History of Islamic Art
Objectives
1. Introductory knowledge of the vast parameters of artistic production of the Islamic world, from the time of the Propet Muhammad to the 21st century, and from Arabia to China, Europe, Africa, and the Americas;
2. Knowledge of the main types of works of art and architecture and of their historical and cultural contexts of production and reception
3. Introductory knowledge of the main questions being raised by contemporary research in the discipline, from issues of historigoraphy, identity, transcultural histories, connectivity, the diaspora and daily life.
4. Knowledge of the collection of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and the challenges of displaying and interpreting 'Islamic art' today.
5. Introductory knowledge of the fundamental bibliographic references and of the basic critical tools
General characterization
Code
711061040
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Maria Inês Sousa Fialho de Pinho Brandão
Hours
Weekly - 4
Total - 168
Teaching language
Portuguese
Prerequisites
N/A
Bibliography
- A Companion to Islamic Art and Architecture, ed. Necipoğlu and Flood (Blackwell, 2017)
- Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art & Architecture
- Hallett, Jessica (2019). The Rise of Islamic Art, 1869-1939. Lisbon: Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
- Brandão, I. F. (2007). Co-editor 'Olhares Cruzados sobre Arte e Islão'. Instituto dos Museus e Conservação.
- Archnet (Aga Khan Program, MIT): www.archnet.org
- Metropolitan Museum Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History (TOAH):
- http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/
- Museum with No Frontiers (MWNF): http://www.discoverislamicart.org/index.php
Teaching method
The course follows a lecture format with discussion periods during class time. Lecturer presentations, heavily supported by images, provide students with basic historical information and analytical tools. Students are expected to follow all the reading assignments, to participate actively in in-class discussions and to attend all museum sessions.
Evaluation method
Continuous Assessment - Students are graded on the basis of two exams (a midterm and a final exam) and a short research paper. Extra points may be earned by active class participation.(100%)
Subject matter
Early Islam, ca. 650-1050 | The Prophet Muhammad, Umayyads and Abbasids, late Abbasids, Spanish Umayyads, and Fatimids.
Medieval period, ca. 1050-1450 | India, Anatolia, and the Balkans, followed by the Mongol sack of Baghdad in 1258.
Early Modern Era, ca. 1450-1800 | From the dynastic court cultures to the three grand empires of the Safavids, the Ottomans and the Mughals.
Modern Era, ca. 1800-2000 | The last empires, colonialism, and a new world order.
What's Islamic about Islamic art? Where are all the pictures? The question of iconoclasm.