ANTHROPOLOGY OF IMAGES IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

This course is designed for students interested in the anthropology of art and visual culture studies. Through an in-depth exploration of different theoretical approaches and emblematic case studies, you'll gain an understanding of key issues in this field. This year, we'll focus on "reading" statues and other public monuments, analyzing them as loci of political debate and negotiation. Our approach will draw on cultural studies, anthropology, semiotics, and behavioral sciences. You'll study case studies from the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions, including recent protest movements calling for the "decolonization" of public space. But this course is not limited to this specific region. We'll seek a comparative and global approach throughout.

Moreover, this course can be fully or partially integrated with the Archaeology of the Levant classes. If you decide to follow both, you'll gain an interdisciplinary perspective by studying case studies from the past using the anthropological archaeology toolkit.

It's recommended that you have a good command of English and Italian. However, if you don't speak these languages, don't worry. Contact the teacher and tailor your study strategy to your needs with her help.

This course is part of the MA in Cultural Anthropology but, students from other MAs are welcome to join. With a comprehensive approach and an interdisciplinary perspective, this course is an opportunity to expand your knowledge and gain perspectives in visual culture studies.

Are you interested in learning more about Image Studies and its cultural anthropological perspective? Do you want to explore the scientific challenges of studying contested monuments? 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 contested public monuments.

2. Application of knowledge and understanding:
- You will be able to confidently discuss the meaning and function of emblematic monuments discussed in class from different theoretical and methodological perspectives.
- You will learn how to design a research strategy to address a public monument of your choice
- Once you complete this class, you will gain a fuller understanding of the political dimension of public urban space

3. Making judgements:
- You will be able to formulate your own interpretative hypothesis for the monuments 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.

Command of the English language. Interest in visual strategies and affinity to visual communication. Interest and affinity to Urban Design Studies.

The course is titled "Contested Images" and will delve into monuments' political and emotional dimensions. People build monuments as a way to mark history and preserve collective memory. However, some monuments are forgotten, some are loathed and destroyed, while others are modified and transformed into something else. This course aims to explore the lives of monuments and the reasons behind their construction. It will help us comprehend different paradigms of monumentality and why some monuments live on gloriously while others fall or fail. We will use selected case studies and works from historians, theorists, archaeologists, architects, and artists to discuss how monuments relate to space, politics, religion, and the public sphere. Moreover, we will explore counter-monuments, anti-monuments, and iconoclastic dissent.

The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, students learn and discuss various theoretical perspectives based on directed readings. The second part requires students to apply the theoretical tools to selected case studies and present their research through an oral presentation. Additionally, students must submit a written essay on their chosen case study at the end of the course.

The course demands active participation from each student. Reading assignments will be discussed in class, and we expect students to engage in lively and thought-provoking discussions. To excel in this course, students must prepare an oral presentation and a short essay on a case study of their choice.

Students will refer to the papers and book chapters uploaded on the Moodle platform

For general reference, the following books are suggested:
H. Morphy / M. Perkins (a cura di). 2006. The anthropology of art: a reader. John Wiley & Sons.
Alfred Gell, Art and agency: an anthropological theory, Oxford 1998
Robert Layton, The anthropology of art, Cambridge 1981

For the topics of this year's course, refer to:
T. Montanari. 2024. Le statue giuste. Bari: Laterza.
A. Pinotti. 2023. Nonumento. Un paradosso della memoria. Johan & Levi.
Germano Maifreda, "Immagini contese. Storia politica delle figure dal Rinascimento alla cancel culture", Milano 2022

The successful student is required to participate proactively in class activities, including homework and oral presentations (70% of final grade) and to write a short essay on a selected topic (30% of final grade).

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.

Italian

Students planning to pass the final examinations without attending lectures please contact the teacher via email at least two months before the scheduled exam session to define tailored content.

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development