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.

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ 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%) 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the Exam, but extra time/alternative space can be offered as reasonable adjustment. 

■ There is no alternative to the Essay, but extensions to the deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.

[No exceptions]

·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