Signs, animals, plants and their meanings in Jewish religious art.

nauki o sztuce

podstawowy

HS1_W02

HS1_W06

HS1_U04

HS1_U05

HS1_U06

Basic knowledge of Polish and European art of the 17th-20th centuries.

The lectures concern the iconography of Jewish religious art based on examples from Poland, Europe, and Israel. Scopes: origins of art, literature, databases, terminology, sources of iconography, Hebrew language and selected religious writings, iconography in the historical and cultural context - the Temple of Jerusalem as a reference point for the synagogue, plant and animal symbolism, meaning of Zodiac – as decoration for synagogues, utensils and matzevot.

Classes include a lecture illustrated with a presentation and film material. Students are required to read a text indicated by the teacher a week before the class. And answer the question concerning it.

The lectures concern the iconography of Jewish religious art based on examples from Poland, Europe, and Israel. Scopes: origins of art, literature, databases, terminology, sources of iconography, Hebrew language and selected religious writings, iconography in the historical and cultural context - the Temple of Jerusalem as a reference point for the synagogue, plant and animal symbolism, Zodiac and the meaning of it – as decoration for synagogues, utensils and matzevot.

Classes include a lecture illustrated with a presentation and film material. Students are required to read a text indicated by the teacher a week before the class. And answer the question concerning it.

Scope of classes:

1. A short history of Israel; Genesis and specificity of the Jewish culture - religious art, sources of iconography – ancient visual tradition, Hebrew language, religious writings.

2. Terminology – the Temple of Jerusalem, synagogue and its decoration, utensils, cemetery.

3. Synagogue – genesis, and its references to the Temple of Jerusalem;

4. Iconography of synagogue decoration - Zodiac - Beth Alpha synagogue and other examples in Israel, Dura Europos synagogue and its iconographic program.

5. + 6. Animal and plant symbolism - synagogue woodcarving and polychromes. Masonry and wooden synagogues in Poland (survived and not survived).

7. Cemetery – terminology and iconography.

8. Introduction.

COMPULSORY LITERATURE:

1. Bible (Old Testament) - selected passages (1 King, Psalms among others).

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings+6&version=NIV

2. Friedman Mira, The Meaning of the Zodiac in Synagogues in the Land of Israel Turing the Byzantine Period: Ars Judaica, 2005, vol. 1, pp 51 – 66.

5. Perek Shirah.

6. Piechotka Maria and Kazimierz, Heaven's Gates: Wooden Synagogues…, Warsaw 2020 - selected passages.

7. Piechotka Maria and Kazimierz, Heaven's Gates: Masonry Syngaogues…, Warsaw 2020 - selected passages

8. Ida Huberman, Living Symbols, Massada 1988.

9. Jewish Life Cycle Customs:

- http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/tradition - “Tradition”

- http://www.jewfaq.org/tocevents.htm - Life Cycle - Birth and the First Month of Life, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah, and Confirmation, Marriage, Divorce, Life, Death, and Mourning, Olam Ha-Ba: The Afterlife

- http://www.shiva.com/learning-center/commemorate/jewish-holidays - Shabbat, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover, Shavuot, Tish’a B’Av.

10. Articles in English indicated by the lecturer to be developed by the students for the preparation of presentations.

1) The lecture participant has a basic knowledge of the significance of the history of Jewish art among humanities and is aware of its subject matter and methodological specificity.

2. Student has a structured basic knowledge of types, functions, and iconography of religious and secular Jewish art.

3. Knows and understands basic methods of interpreting works of Jewish art and terminology appropriate to it. Understand the influence of historical and cultural conditions on art and its symbolism.

4. Is aware of the complexity of issues connected with Jewish art and the need to research it.

5. Knows institutions that research the issues connected with Jewish art.

6. Can construct a logical written and oral statement in English (written form, presentation) on the iconography of Jewish art at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The student workload includes 15 [30] hours of monographic lecture, 55 hours of preparation and presentation, reading and text analysis of selected texts, answering questions, 15 hours of reading material, 90 hours altogether (3 ECTS).

REQUIREMENTS TO BE FULFILLED TO COMPLETE THE COURSE:

• course attendance – max 30 points / one absence is allowed, further absences „cost” minus 5 points each

• answering a question on a text assigned for a lecture (2 students during 1 class)

• accomplish one task – presentation on chosen articles (one presentation per one group including 2 persons)

• Term evaluation – max 100 points

• attendance – max 30 points

• answering a question on a text assigned for a lecture - max 15 points

• accomplishing the one task – max 55 points.

• Scale of grades: 60 - 79 PKT - 3,0 / 80 -84 - 3,5 / 85 -94 - 4,0 / 95- 97- 4,5 / 98 - 100 - 5,0