Greece and Italy: an Artistic and Literary Odyssey

REVISED

Fall 2012, Winter 2013 and Spring 2013 quarters

Faculty

Bob Haft visual arts, art history, photography

Fields of Study

art history, classics, study abroad and visual arts

Preparatory for studies or careers in

history, literature, classical studies, the visual arts and the humanities.

Description

The legacy of the Greek and Italian cultures in the Western world---from the Minoan world to that of the Italian Renaissance---continues to hold considerable sway over contemporary cultures. The great writings and powerful visual arts that were produced in Greece and Italy established standards of excellence which succeeding generations have both struggled against and paid homage to up to the present day. In this program, we will study the texts and monuments of two of the most dynamic and seminal cultures in European history: Classical Greece and Renaissance Italy. We will read and discuss writings from the periods we study (such as Homer's Odyssey , Aeschylus' Oresteia and Dante's Inferno), as well as contemporary offerings (such as Mary Renault's The King Must Die ). Throughout the program we will learn about modern rediscoveries and re-interpretations of these periods, culminating in our own journey to Greece and Italy.

Fall quarter ("Naissance"), we will investigate the rise of the Greek polis , or city-state, from the ashes of the Bronze Age Aegean civilizations, as well as that of the Etruscans, in what is now Tuscany. In addition to reading primary source materials, we will study the architecture, sculpture and painted pottery that was produced, and we will all learn the rudiments of drawing.

Winter quarter ("Renaissance"), our focus will be on the Roman appropriation of Greek art and thought and the later Florentine rediscovery and interpretation of the Classical past. We'll study how 15th-century Italians used the ideas they found in classical literature and learning as the basis for revolutions both in artistic practices and the conception of humanity. We will also learn the basics of black and white photography.

During the spring ("Odyssey"), we will travel to Greece and Italy for six weeks, visiting, studying and holding seminars in sites and cities synonymous with the Classical world and the Renaissance. The first three weeks will be in Greece, where we will start in Crete, focusing our attention on the Minoan Civilization. Next, we will travel through mainland Greece, visiting numerous sites including Athens, Corinth, Olympia and Delphi. The last three weeks will be spent in Italy, using Florence as our main base but making side trips to nearby sites and cities, such as Fiesole and Siena.

Location

Olympia

Online Learning

No Required Online Learning

Books

Greener Store

Special Expenses

$150-200 in winter quarter for photography supplies (film and photo paper).

Study Abroad

Greece and Italy, six to seven weeks in spring quarter, approximate cost (excluding airfare and most meals) is $5,100.

May be offered again in

2014-15

Offered During

Day

Program Revisions