This seminar will explore the material culture and art of the Etruscans through the lens of indigeneity and colonialism (both ancient and modern). We will approach this subject from a variety of perspectives, including, but not limited to an introduction to Etruscan art (without a Greco-Roman lens); 17th century “rediscovery” and collecting as well as 19th century colonial packaging and definitions of “culture” in antiquity. We will also explore issues of nationalism both in ancient Rome as a colonizer and appropriator of Etruria (and their art) as well as how modern and post-modern Italy (and academia at large) define/d the Etruscan past. The seminar will discuss aspects of decolonizing and question the various historicities of the Etruscans and their art. We will address a series of important questions, such as, why are Etruscan masterpieces routinely stripped of their identity (often being called Greek or Roman)? Why is Etruscan art continuously marginalized by the field of classics? And finally, how does the study of Etruscan art and culture deepen our understanding of the ancient Mediterranean as a whole?

This course fulfills the following requirements for the History of Art major: Geographical area (A) or (C), and Chronological period (I), (II), or (III), based on the topic of the final research paper or project.