KUN2305E – Inside the medieval church: the church room and its decoration in medieval Scandinavia

Course content

The course will deal with various aspects of church interiors in Scandinavia in the Middle Ages.

Issues that will be covered are:

  • the spatial organization of the church room as a setting for the liturgy, as exemplified in the various types of churches that were raised during the Middle Ages
  • the history of decoration of the church interior – materials and motives from the 12th to the 15th century
  • iconographical case studies, focusing on the multiple dimensions of meaning of medieval church art

An underlying perspective will consist of a historiographical survey of the development of art historical scholarship on the art of the Scandinavian Middle Ages and a consideration of its theoretical and methodological foundations.

Learning outcome

After completed course you will:

  • Be able to identify a number of major monuments of medieval art in Scandinavia, and you will have acquired a basic knowledge of stylistical critera allowing you to place the monuments chronologically and stylistically.
  • Achieve an understanding of the meaning and function of art in the medieval church that will enable you to recognize and interpret the principal themes and concepts found there.
  • Be trained in discussing and analysing the visual messages of various types of medieval imagery.
  • Improved skills in oral and written academic English

Admission

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Prerequisites

Recommended previous knowledge

Some knowledge of Medieval art history, as in KUN1001 – Billedkunst og arkitektur fra antikken til renessansen or similar.

Teaching

The course is taught in 2 hour sessions, 2 times a week, totalling 28 hours.

Following the seminars are highly recommended. We expect students to meet prepared for classes and to participate actively.

Some teaching materials may be distributed in Fronter.

Access to teaching

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capaci