PAPVB_26 Understanding the phenomenon Orientalism

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2021

The course is not taught in Spring 2021

Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Dr. phil. Maximilian Wilding (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Jarmila Bednaříková, CSc.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
While in humanities Said’s ‘Orientalism’ (1978) has become iconical and has helped influence minds on a larger scale, blunt orientalising stereotypes are invariably used as codes in cinema, scientific derivates etc. In the archaeological practice long-standing visual stereotypes play not only a role initially, in the self-recruiting’ of candidates of SW-Asian archaeology. The stereotype also pounces back on the practicing excavator later - either as certain attitudes displayed/faced during work, or as the outright expectation, that quickly limits the choices of researchers trying to reaching out to the general public. In the course the students will be encouraged to make their visions of the ‘Near East’ explicit, before actually entering the new cultural ambient (e.g. as members of archaeological projects). They will acquire the ability to see & adequately name and avoid orientalising stereotypes in their dealings.
Syllabus
  • Lect. (1-6): Basic information 1+2: ‘Orientalism’ (Historical roots) 3: ‘The Orient’ (Identifiers of the cliché) 4: ‘Canvas’ (Overview of the material expressions of Orientalism in paintings, sculpturing, music, stage performance, literature, fashion, events, marketing, newspapers, AV media) 5+6 ‘Nexus’ (Orientalism & Archaeology) Sem. (7-12): Application 7-10: ‘Scrap-booking’ (Active handling of visual material by the students. Demonstration of ways-of-interpretation) 11+12: Concluding sessions (Discussions) 11: Summing-up ‘Scrap-booking’. 12: Mapping-out: ‘Features of a sustainable position for the prehistorian.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Bernstein M. & G. Studlar, Visions of the East: Orientalism in Film, New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1997
  • Bohrer, Frederick N., ‘Orientalism & Visual Culture: Imagining Mesopotamia in Nineteenth Century Europe’, Cambridge: University Press, 2003.
Teaching methods
Teaching technique: direct-reflexive teacher/student dialogue. In the course the students will be trained to recognize inter-relations beyond the isolated ethnographic fact. In-class discussions will be favoured to develop the skill to approach ethnological issues with proper terminology. At intervals certain ‘teaching mile stones’ will be entrenched by students’ own presentations. Extra-focus on the analysis of visual materials (paintings, photos, film etc.)
Assessment methods
Assessment based on the cross-sum of: presence & communication; proficiency in making written notes; discussion input; a presentation; oral final exam. Final exam: an analysis of selected Orientalist paintings & colonial photography.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2014, Autumn 2016.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2021/PAPVB_26