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ARTD 3014/ARTD 7015G: Across Byzantium: Arts and Architectures of Empire: Syllabus

Syllabus

Course Information

Across Byzantium: Arts and Architectures of Empire

Professor Carroll

anna.carroll@brooklyn.cuny.edu

Tuesdays/Thursdays 3:40-4:55

Office Hours: Tuesdays 2:30-3:30 via Zoom, or by appointment

Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to identify major motifs of Byzantine art and recognize their relationship to Roman artistic precedents.
  2. Students will gain familiarity with the Byzantine empire, including geography and major historical events.
  3. Students will use critical thinking to argue for how art and architecture of the Byzantine Empire was affected by historical context, such as cross-cultural contact and major events like the Iconoclastic Controversies.
  4. Students will practice public speaking, using critical thinking skills to articulate and defend an argument in a presentation.
  5. Students will develop a thesis around a selected topic relating to Byzantine art, and support that thesis with visual and historical evidence in a final research paper.

Course Requirements

Class Format

This class will meet synchronously over Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:40-4:55PM. Students are expected to log on every Tuesday and Thursday. Course materials and assignments will be available on our class website: https://libguides.brooklyn.cuny.edu/acrossbyzantium. The syllabus, all readings, and descriptions of assignments can be found on the class website. All assignments should be turned in by email. Within 24 hours of submitting an assignment you will receive an email from me to confirm that your assignment has been received. If you do not receive this confirmation within 24 hours, please resubmit your assignment.

Requirements (Undergraduate)

  • Please review the course schedule for due dates. You can find a description of each assignment on the course website under assignments. All assignments must be completed to pass the class. Not submitting an assignment will result in an automatic zero for that assignment.

  • Participation (5%): With participation, it is quality over quantity; good participation means listening to your fellow classmates, asking questions, and contributing to the discussion with comments and ideas.
    • A note on attendance: The expectation is that students will attend every class. Should you ever need to miss class, please email me in advance whenever possible. Though attendance will not be graded, students who attend class consistently do better on assignments and have a higher chance of succeeding in the course.
  • 4 short quizzes (20%, 5% each)
  • Iconoclasm Presentation (15%)
  • Midterm Exam (15%)
  • Research Paper (35%)
    • Outline (5%)
    • Draft 1 and Peer Edit (10%)
    • Final Paper and Optional Final Paper Revisions (20%)
  • Final Exam (15%)

Requirements (Graduate)

Please review the course schedule for due dates. You can find a description of each assignment on the course website under assignments. All assignments must be completed to pass the class. Not submitting an assignment will result in an automatic zero for that assignment.

  • Participation (5%): With participation, it is quality over quantity; good participation means listening to your fellow classmates, asking questions, and contributing to the discussion with comments and ideas.
    • A note on attendance: The expectation is that students will attend every class. Should you ever need to miss class, please email me in advance whenever possible. Though attendance will not be graded, students who attend class consistently do better on assignments and have a higher chance of succeeding in the course.
  • 4 short quizzes (20%, 5% each)
  • Iconoclasm Presentation (15%)
  • Midterm Exam (10%)
  • Research Paper (45%)
    • Outline (5%)
    • Draft 1 and Peer Edit (10%)
    • Final Paper and Optional Final Paper Revisions (30%)
  • Final Exam (10%)

Grading

Grades

 

A+ 97-100

A 93-96

A- 90-92 

B+ 87-89                 

B 83-86

B- 80-82 

C+ 77-79

C 73-76 

C- 70-72

D+ 67-69    

F 0-59, or plagiarism

Course Policies

CLASS POLICIES

Late Work and Make Up Work Policy: Generally, I do not accept late work nor do I offer make up assignments. If there are extenuating circumstances, please email me as soon as possible to discuss an extension. Emergencies happen and advance notice is not always possible, so please be in touch as soon as you can be regarding any missed/late assignments. This includes technology issues; no student will be penalized for an assignment that was not turned in due to a technology issue, such as an email not going through or internet service being down.

Plagiarism Statement, according to Brooklyn College:

The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for policy implementation can be found at www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member MUST report the violation. Students should be aware that faculty may use plagiarism detection software.

Plagiarism will NOT be tolerated in this class, and any instance of plagiarism will result in a 0% for the course. Please come to office hours or make an appointment if you have any questions about plagiarism or need help citing sources.

Online Code of Conduct: It is extremely important that the online classroom be a safe and respectful environment. To that end, there are a few expectations for behavior in all virtual learning spaces, including but not limited to Zoom meetings. There should be no cursing in any of these spaces. When responding to a classmate, please do so respectfully, even when disagreeing. For example, calling someone else’s idea “stupid,” is against our code of conduct. When disagreeing, offer evidence or ask questions in a collegial way that encourages further discussion, rather than invalidating a classmate’s ideas. Should there ever be an issue, please feel free to contact me. On Zoom, you are encouraged but not required to have your camera on. Please mute yourself when you are not speaking. Zoom sessions will not be recorded as this is a privacy issue.

 Disability Policy, as per Brooklyn College:

The Center for Student Disability Services (CSDS) is currently working remotely. In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be registered with CSDS. Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability are invited to schedule an interview by calling (718) 951-5538 or emailing testingcsds@brooklyn.cuny.edu. If you have already registered with CSDS, email Josephine.Patterson@brooklyn.cuny.edu or testingcsds@brooklyn.cuny.edu to ensure the accommodation email is sent to your professor.

Student Bereavement Policy: Students who experience the death of a loved one must contact the Division of Student Affairs, 2113 Boylan Hall, if they wish to implement either the Standard Bereavement Procedure or the Leave of Absence Bereavement Procedure. The Division of Student Affairs has the right to request a document that verifies the death (e.g., a funeral program or death notice).

Typically, this death involves that of a family member, in parallel to the bereavement policy for faculty and staff. However, it is up to the discretion of the Division of Student Affairs to determine if a death outside of the immediate family warrants implementation of the student bereavement policy.

http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/about/initiatives/policies/bereavement.php

Nonattendance because of religious beliefs: According to New York State Education Law, students will not be penalized for missing class because of religious beliefs. Please see the Undergraduate Bulletin for more information.

A Note on Technology: I expect there will be technology issues throughout the semester; if you can’t access something or are having issues with internet access, please email me to let me know as soon as possible.

Brooklyn College has made a number of resources available for students during the ongoing pandemic. These can be found at: https://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/about/offices/studentaffairs/health-wellness/coronavirus/student-resources.php

If you have concerns or issues that arise during the semester due to the pandemic as regards assignments, class participation, etc…, please reach out to me.

PLEASE NOTE:  I reserve the right to change this syllabus throughout the semester. Please check the course website for updates.

IMPORTANT DATES

Quiz 1: 9/14

Quiz 2: 9/21

Quiz 3: 9/30

Quiz 4: 11/4

Midterm: 10/12 

Iconoclasm Presentations: 10/26

Paper Outline Due: 10/28

Paper Draft Due: 11/11

Extra Credit Due: 11/16

Paper Writing Workshop: 11/18

Final Paper Due: 12/7

Final Paper Revisions Due: 12/21

Final Exam: 12/16

Schedule

Course Schedule

Module 1: Early Christian Art

Thursday 8/26: Introduction to Early Christianity and Byzantium

Readings due before class:

  1. Review syllabus

Major Assignments due: none

Tuesday 8/31: The Earliest Christian Art

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://smarthistory.org/early-christianity-an-introduction/
  2. https://smarthistory.org/the-good-shepherd-in-early-christianity/
  3. http://media.artgallery.yale.edu/duraeuropos/dura.html (explore website; especially the historical background section)

Major Assignments due: none

Thursday 9/2: Constantine the Great 1

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/byza/hd_byza.htm
  2. https://smarthistory.org/the-colossus-of-constantine/

Major assignments due: none

Tuesday 9/7: NO CLASS

Thursday 9/9: Christianity and Roman Elites

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://smarthistory.org/symmachi-panel/
  2. https://smarthistory.org/sarcophagus-of-junius-bassus/

Major assignments due: none

Tuesday 9/14: Constantine the Great 2

Read/Watch before class:

  1. “Constantine, Emperor and Christian Patron,” in A History of Roman Art (pages 291-306)

Major assignments due:

  1. Quiz 1 in Class

Thursday 9/16: NO CLASS

Module 2: From Rome to Constantinople and Back Again

Tuesday 9/21: Early Christian Architecture

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://smarthistory.org/ancient-and-byzantine-mosaic-materials/
  2. https://smarthistory.org/early-christian-art-and-architecture-after-constantine/

Major assignments due:

  1. Quiz 2 in class

Thursday 9/23:  Constantinople

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Okph9wt8I0A&t=318s
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFXiLbnQhgQ
  3. https://smarthistory.org/periods-of-the-byzantine-empire/

Major assignments due: none

Tuesday 9/28: Gods vs Emperors

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://smarthistory.org/barberini-ivory/
  2. https://smarthistory.org/medieval-manuscripts/

Major assignments due: none

Thursday 9/30: The Age of Justinian

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/just/hd_just.htm
  2. https://smarthistory.org/hagia-sophia-istanbul/
  3. Procopius’ Buildings, page 11 (from “But the Emperor Justinian built not long afterwards…” -17 (up to “a structure of masonry”

https://archive.org/details/procopius00proc_0/page/n7/mode/2up

Major assignments due:

  1. Quiz 3 in class

Tuesday 10/5: The Age of Justinian and Theodora

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://smarthistory.org/theodora-rhetoric/
  2. https://smarthistory.org/san-vitale/

Major assignments due: none

Thursday 10/7: Islam and the Arts of Byzantium Part 1

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://www.wmf.org/project/qusayr-amra (explore images)
  2. https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2012/byzantium-and-islam/blog/where-in-the-world/posts/qusayr-amra

Major assignments due: none

Tuesday 10/12: MIDTERM EXAM IN CLASS

Module 3: Iconoclasm

Thursday 10/14: Introduction to Icons and Iconoclasm

Read/watch before class:

  1. Brubaker, Inventing Byzantine Iconoclasm, “Introduction” and “Background” (pages 1-21)
  2. St. John of Damascus, Three Treatises on the Divine Images, Treatise III, paragraph 2

Major assignments due: none

Tuesday 10/19: Forms of Iconoclasm and Presentation Prep

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://smarthistory.org/architecture-during-iconoclasm/
  2. Review St. John of Damascus text

Major assignments due: none

Thursday 10/21: The Triumph of Orthodoxy and Presentation Prep

Read/watch before class: none (USE THIS TIME TO WORK ON YOUR PRESENTATIONS)

Major assignments due: none

Tuesday 10/26: Iconoclasm Presentations

Read/watch before class: none

Major assignments due:

  1. Icon presentations

Module 4: An Art “Market”

Thursday 10/28: Relics and Pilgrimage

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1166/pilgrimage-in-the-byzantine-empire/
  2. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/dbyz/hd_dbyz.htm

Major assignments due:

  1. Final Paper outline due by email

Tuesday 11/2: Secular Art in a Christian Empire?

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/nuby/hd_nuby.htm
  2. https://smarthistory.org/middle-byzantine-secular-art/

Major assignments due: none

Thursday 11/4: Art and Diplomacy Part 1

Read/watch before class:

1.   https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/coin/hd_coin.htm

2.   Byzantium and Islam Age of Transition, pages 124-135

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/Byzantium_and_Islam_Age_of_Transition

Major assignments due:

  1. Quiz 4 in class

Tuesday 11/9: Art and Diplomacy Part 2

Read/Watch before class:

  1. Byzantium and Islam Age of Transition, pages 148-149

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/metpublications/Byzantium_and_Islam_Age_of_Transition

Major assignments due: none

Module 5: The Fall… Rise… and Fall of Constantinople

Thursday 11/11: The 4th Crusade

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://smarthistory.org/byzantine-art-and-the-fourth-crusade/
  2. https://smarthistory.org/architecture-and-the-fourth-crusade/

Major assignments due:

  1. Email paper draft to your group in preparation for the paper writing workshop. Be sure to cc Prof. Carroll on these emails.

Tuesday 11/16: Byzantium and Venice

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://smarthistory.org/saint-marks-basilica-venice/
  2. https://smarthistory.org/horses-san-marco-2/
  3. https://smarthistory.org/venice-san-marco-mosaic/

Major assignments due: 

          1. Extra credit due by email

Thursday 11/18: Paper Writing Workshop

Read/watch before class:

  1. Review the paper editing rubric (before editing your classmates’ papers)

Major assignments due:

  1. Read your group members’ papers and come to class prepared with feedback for each member of your group

Tuesday 11/23: Norman Sicily

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://smarthistory.org/norman-sicily/
  2. https://smarthistory.org/cappella-palatina/

Major assignments due: none

Thursday 11/25: NO CLASS

Tuesday 11/30: Late Byzantine Art

Read/watch before class:

1. https://smarthistory.org/picturing-salvation/

2. https://smarthistory.org/deesis-christ-with-the-virgin-mary-and-john-the-baptist-hagia-sophia-istanbul/

Major assignments due: none

Thursday 12/2: The Ottoman Empire

Read/watch before class:

  1. https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cnst/hd_cnst.htm
  2. https://smarthistory.org/hagia-sophia-as-a-mosque/

Major assignments due:

  1. None

Tuesday 12/7: Byzantium Today

Read/watch before class:

  1. None

Major assignments due:

1. Final paper due

Module 6: End of Semester Wrap Up

Thursday 12/9: Final Exam Review

Read/watch before class:

  1. Review study tips PDF

Major assignments due: none

Tuesday 12/14: OPTIONAL Final Exam Review

Read/watch before class: none

Major assignments due:

Thursday 12/16: FINAL EXAM IN CLASS 3:30-5:30

Tuesday 12/21: Last day of semester (no class)

1. Final paper revisions due