Summer 2016/ Orvieto, Italy

TC519

Dyrness

TC519: TOPICS IN THEOLOGY AND ART: MEDIEVAL ART AND THEOLOGY (4 units: 160 hours). William Dyrness with Chris Slatoff.

DESCRIPTION: This course studies selected texts and artistic programs from the late medieval period, 1300–1500. Offered in Orvieto, Italy, it will feature in-depth study of Giotto’s “Life of St Francis” in the Upper Church of San Francesco in Assisi, Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s “Good Government and Bad Government” in the Palazzo Pubblico of Siena, and Signorelli’s fresco program in the Capella Nuova in Orvieto in the context of the theological and worship life of the late middle ages and early renaissance. Chris Slatoff will lecture on the sculpture program of Lorenzo Maitani, Nicholas Pisano and lead the studio portion.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Through reading, discussion, and visits students will (1) understand the theological and historical context of the medieval church, (2) experience the liturgical practices that emerged in that setting, and (3) be able to appreciate the artistic products that resulted from this setting.

COURSE FORMAT: The course meets as a two-week intensive in Orvieto, Italy and will include 40 instructional hours of lecture and discussion of readings that seek to give students a basic understanding of biblical, historical, and theological issues. Lectures will prepare students for visits to the Orvieto Cathedral, Siena Town Hall, and St Francis’ Church in Assisi, in order to enable them to understand art as theological practice in the context of medieval thought. Studio experience in artmaking and spirituality will be taught by Chris Slatoff. This course is taught in conjunction with IS501: Practice of Worship and Prayer in which students must also be enrolled as either a credit student or an auditor.

REQUIRED READING: 682 pages of reading required.

Augustine. On Christian Doctrine/Teaching. Oxford University Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0199540631, Pub. Price $12.95 [168 pages assigned].

Bonaventure. The Soul’s Journey to God/Journey of the Mind to God. Hacket, 1993.ISBN: 978-0872202009, Pub. Price $11.00 [40 pages assigned].

Bonaventure. Life of St. Francis. HarperOne, 2009. ISBN 978-0060576523, Pub. Price $11.99 [250 pages assigned].

Course reader: Quentin Skinner, G. R. Evans, Hayden MacGinnes, Pseudo-Dionysius, et al. [224 pages assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Baxandall, Michael. Painting and Experience in 15th Century Italy. 2nd ed. Oxford UP, 1988.

Burke, Peter. Culture and Society in Renaissance Italy: 1420-1540. B. T. Batsford, 1972.

Canali, Ferruccio. The Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi. Bonechi, 1954.

Copleston, F. C. Medieval Philosophy. Harper, 1952 (Dover ed., 2001).

Gilbert, C. How Fra Angelico and Luca Signorelli Saw the End of the World. Penn. State Univ. Press, 2003.

Lansing, Carol. Power and Purity: Cathar Heresy in Medieval Italy. Oxford UP, 1998.

McLellan, Dugald. Signorelli’s Orvieto Frescos. Quattroemme, 1998.

Meltzoff, Stanley. Botticelli, Signorelli and Savanarola. Leo S. Olschki, 1987.

Riess, Jonathan. The Renaissance Anti-Christ: Luca Signorelli’s Orvieto Frescos. Princeton UP, 1995.

Welch, Evelyn. Art and Society in Italy, 1350-1500. Oxford University Press, 1997.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 682 pp. of required reading [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1 and 3] [45 hours].

2. Two smaller papers (6-8 pp.) will be reflection papers on the aesthetic and liturgical experiences of the course and on the course readings, respectively (each 30% of the grade, 60% total). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-3] [30 hours].

3. A final project/paper that could be an artistic/dramatic project or a more traditional research paper (12-15 pages). Online consultation will follow the class. (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-3] [45 hours].

4. Class Lectures, guided tour-lectures and museum visits in Orvieto, Siena and Assisi [40 hours].

PREREQUISITES: Participation in Summer Program in Orvieto, Italy (June 17-30). Additional information may be obtained at the following link: http://www.brehmcenter.com/education/immersion_courses/orvieto/orvieto-for-students

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets C2 or TH5 requirements. Meets the MACL in Integrative Studies requirement for an interdisciplinary course (IDPL).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.