Bi9290 Anthropology of Art

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2012
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Jiří Svoboda, DrSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jiří Svoboda, DrSc.
Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. PhDr. Jiří Svoboda, DrSc.
Supplier department: Department of Anthropology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Mon 12:00–13:50 Bp1
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
  • Anthropology (programme PřF, M-BI)
  • Anthropology (programme PřF, M-BI, specialization Physical Antropology)
  • Anthropology (programme PřF, M-BI, specialization Socio-Cultural Antropology)
  • Anthropology (programme PřF, N-AN)
  • Anthropology (programme PřF, N-BC)
  • Anthropology (programme PřF, N-BC, specialization Fyzická antropologie)
  • Anthropology (programme PřF, N-BC, specialization Sociokulturní antropologie)
  • Anthropology (programme PřF, N-BI)
  • Anthropology (programme PřF, N-BI, specialization Physical Antropology)
  • Anthropology (programme PřF, N-BI, specialization Socio-Cultural Antropology)
Course objectives
The course focuses on definition and role of symbolic behavior, and namely on the phenomenon of art in the process of human evolution, with emphasis on early modern human populations. At the end of this course the students should be able to: understand and explain the development of approaches during the 19th and 20th centuries and the influence of changing anthropolocial and philosophical concent on interpretation of art; discuss the problem of "proto-art" and creative activities of primates and archaic humans; define the terms art, symbolism, spirituality of modern humans; charakterize the art of individual prehistoric periods.
Syllabus
  • 1. Definition and discussion of the terms art, symbolism, spirituality.
  • 2. Review of approaches during the 19th and 20th centuries: evolutionism, l art-pour-l artism, ethnological analogies, structuralism, impact of exact methods, impact of ethnoarchaeology, neurobiology, actual contextual approach.
  • 3. Creative activities of primates; problem of the „proto-art“ of archaic humans.
  • 4. The term "Human Revolution". Characteristic of art in the Aurignacian.
  • 5. Gravettian art. Materials, techniques, styles.
  • 6. Magdalenian art. Materials, techniques, styles.
  • 7. Mesolithic and Neolithic art. Background to complex changes in the ancient states.
Literature
    required literature
  • Svoboda, J. 2011: Počátky umění. Praha, Academia.
    recommended literature
  • Guthrie, D. 2005: The nature of Paleolithic art. London, Chicago, Chicago University Press.
  • Jelínek, J. 1983: Velký obrazový atlas pravěkého člověka. Praha, Artia.
  • Leroi-Gourhan, A. 1965: Préhistoire de l´art occidental. Paris, Mazenod.
  • Lewis-Williams, D. 2007: Mysl v jeskyni. Praha: Academia.
  • Renfrew, C. – Morley, I. 2007: Image and Imagination. Cambridge, McDonald Institute Monographs.
Teaching methods
Theoretical preparation in form of lectures accompanied by discussion with students.
Assessment methods
The course is concluded by oral exam.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, Autumn 2014.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2012, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2012/Bi9290