ARTH 221(F) The Gothic Revival
The Gothic Revival was once written off as a passing fad for pointed arches and pinnacles, but we now recognize it as one of the major cultural and social movements of the nineteenth century. During its years of greatest influence, it subjected every aspect of art, belief, society and labor to intense intellectual scrutiny, using the Middle Ages as a platform from which to judge the modern world. This lecture course will look at the Gothic Revival in Europe and America as a response to the industrial revolution and modernity. Students will prepare a semester-long research paper. Possible topics include ideas about the origin and the development of the Gothic; its political meaning; the literary background to the revival; new building types and new materials; the relationship of the Gothic to the decorative arts; and the doctrine of morality in architecture. Format: lecture/discussion. Evaluation will be based on the research paper; oral presentations and class participation. Prerequisites: ArtH 101-102. Enrollment limit: 40 (expected: 40). Preference to Art majors.
Hour: LEWIS