FINA-H 235 Religion in Literature, Music, Art & Performance: Monks, Nuns and Medieval Art

Instructor: Diane Reilly

Lecture: Tuesday, Thursday 11:15am-12:30pm

Fall 2012

Course Description:

Since the foundation of the Christian Church, when men and women first sought to live apart from popular society and devote their lives entirely to religion, monks and nuns have influenced heavily the development of Medieval art and architecture. Early monks and nuns lived as hermits in the mountains, forests and deserts. From the second or third centuries C.E., however, they gathered together to live communally in organized monasteries. Like their predecessors, the hermits, these later monks and nuns claimed to live in abject poverty, but although they owned no personal possessions they often lived in communal splendor inside wealthy and well-decorated houses. Supplied with lavish churches, gleaming metalwork, sumptuous tapestries and vestments and colorful manuscripts, monasteries became the treasure houses of Europe and the targets of condemnation, arson and looting.

What are the Main Assignments?

1. A book or article review, length: 500 words.

2. A comparison of two monastic Rules, length: 500 words.

3. A slide exam on art and architecture of the monastic orders.

4. An in-class presentation on monastic art or architecture, 10 to 15 minutes in length.

5. A final research paper, 2000 words in length.

Monks, Nuns and Medieval Art Resources

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