History B421 C399
Renaissance Italy: Art, Culture, and Society
Spring 2001

Class Meeting Times: Thurs. 5:45-8:25 p.m.
Place: Indianapolis Museum of Art, 1200 West 38^th Street, DeBoest Lecture Hall

Instructors:

Dr. Wietse de Boer
Asst. Professor of History, IUPUI.
Office: Cavanaugh Hall, room 503D
Phone/voice-mail: 274-5499
E-mail: wdeboer@iupui.edu or Oncourse mail
Office hours: MW. 12:15-1:15 p.m., and by appointment.

Ms. Rosie May
Manager of Public Educational Programs
Indianapolis Museum of Art
Phone/voice-mail: 920-2662, Ext. 296
E-mail: RMay@ima-art.org
Office hours: by appointment only

Course description and objectives

This course examines the extraordinary flourishing of art and culture in the Italian peninsula from around 1300 to 1600. Organized chronologically, it will focus each week on a specific cultural milieu that produced more or less well known works of art (and/or literature). The approach is historical: we start from the assumption that art and history cannot be separated from each other. Art reflects, and is conditioned by, the general culture and socio-political circumstances of its time. Historical knowledge can therefore deepen our understanding and appreciation of artistic expressions. Conversely, art can open fascinating windows on the society that produced it, and thus become the point of departure for historical explorations. In this fashion, we will cover some of the main themes of Renaissance historyCreligious, social, economic, and political.

The course consists of weekly lectures, combined with gallery tours and/or group discussions. The multiple resources it draws on include the collections of the IMA, primary historical documents, and secondary readings.

1. Consistent attendance and participation at lectures and discussions is essential for a satisfactory completion of the course; two or more unexcused absences will result in a lower grade.

2. Students must do one gallery assignment, write one research paper and take two examinations.

For the gallery assignment, you will be asked to go into the IMA galleries, answer a few short-answer questions about several Renaissance paintings, and write a brief (2-3 page) analysis of one painting of your choice. The assignment will be distributed in class on January 25; during that meeting and the following (February 1) time will be available to go into the galleries and prepare for the assignment. The assignment is due in class on February 8.

The paper will be based on one of the assigned primary sources (further instructions to follow). You are required to submit a 2-3 page draft of this paper four weeks before the due date of this paper. The draft will be graded and returned with corrections and suggestions for improvement. The paper itself will be 10-12 pages long. All papers are due in class on the due date. Late papers will result in a lower grade.

The exams will consist of short identifications and an essay question. The identifications (of terms and names) will be taken from the reading and lecture materials. The essay questions will require you to develop a short historical argument on the basis of reading and lecture materials. The midterm exam will be in-class, the final will be given during finals week.

Make-up exams and paper extensions will be granted only with a doctor's excuse.

Exam and paper due dates:

Gallery assignment February 8

Midterm exam March 1

Draft term paper March 22

Term paper April 19

Final exam May 3

3. Students taking the course for graduate credit will generally be expected to perform at a higher level than undergraduates. The paper assignment will have a different format; there will be additional reading assignments, to be discussed in separate meetings with the instructors.

4. The final grade will be determined according to the following formula:

gallery assignment 15%
midterm exam 20%
paper draft 5%
paper 25%
final exam 25%
participation 10%

Plagiarism, cheating on exams, and other forms of intellectual dishonesty will not be tolerated. They will be dealt with in accordance with general university policy. If you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism, ask, or consult the Indiana University Bulletin, School of Liberal Arts, Indianapolis Campus, 2000-2002, p. 36.

John T. Paoletti & Gary M. Radke, Art in Renaissance Italy, Abrams/Prentice Hall 1997
Giorgio Vasari, The Lives of the Artists, World's Classics, Oxford University Press 1991

The titles listed are stocked at the IUPUI Bookstore, Cavanaugh Hall; and (for museum auditors only) at the IMA.

Additional readings will be made available online via the University Library Course Reserve system (ERROL). Instructions for access will be provided in class.

In this course we will be using the IU ONCOURSE system to make available course materials and to keep in touch. More information on how we will use the system will be provided in class and in announcements posted on the course site.

Important: at the very least, you are expected to check course announcements on a regular basis, at least once a week.

Access to ONCOURSE can be obtained as follows. Using Internet software like Netscape or Internet Explorer,

1. go to http://oncourse.iu.edu/

2. select IUPUI

3. Enter your IUPUI username and password; museum auditors, access as guest by entering the section number (C399) under "Find"

4. Click IN HIST B421 RENAISSANCE ITALY

5. Course Announcements

6. Click Click to Continue

7. From here you can use ONCOURSE features such as Syllabus, Schedule, and In Touch

For essential help please refer to Getting Help With Oncourse. You will find this feature after performing step #2, above. It includes a tour, questions & answers, and various help options. Courses in the use of ONCOURSE are offered regularly in the school. I will be available to answer basic questions.