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MEMS 355 - The Miraculous and the Diabolical in Late Medieval and Early Modern Europe
Winter 2023, Section 001
Instruction Mode: Section 001 is  In Person (see other Sections below)
Subject: Medieval and Early Modern Studies (MEMS)
Department: LSA History
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 Details  Description  Schedule  Textbooks/Other Materials  Syllabi

Details

Credits:
3
Requirements & Distribution:
HU
Cost:
<50
Repeatability:
May not be repeated for credit.
Primary Instructor:
Holmes,Megan L
Start/End Date:
Full Term 1/4/23 - 4/18/23 (see other Sections below)
NOTE: Drop/Add deadlines are dependent on the class meeting dates and will differ for full term versus partial term offerings.
For information on drop/add deadlines, see the Office of the Registrar and search Registration Deadlines.

Description

In this course we will investigate 'supernatural' phenomena in the visual arts: divine acts, miracles, magic, and sorcery. We will be interested in how and why people in late medieval and early modern Europe distinguished between the 'supernatural' and the 'natural', as well as the extreme fluidity of these terms. We will investigate how certain 'supernatural' occurrences were considered to have been caused by God, saints, and holy men and women, while others were said to be the work of the devil, demons, sorcerers, witches, and tricksters. A variety of artistic media and genres will be studied: narrative paintings, prints, miraculous images, votive objects, relics and reliquaries, incantations, and prayers. We will also be interested in how conceptions about the miraculous and diabolical were applied to artists and to works of art: the 'divine' Michelangelo was compared to the supreme animator, God; figures of devils in paintings were defaced in order to prevent evil forces from acting through the images. Our inquiry will extend beyond the boundaries of Europe and consider modern day experiences for comparative purposes. There will be a mid-term exam, a final exam, two reading response papers, and a required 'creative project' that will not be graded.

Textbooks/Other Materials: Articles will be posted on Canvas

HISTART Distribution Requirements: Europe and the US, Medieval, Early Modern

Course Requirements:

  • 50% Two Reading Response papers (25% each; 4 pages each)
  • 25% midterm exam
  • 25% final exam
  • Attendance, submission of outlines for weekly reading, and creative ex-voto assignment all required

Intended Audience:

All students welcome, no prior art history necessary

Schedule

MEMS 355 - The Miraculous and the Diabolical in Late Medieval and Early Modern Europe
Schedule Listing
001 (LEC)
 In Person
25207
Closed
0
 
-
TuTh 2:30PM - 4:00PM180 TAP
1/4/23 - 4/18/23

Textbooks/Other Materials

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Syllabi

Syllabi are available to current LSA students. IMPORTANT: These syllabi are provided to give students a general idea about the courses, as offered by LSA departments and programs in prior academic terms. The syllabi do not necessarily reflect the assignments, sequence of course materials, and/or course expectations that the faculty and departments/programs have for these same courses in the current and/or future terms.

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