The Art of Divergence in Ancient Egypt (PGT) CLASSIC5107

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Humanities
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

This course sets out the governing principles of ancient Egyptian art, most of which developed alongside the centralised control of kingship in the 4th millennium BCE and stayed constant until the end of pharaonic history. However, its focus is on diachronic case studies where these principles are utterly violated. Examples of divergent art range from the display of 'imperfect' bodies through curtailment or the highlighting of features that are usually concealed, to deliberate deviations to show 'otherness'.

Timetable

10 x 1 hour lectures (first and last delivered f-2-f; others asynchronous)

10 x seminars exploring case studies of divergent art (possibly one handling session in Kelvinhall).

Requirements of Entry

Standard entry to Masters at College level.

Excluded Courses

CLASSIC4092 Art of Divergence in Ancient Egypt

Co-requisites

None.

Assessment

Critical review of a key secondary source, 1500 words - 20%

Oral presentation to be recorded in class OR Poster to be presented in class, 1500 words - 30%

Set Exercise - collaborative wiki: critical analysis of 3 primary sources and creation of debate, 3000 words - 50%

Course Aims

This course aims to:

■ Introduce students to the underpinning principles of Egyptian art

■ Explore both the characteristics that set certain artworks outside the established 'norm'

■ Discuss the possible reasons behind such deviations and reflect on the effects they might have had

■ Develop skills in critical analysis of both primary material in the form of artworks through time, and secondary sources that engage with those works

■ Develop skills in working both independently and collaboratively within a group.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Identify the characteristic aspects of conventional Egyptian art and contrast these with the defining features of 'deviant' art

■ Contextualise key case studies culturally and chronologically within Egyptian history and discuss them against possible historical influences

■ Critically analyse both primary and secondary sources relating to case studies discussed in class

■ Reflect on and present either visually (through a poster) or orally (through a recorded presentation) the cultural impacts of artworks that deviated from the norm

■ Work collaboratively within a group to formulate and present ideas, and to respond to the ideas of others.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.