ANTHROPOLOGY OF IMAGES IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

This course is part of both the Master's Degree in Cultural Anthropology and the Master's Degree in Ancient Studies. Students enrolled in ACEL can take it as a 6-credit course; students in Ancient Studies will follow it as part of the broader course in History and Anthropology of the Ancient Near East, co-taught with Prof. Maiocchi. Students from other degree programs are also very welcome.

A good command of English and Italian is recommended. However, if you do not speak these languages, you can contact the instructor, who will help you customize your study strategy based on your needs and language skills.

Are you interested in learning more about Image Studies and its cultural anthropological perspective? Do you want to explore the scientific challenges of studying the fascinating life of a powerful image? If so, this course is a good fit for you!

Here are some of the key learning outcomes you can expect from this course:

1. Knowledge and understanding:
- You will gain a thorough understanding of the theory and methods of Image Studies, with a specific focus on the Anthopology of Art.
- You will explore the unique issues and scientific challenges of studying cult images.

2. Application of knowledge and understanding:
- You will be able to confidently discuss the meaning and function of emblematic cult images from different theoretical and methodological perspectives.
- You will learn how to design a research strategy to address a cult image of your choice
- Once you complete this class, you will gain a fuller understanding of the social, religious, and political dimension of cult images

3. Making judgements:
- You will be able to formulate your own interpretative hypothesis for the images discussed in class.
- You will develop your ability to critically evaluate textbooks and articles read in class.

4. Communication:
- You will learn how to effectively cooperate in groups to solve problems.
- You will develop proactive skills in class.
- You will refine your ability to speak appropriately in front of an audience.
- You will learn how to write a short academic essay.

5. Lifelong learning skills:
- You will learn how to frame images from the perspective of cultural anthropology and image studies.
- You will learn how to quickly scan a scientific article for essential information.
- You will increase your confidence in public speaking.
- You will strengthen your abilities in scientific writing.

Passion, interest, and curiosity for the subject. Affinity for cooperative work and group discussion. Commitment to actually reading the texts we're going to discuss!

To get in the mood, you can peek into F. La Cecla, "Non è cosa. Vita affettiva degli oggetti", Milano: elèuthera 2013, cap. II, "Oggetti anima, oggetti feticcio", pp. 33-59.

"Every sign by itself is dead. What gives it life? Is the breath of life within it? Or is it the use its breath?"
L. Wittgenstein, Philosophische Untersuchungen, I, §432

This year's course, "The Stone Guest: The Social Life of Powerful Images" will take you on a journey through time and space, exploring the social entanglements of images with special powers, especially in the ancient Near East. You'll learn about the creation, use, and destruction of cult statues, including the symbolism of the chosen materials, the rituals of animation, and the practices of care, feeding, and dressing deities.

The course is designed to be both informative and engaging, with a focus on cultural anthropology and the new archaeology of the senses

Students will refer to the papers and book chapters uploaded on the Moodle platform. Go check it out!

For general reference, the following books are suggested:
Alfred Gell, Art and agency: an anthropological theory, Oxford 1998


For the topics of this year's course, refer to:
Freedberg, D. (1991) The Power of Images: Studies in the History and Theory of Response. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Dick, M.B. (1999). Born in Heaven, Made on Earth: The Making of the Cult Image in the Ancient Near East. Penn State University Press.
Kendall, L. (2021) Mediums and magical things: statues, paintings, and masks in Asian places. Oakland (Calif.): University of California Press.

The successful student is required to complete the readings listed on the moodle platform (30% of final grade), to give or write a short presentations on a self-designed project (30% of final grade) and to write a short essay on a selected topic (40% of final grade).

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Regarding the grading scale (the method by which grades will be assigned), regardless of whether the student is attending or non-attending:

Scores in the 18-22 range will be given in the presence of:

Sufficient knowledge and applied understanding related to the syllabus;
Limited ability to gather and/or interpret data, forming independent judgments;
Sufficient communication skills, particularly in relation to the use of specific and appropriate terminology;

Scores in the 23-26 range will be given in the presence of:

Fair knowledge and applied understanding related to the syllabus;
Fair ability to gather and/or interpret data, forming independent judgments;
Fair communication skills, particularly in relation to the use of specific terminology;

Scores in the 27-30 range will be given in the presence of:

Good to excellent knowledge and applied understanding related to the syllabus;
Suitable to excellent ability to gather and/or interpret data, forming independent judgments;
Wholly appropriate communication skills, particularly in relation to the use of specific and appropriate terminology and language;

Honors will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and applied understanding related to the syllabus, judgment capability, and communication skills.

Directed Reading. Participants are required to prepare recommended readings and written assignments before the lecture, prepare presentations, engage in class activities, and access and interact with materials uploaded on the Moodle platform.

Students planning to pass the final examinations without attending lectures please contact the teacher via email.