Medieval Art: Byzantine (320-1-1)

Topic

Byzantine Art

Instructors

Christina E Normore

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-343: Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

While the Roman Empire disintegrated in the west, its traditions continued and evolved for centuries in the east under the auspices of the Byzantine Empire. This course examines the formation and development of Byzantine art from the foundation of Constantinople (now Istanbul) in the 4th century to the city's fall to Ottoman forces in 1453. Special attention will be given to the debates that redefined the nature of the religious image in the Iconoclast controversy, the use of images in Orthodox practice, the networks of cultural exchange and competition that linked the Byzantines to their Muslim and Christian neighbors and spread their artistic influence from the Italian Peninsula to Rus, and the modern political controversies that have entangled the Byzantine artistic legacy in Turkey and the Ukrainian war.

Class Materials (Required)

None

Class Notes

Please use the following link for Art History Waitlist information: https://arthistory.northwestern.edu/courses/2023-2024/waitlist.html

Class Attributes

Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Historical Studies Distro Area
Interdisciplinary Distro-rules apply
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area