Postgraduate taught 

Classics & Ancient History MSc

Explorations in the Classical Tradition CLASSIC5063

  • Academic Session: 2023-24
  • School: School of Humanities
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes

Short Description

This course provides an opportunity to investigate some of the many ways in which the civilisations of ancient Greece and Rome have been appropriated and adapted in different times and places, and across a variety of literary and artistic media. This course makes full use of Glasgow's extensive resources for the study of the classical tradition in Scotland and beyond

Timetable

Two one hour seminars per week over 10 weeks

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

One seminar presentation 30%, and one 3,000 word essay 70%.

Course Aims

This course provides the opportunity to:

■ examine different modes of the reception of classical literature, art and thought across a variety of media and historical periods, in Scotland and beyond.

■ assess the importance of the classical tradition for understanding cultural history in different times and places, to analyse the social, political and educational resonances that recourse to classical models may have held for artists, authors and audiences, and to investigate possible motivations for the use of classical material in particular cultural contexts.

■ consider issues relating to the preservation, transmission and exhibition of material deriving from classical antiquity, and to reflect on professional opportunities for engagement with the culture of the ancient world and with artworks drawing on the classical tradition

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

■ identify specific uses of material from classical antiquity in later art, architecture, literature and thought, and relate these appropriations to contemporary social, political, aesthetic, religious, philosophical and educational contexts, as appropriate.

■ analyse the significance of particular literary and artistic genres for the manner in which their practitioners engage with aspects of ancient culture, and assess the contribution made by these elements to the later works in which they occur.

■ give a detailed and informed account of contemporary theoretical debates surrounding the reception of the classical world, and discuss the implications of these questions for the study of antiquity and other academic disciplines

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

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