent), and a take-home 11-page final paper (34 percent).
Class Materials (Required)
All materials, including the readings available in pdf and power-point presentations would be made available on CANVAS course website (directory FILES). For the class reading assignments, chose ONE to read and prepare or follow the instructor's advice.
Class Notes
Area of concentration: European
Class Attributes
Historical Studies Distro Area
Associated Classes
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-430: Thurs 9:00AM - 9:50AM
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-410: Thurs 10:00AM - 10:50AM
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-319: Thurs 1:00PM - 1:50PM
DIS - TBA: TBA
DIS - Parkes Hall 215: Fri 9:00AM - 9:50AM
DIS - Parkes Hall 222: Fri 1:00PM - 1:50PM
DIS - University Library 5746: Thurs 10:00AM - 10:50AM
DIS - University Library 3670: Thurs 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - Parkes Hall 212: Thurs 1:00PM - 1:50PM
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-410: Thurs 9:00AM - 9:50AM
DIS - University Library 5722: Thurs 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - University Library 3322: Thurs 1:00PM - 1:50PM
DIS - Parkes Hall 224: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM