Undergraduate Modules

Art and Society in Republican Rome             

MODULE CODE:       2/3CLA6520

OPTION: AH/CS

TAUGHT:  Lent term                              

MODULE AUTHOR:  Dr James Richardson

LEVEL:  5 & 6    

CREDITS: 20                                     

TEACHING METHODS:                     

Lectures:  20 hours (10%)

Seminars: 4 hours (2%)

Field visits:   n/a

Directed Learning: 50 hours(25%)

JACS CODE:     V110

AIM(S)

To enable students to:

• study some of the important artworks produced by the Romans in the Republican period
• become aware of the social and cultural significance of visual and literary art in Roman Republican society
• become aware of the influence which Greek culture exerted upon the Romans, and the ways in which the Romans reacted to Greek culture
• consider the Romans’ own contribution to art and literature

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this module all students should be able to: 

A. Subject specific skills and knowledge:

• demonstrate a knowledge of the important developments in, and influences on, Roman art and literature
• demonstrate a knowledge of the social contexts of, and ideological background to, Roman art and literature
• demonstrate familiarity with the more important modern scholarship on the history of Roman art and literature

In addition level 5 students should be able to:

• identify and describe the key themes and concepts in the study of Roman art and literature in its social and cultural contexts
• demonstrate an awareness of the various influences upon the development of Roman art and literature, and of Roman reactions to those influences
• demonstrate an awareness of the social significance of art and literature

In addition level 6 students should be able to:

• analyse and assess ancient evidence and draw reasoned inferences from that evidence
• assess the relative value of the literary and visual evidence
• to engage critically with the arguments of modern scholars

B. Transferable skills and knowledge:

• demonstrate appropriate written skills
• present written work in a manner appropriate for a relevant/professional audience
• access and employ the relevant e-resources for the course
• demonstrate their critical, analytical and problem-solving skills
• demonstrate independent learning skills through the use of the library and electronic resources

CONTENT

This module will look at art and literature in Republican Rome, its origins and development, and above all its social and cultural contexts and roles.  The influence of Greek culture on the Romans and their city will also be an important theme.  The module will begin with the terracotta and bronze works of the archaic period; it will then move on to the period of expansion (the fourth, third and second centuries BC); the importation of Greek art into the city will be considered, as will the Romans’ reaction to the importation of this art.  Painting, relief sculpture and portraiture will all be discussed.  The course will also cover the development of literature at Rome.  Roman literature began, or so the Romans believed, in the third century BC with the epic poem and the plays of Livius Andronicus, and later those of Naevius and Ennius, while the second century saw the beginnings of prose, at first written in Greek, but soon in Latin.  The fragments of these early and often neglected works, and their social and cultural contexts, will be examined.  Finally, the course will give some consideration to Roman reactions to, and engagement with, philosophical and political thought.

ASSESSMENT

Level 5:

Examination: one two-hour exam (50%)

Coursework: one 1,000 word exercise (20%)

                         one 2,000 word essay (30%)

Level 6:

Examination: one two-hour exam (50%)

Coursework: one 3,000 word essay (50%)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Essential

n/a

Recommended

• Easterling, P. et al. (1982), The Cambridge History of Classical Literature, volume II, Cambridge.
• Goldberg, S. (1995), Epic in Republican Rome, Oxford.
• Gruen, E.S. (1990), Studies in Greek Culture and Roman Policy, Leiden.
• Gruen, E.S. (1992), Culture and National Identity in Republican Rome, Cornell.
• Rawson, E. (1985), Intellectual Life in the Late Roman Republic, London.
• Strong, D. (1976), Roman Art, Harmondsworth.

Updated: 08/09/09

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