U.C. Berkeley History of Art

Histart 192C

UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR: GENESIS, BEGINNINGS IN MEDIEVAL ART, AND PRESENT THEORY (4 units)

How does anything come into being? How have medieval artists imagined the process of turning nothing into something? These questions are pointing to the artful process of creation that have inspired philosophers, theologians, and artists to develop theories about origins beginning already in Late Antiquity. We will discuss together how medieval artists have tried to represent the process of creation, focusing on the particular relation between God as an artist creating the world and “divine” artists who imitate God. Depictions of the moment of creation allow us to learn much about artists’ ideas of perception, generation, and creativity. In recent theory, myths of creation, their inherent paradoxes, and ideas about origins play a prominent role.

The seminar will explore selected illustrations of the biblical Book of Genesis from Late Antiquity to the beginnings of the Early Modern period. Each session will be dedicated to one particular work of art, in which we will explore step by step the various roles and functions of art works. All of them played an active role within religious life ornamenting such things as books and the walls, altars, doorways, and outsides of churches. The course is intended as an introduction to the history and the function of medieval works of art as well as a survey of theoretical reflections about the history of creativity.

There are no requirements for this course apart from curiosity and active participation. Weekly reading will include texts by art historians, philosophers, and anthropologists as well as primary sources (all in English).