Archaeology – Ancient visual strategies and modern approaches to the study of art (Ordinario)

Art and archaeology provide a unique window onto ancient societies, illuminating their living conditions, cultural practices, social relationships, systems of value, and much more. Yet interpreting material evidence with such questions in mind is far from straightforward. Images are not just representations of ‘reality’ but mediated representations that require an understanding of the visual strategies employed in antiquity and thus require interpretation. In turn, all interpretation rests on assumptions, theoretical frameworks, and methodological premises. Even when these are not made explicit, they shape the questions we ask and the conclusions we draw.

If we wish to move beyond the dating, classification, and description of objects and monuments, how can we arrive at convincing and well-founded interpretations? This module introduces and critically examines a wide range of theories and methodologies employed in the study of ancient “art”, including reflection on what is meant by the term “art” itself. We will explore the strengths and limitations of different approaches and identify the assumptions that underpin scholarly work, including that of researchers who do not explicitly engage with methodological questions.

In doing so, the module also examines major developments in the history of the discipline, tracing significant shifts in interpretative approaches over the past century across different national and intellectual traditions. By situating scholarship within its historical and cultural contexts, students will gain a deeper awareness of how research questions, methods, and interpretations are shaped by their own time and place.