Prof. Renata Holod Fall 2014 TA for the course: Patricia Kim (draft as of August 13, 2014.) VISUAL CULTURE OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD HISTORY OF ART 235/637 I. COURSE DESCRIPTION The course is a one-semester introduction to visual culture of the Islamic world, beginning with contemporary material. The course will examine how visual culture has functioned, and continues to operate, within Islamic civilization. Visual culture encompasses but is not limited to specific histories of art and architecture; aspects of crafts, material culture and popular art will be discussed also. Material in the course is drawn from the seventh through the twentieth- twenty-first centuries, and will be presented thematically as well as chronologically. Every week’s theme is introduced through a key image and a key text. Attention will be given to relationships between visual culture, history and literature, using specific case studies, sites or objects, which may be related to various branches of Islamic literature, including historical, didactic and philosophical writings, poetry, and religious texts. The course is designed to serve non-specialists. All reading will be available in English. Discussion Sections for undergraduates, which will review materials covered in class and in the readings, will be scheduled on Fridays either 9-10 or 10-11AM. First sections meet Friday, September 5. Attendance is mandatory. There will also be a class trip scheduled on a Friday (date and place TBA: to the Freer/Sackler Gallery, DC, or to the Metropolitan Museum of Art). II. SCHEDULE OF LECTURES AND READINGS Week I: Introduction THEME: Culture, Place and Time: delineating the components of visual culture, memory, identity, ritual today and in the past. KEY IMAGE: “Horoscope of Iskandar Sultan” KEY TEXT IN TRANSLATION: from Orhan Pamuk, My name is Red, “I am a Tree” (NOTE: ALL KEY IMAGES and TRANSLATIONS WILL BE POSTED ON THE COURSEWEB UNDER ASSIGNMENTS)Week II THEME: The Twentieth Century, and Issues of Modernity and Authenticity Topics: The Modern Movement and Newly Independent States; Two Modern Masters, Hassan Fathy of Egypt and Sedad Eldhem of Turkey; The status of popular arts; coming to terms with past models of art and visual culture. KEY IMAGE: Aghdashloo, “Memories of Destruction” KEY TEXT IN TRANSLATION: selection from R. Holod and A. Evin, eds. Modern Turkish Architecture Readings: Robinson, Islamic World, Intro. and pp. 90-121. Campo, The Other Sides of Paradise, pp. 139-191 Holod and Khan, The Contemporary Mosque, Introduction. Holod and Evin, Eds. Modern Turkish Architecture, pp. 9-31. Week III THEME: The Nineteenth Century: Challenges to Hegemony and the Shock of the New Topics: The new cities of Istanbul and Cairo; The impact of photography and of the reproduced image; Osman Hamdi Bey and ‘Orientalism’ in the Orient; Change in self-presentation, and men’s and women’s costume. KEY IMAGE: Antoine Sevrugin, "Veiled Woman with Pearls," 1890's, modern gelatin silver print from original glass photo-negative, Freer/ Sackler Gallery Archives (M. B. Smith Collection). KEY TEXT IN TRANSLATION: Iraj Afshar "Some Remarks on Early Photography." Readings: Robinson, Islamic World, pp. 156-163, 197-207, 239-249, 282-290; Blair and Bloom, The Art and Architecture of Islam, 1250-1800, pp. 303- 314; Celik, Remaking Istanbul, Chapter 3; Micklewright (pp. 155-176) Elizabeth Frierson (pp. 177-204) in Ruggles, ed., Women, Patronage and Self -Representation in Islamic Societies.Week IV THEME: Beginnings: Shaping Religion, Power and Place Topics: Late Antique visual culture and the formation of Islamic art; The making of religious space; Old palaces, new villas and the invention of a new court culture KEY IMAGE: The Dome of the Rock KEY TEXT IN TRANSLATION: poetry from Hamilton, Al-Walid and His Friends. Reading: Grabar, Formation, pp. 43-71; Hamilton, Al- Walid and His Friends, read the poetry, examine the plans and photos. Week V THEME: Baghdad and Its Myth: Extension of Hegemony Topics: The Round City as an ideal center for an empire; Actual sites: Samarra, Madina al- Zahra/Cordoba, Cairo; The writing of history: facts and mentalities. KEY IMAGES: Baghdad plans (reconstructed) KEY TEXT IN TRANSLATION: from Lassner, The Founding of Baghdad Reading: Robinson, Islamic World, pp. 2-31; Grabar, Formation, pp. 139-179; Ettinghausen and Grabar, pp. 75-166; Khoury, in Muqarnas, XIII, pp. 80-98; Tabbaa, in Ars Orientalis, (1992), pp. 119-148, and (1994) pp. 119-147. Week VI THEME: The Courtly Arts: Models of Behavior and Consumption Topics: Literacy; Gifts; Court Ceremonies; The past-times of the gentleman and the rogue. KEY IMAGE: Fatimid rock crystalKEY TEXT: Book of Gifts and Rarities, pp. 103-118, pp. 147-165. Reading: Robinson, pp. 32-61 Holod, in Al-Andalus Grabar, Illustrations of the Maqamat, last chapter Week VII THEME: Merchants, Travelers and Soldiers Topics: Geography writing and mapping the world; Trade goods and connections; What was the exotic? KEY IMAGE: Sea Atlas of al-Sifaqsi KEY TEXT IN TRANSLATION: Ibn Battuta, Rihla, on Mecca and on Anatolia Reading: Robinson, pp. 124-156, 164-197, 206-239 Ettinghausen and Grabar, pp. 225-252 Harley and Woodward, pp. 71-89 FALL BREAK October 10 - 13 Mid- Term date: Thursday, October 16 Week VIII THEME: Material of Daily Life Topics: Ceramic innovations, Aesthetics of shimmer; Enrichment through ornament; Texture, color and detail KEY IMAGES: Baptist`ere de Saint Louis, Louvre Museum KEY TEXT IN TRANSLATION: Juynboll, in Pots and Pans Reading: Ettinghausen and Grabar, pp. 328-384: Holod,&Ars$Orientalis&42/2012,&pp.&194/219.:&Juynboll and Melikian-Chirvani, in Michael Vickers ed. Pots and Pans, pp. 89-106 and 107-115. Watson, in Vickers, ed. Pots and Pans, pp. 205-212.Ettinghausen, Arab Painting, chapters 2 and 3 Atasoy and Raby, Iznik Week IX THEME: Geometry and Ornament Topics: Geometric thinking; Proportion, rotation, Innovation in design vs. craft competence; The muqarnas KEY IMAGE: Topkapi Scroll KEY TEXT IN TRANSLATION: On what craftsmen should know of geometry from Alpay Ozdural, "Conversazioni" in JSAH Reading: Necipoglu, examine the facsimile drawings and read the last chapter Grabar, Mediation of Ornament, read chapter on architecture Week X THEME: Architecture and Environment Topics: