The Word/image genre of the Emblem flourished throughout Europe in the 16th and 17thcenturies, and the University of Glasgow is lucky enough to have the world's finest collection. During the course, students will examine a selection of texts illustrating the way in which the emblematic mentality was harnessed to serve different didactic purposes from political propaganda to religious polemic.

20 1-hour seminars at days and times to be arranged.

Class exam (1.5 hours) in the examining period of semester 1 (50%); class essay (c.2000 words) to be submitted by the end of semester 2 (50%)

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

·to introduce students to the research-led study of Emblems and emblematics
·to show how Emblem collections influenced and were influenced by their intellectual and cultural context
·to provide students to an appropriate range of methodological approaches in the field of text-image relations
·to equip students with the research skills necessary for the use of the primary materials contained in specialised library collections (e.g. descriptive bibliography)

Upon successful completion of the course you will be able to demonstrate the following.
·the ability to analyse images from Emblem collections so as to demonstrate understanding of text image relations and the production of Emblem collections
·understanding of the formal elements and generic conventions of text-image materials
·the ability to demonstrate detailed knowledge of the set texts through selective, appropriate and accurate reference or citation
·in the context of class essays, the ability to make independent use of primary sources
·the ability to take account of the shaping effects of historical and social context on literary production
·a command of an appropriate range of critical terminology and concepts and the capacity to apply these approaches with relevance and discrimination

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.