Middle Ages

When our journey to India concludes, we'll visit the era known as the MIDDLE AGES. We'll read chapters11,12,13, & 16 in our text.

Read Chapter ....
11: Pagans, Christians, and Jews: The Art of Late Antiquity for 11-5
16: Europe After the Fall of Rome for 11-8
12: Rome in the East: The Art of Byzantium for 11-9
13: In Praise of Allah: The Art of the Islamic World for 11-13

A Slide Based test will be given in class on Tuesday 11-20-12 and your essays will be due Wednesday the 21st (or before you start Thanksgiving Vacation...if you will miss class on Wednesday the 21st they need to be sent to me via email no later than on Wednesday the 21st).

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER Portion of the Museum Catalog due Monday 11-20 in class...we'll use as part of discussion/review.

The REST of the Museum Catalog will be due in class with the test on Tuesday 11-21-12

Turnitin.com Assignments:
Chapter 11 DQ 2 due 11/7
Chapter 12 DQ 1 due 11/8
Chapter 16 DQ 2 due 11/14
Chapter 16 DQ 4 due 11/15
Chapter 13 DQ 1 due 11/16
Chapter 13 DQ 5 due 11/18

Workbook:
Chapter 11 complete the following for 11-5-12
page 111 definitions
page 112 #5
page 113 #8 ... both #8's
page 114 #10, 12

Chapter 16 complete for 11-8

Chapter 12 complete the following for 11-9:
page 119 all
page 120 3,6
page 121 #10
page 122 definitions and #2
page 123 #7
page 124 definitions
the chart page before the map

Chapter 13 complete for 11-13

*** for the chapters that I assigned sections, you can always do more...the info listed if the KEY info I wish you to derive from your reading...




Museum Catalog was posted 10-29 to the Middle Ages page of the class websiie.

Interesting Article about Human Development

I read an interesting article on the development of the brain and the link to creative output. Take a moment to read Lascaux's Picassos as well.

This article was fascinating. It reinforces the idea that our ancestors depicted, oftentimes exaggerates, the key elements of a human or animal. A female's reproductive force was exaggerated as well as the size of an animal to show the meat it provides, a life sustaining force. What was illuminating was the look into the BRAIN. The idea that abstraction is NOT a modern concept, considered so radical by Picasso. Our ancestors were pioneers ... this article helps us understand the human brain's capacity has been immense ... from the outset.

India

We start our journey to India next week. For two weeks we'll look at India from it's early days through the present.

Start by reading the TWO chapters, 6 and 25, in our book. I placed THREE tabs on www.turnitin.com for discussion questions. One is due the 27th and two on the 29th.

We'll have a TEST on November 1st. The Museum Catalog (short version) was posted on the Beyond the European Tradition page of the class website.

Workbook Assignments:
Turn in WKBK Chapter 6 by Block Day this week (10-25)
Turn in WKBK Chapter 25(old volume) 26 (new volume) by Monday 10-29


For more information, watch the BBC Documentary The Story of India

Be prepared to answer the following discussion questions in class 10-29 adn 10-30 in preparation for the test 11-1-12.

INDIA and SOUTHEAST ASIA Discussion Questions

1. How are HINDU Monuments different from BUDDHIST Monuments?
2. How does the ART OF THE MAURYA PERIOD reflect the age of heroes?
3. What is a STUPA? How does it reflect the religious practices of Buddhism?
4. Compare and Contrast the life of Jesus Christ with that of Siddhartha Gautama. Compare and Contrast how they are depicted in ART.
What does the dance of SHIVA represent?
Compare and contrast HINDUISM with BUDDHISM.
5. For what purpose was the Taj Mahal constructed? How does it resemble an IRANIAN garden pavilion and why is that significant?
6. How did Akbar and the Elephant Hawai from the Akbarnamma become a metaphor for Akbar’s rule?
7. Compare and contrast MUGHAL painting with HINDU painting?
8. Evaluate the impact AKBAR had on shaping the arts of Mughal India. Consider the political aspects of his interests as well.

Museum of Contemporary Art La Jolla

The Jacobs Foundation's donation to the museum affords ALL people under 245 to attend the museum for FREE. Let's make the most of this!

Please attend the Museum of Contemporary Art La Jolla by 11-4-12 and view the exhibitions. On this trip let's pay particular attention to a couple of exhibits/concepts. Perhaps cut and paste this into a word document and take notes while you are there. Turn in this document on Monday 11-5-12 typed or neatly hand-written.

1. Notice the BOATS attached to the building. Who made them? what is the name of the artwork?How do they interact with the setting in which they are placed? Do you believe the boats add or detract from the BUILDING ... the MUSEUM itself? Explain.
2. Walk through the sculpture garden outside. Do you notice the building when you are outside? Do you notice traffic? Do you notice sounds of the ocean? How do the sculptures placed outside fit in with the environment in which they are placed? Do the sculptures "go together" or are they a "collection of sculptures in a garden"?
3. View the Exhibit: Margaret Noble: 44th and Landis. What is your initial reaction to the artwork she creates? How has she taken ordinary objects and elevated them to "high art"?
After viewing the artwork, f you could ask the Museum Curator's about how the exhibit was set up, what would you want to ask?
After viewing her artwork, what THREE questions would you like to ask her if you had the chance?

BONUS...if you can make it to the downtown location before the exhibit closes November 4th, view Isaac Julien: Ten Thousand Waves. How would you describe the artist's style? How did the artist convey the concept of culture, acculturation, and history? If you could ask the artist any questions, what would you want to know? If you could ask the Museum Curator's about how the exhibit was set up, what would you want to ask?