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2020/2021

Pre-Columbian Art in Middle America

Code: 100566 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2500239 Art History OT 3 0
2500239 Art History OT 4 0
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Annabel Villalonga Gordaliza
Email:
Annabel.Villalonga@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Prerequisites

 

In addition to the understanding of Catalan and Spanish, a good reading comprehension is recommended in other modern languages. 

Objectives and Contextualisation

The aim of this subject is to provide students with the theoretical and methodological tools needed to deep in their knowledge of pre-Columbian cultures in Mesoamerica, from a historical-artistic point of view. One of the first elements to be reviewed will be the concept of art understood, not from our Western aesthetic perspective, but from the point of view of Americanist studies.

The main objective is that the students learn how to identify the forms of artistic expression of the cultures that developed in Mesoamerica during the Formative periods until the conquest of America and understand how the diffusion processes affected in different cultures. Finally, special emphasis will be placed on the manifestations produced in the field of visual arts and their iconographic interpretation.

Competences

    Art History
  • Critically analysing from the acquired knowledge a work of art in its many facets: formal values, iconographic significance, artistic techniques and procedures, elaboration process and reception mechanisms.
  • Developing critical thinking and reasoning and communicating them effectively both in your own and other languages.
  • Interpreting a work of art in the context in which it was developed and relating it with other forms of cultural expression.
  • Producing innovative and competitive proposals in research and professional activity.
  • Recognising the evolution of the artistic imagery from the antiquity to the contemporary visual culture.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Accurately defining and explaining an artistic object with the specific language of art criticism.
  2. Analysing ideas about an artistic phenomenon in a given cultural context.
  3. Analysing the creators of an artistic phenomenon in a specific cultural context.
  4. Analysing the recipients of an artistic phenomenon in a specific cultural context.
  5. Applying the iconographic knowledge to the reading of artistic imagery.
  6. Connecting an artistic imagery with other cultural phenomena within its period.
  7. Distinguishing the elaboration techniques and processes of an artistic object.
  8. Efficiently presenting knowledge in oral and written form.
  9. Encouraging creativity and fomenting innovative ideas.
  10. Engaging in debates about historical facts respecting the other participants' opinions.
  11. Examining an artistic imagery and distinguishing its formal, iconographic and symbolic values.
  12. Explaining the reception mechanisms of a work of art.
  13. Identifying the artistic imagery, placing it into its cultural context.
  14. Identifying the main and secondary ideas and expressing them with linguistic correctness.
  15. Reconstructing the artistic outlook of a particular cultural context.

Content

INTRODUCTION


1. Introduction to the study of pre-Hispanic art. Concept of art and artist in pre-Hispanic Mexico. The historiography of pre-Hispanic art.

2. Population of America. Ancient and modern theories of settlement. Cultural areas. Americanist studies.

3. Prehistory: emergence of sculptural art and rock art (engravings and paintings)

MESOAMERICA

4. Concept of Mesoamerica. Stages and cultures. General characteristics of his art. Worldview. Society.

5. The Formative. The village cultures of the Mexico Basin and the Olmec Culture of the Gulf. Dissemination and contact. Olmec architecture (San Lorenzo, La Venta, Tres Zapotes). Sculpture: colossal heads, steles and other reliefs. Ceramics.

6. The Classic. Teotihuacan culture. Evolution of society. Religion. Teotihuacán as a sacred city. Architecture of men and gods: palaces, residential complexes and temples. Painting, sculpture in stone and ceramics.

7. The splendor of the Classic and its transition to the Postclassic. Mayan culture. Society and religion. Periodization. Architecture: techniques, elements, typology of buildings and styles. The cities: A) Central zone (Tikal, Bonampak and Palenque) b) North zone (Chichén Itzá and Uxmal). Sculpture: materials, types and styles. Painting. Ceramics.

8. The Postclassic period. Aztec culture. Society and religion. Written sources. Architecture: Tenochtitlan, Malinalco and Calixtláhuaca. Stone sculpture and reliefs. Ceramics. Minor arts and goldsmithing.

Methodology

Ø Theory classes directed by the teacher. The teacher explains orally and with the visual support of PowerPoint to the students the essential aspects of the subject

(online class for Teams if necessary temporary return to virtuality), systematizing the contents and suggesting suitable bibliography to prepare the exam.

In certain cases, prior to the exposition of the contents of some topics, prior reading of texts will be necessary.

 

Ø Comprehensive reading of texts. Carrying out activities related to the readings that will have to be delivered or discussed in the classroom / forum of the Moodle or Meet. Personal study.

Ø Attendance or viewing by a link to a conference ("Women, queens and mayan goddess" or other similar about gender be determined) on a part of the issue.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Theory classes 27 1.08 3, 4, 2, 13, 5, 1, 7, 11, 12, 14, 10, 15, 6, 8
Type: Supervised      
Review on a conference link to the subject 3 0.12 3, 2, 5, 11, 14, 15, 8
Type: Autonomous      
Writing activities focused on specialized readings. 5 0.2 3, 4, 2, 5, 1, 7, 11, 8

Assessment

The subject will be evaluated applying the following procedures:

 

* 2 Partial written tests each one of 30% (both 60%): Important notice: In order to be able to average with the rest of the evaluable sections, the average of the two partial exams must give a minimum of 5.

* Carrying out works, reviews, summaries and / or analytical comments on the texts: (25%)

* Summary of the content of the conference (15%)

 

Remarks:

At the time of each assessment activity, lecturer will inform students (Moodle) of the procedure and date of review of each test. If the situation does not proceed to be in person, a day will be determined to conduct a virtual review for Teams, where the teacher will indicate what answer was expected for each question in the test. Once this general review has been completed, students will be able to remain in the virtual room and express specific doubts about their exams.

 

The student will receive the grade of "Not assessable" as long as he / she has not completed more than 30% of the assessment activities.


In the last days of the course there will be a recovery exclusively for those students who have failed some or some of the previous partial written tests. Therefore, those who have not taken them in the planned date nor those who have passed them will not be able to present themselves. Recovery is only possible to pass the failed tests with a maximum grade of 6. The delivery of reviews, conference summaries or other evaluable activities that have not been presented on the date set by the teacher are excluded from the recovery process.

In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject,the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.

In the event that tests or exams cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format made available through the UAB’s virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or discussion on Teams, etc. Lecturers will ensure that students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible alternatives.

 

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Critical report 25% 40 1.6 3, 4, 2, 13, 5, 1, 11, 12, 14, 10, 15, 6, 8
Review on a conference link to the subject 15% 35 1.4 1, 9, 14, 10, 15, 6
Test 1 30% 20 0.8 3, 4, 2, 13, 5, 1, 7, 11, 14, 15, 8
Test 2 30% 20 0.8 3, 4, 2, 13, 5, 1, 7, 11, 15, 6, 8

Bibliography

GENERAL:

 

  • ADAMS, Richard.E., Las antiguas civilizaciones del Nuevo Mundo. Barcelona: Crítica, 2000.
  • ALCINA FRANCH, José, Historia del arte hispanoamericano, 1: Arte precolombino. Madrid: Alhambra, 1987.
  • BOSCH GIMPERA, Pere, La América pre-hispánica. Barcelona: Ariel, 1975.
  • CIUDAD, Andrés, Las culturas del Antiguo México. Madrid: Alhambra, 1988.
  • GIRARD, Raphaël., Historia de las civilizaciones antiguas de América, 3 vols. Madrid: Alhambra, 1976.
  • GRIEDER, Terence., Orígenes del Arte Precolombino. México: F.C.E, 1987.
  • KUBLER, George, Arte y arquitectura en la América precolonial. Madrid: Cátedra, 1986.
  • PIÑA CHAN, Romá., Historia, Arqueología y Arte Prehispánico. México: F.C.E., 1986.
  • SEJOURNÉ, Laurette, América Latina I. Antiguas culturas precolombinas. Madrid: siglo XXI, 1976.
  • SONDEREGUER, César., Arquitectura precolombina. Catálogo de tipos de urbanismos, de obras y constructivos. Argentina: Corregidor, 1998.
  • SONDEREGUER, César.; PUNTA, Carlos, Amerindia. Introducción a la etnohistoria y las artes visuales precolombinas. Argentina: Corregidor, 1999.
  • SONDEREGUER, César, MARZIALI, Marta, Cerámica precolombina. Catálogo de morfologia. Argentina: Corregidor, 2001.

 

MESOAMERICA:

 

  • BERNAL, Ignacio, El mundo olmeca. México: Porrua, 1968
  • BEVERIDO PEREAU, Francisco, Estética Olmeca.Xalapa, México: Universidad Veracruzana, 1996
  • CAVATRUNCI, Claudio, Les Mayas. Paris: Canal, 1998.
  • CIUDAD, Andrés, Las culturas del antiguo México. Madrid: Alhambra, 1988.
  • CLARK, JOHN E. (coord)., Los olmecas en Mesoamérica. Madrid: Turner Libros, 1994
  • COE, Michael, The Maya Scribe and his World. New York, The Grolier Group, 1979.
  • COE, Michael, “The olmec style and its distributions”, Handbook of Middle American Indians. Vol.3. Part two. Archaelogy of Southern Mesoamerica. Texas: University Press, 1981. 739-774.
  • DENDROP, Paul; HEYDEN, Doris, Architettura Mesoamericana. Milano: Electa Editrice, 1980.
  • FREIDEL, David; SCHELE, Linda; PARKER, Joy, Maya Cosmos. Three thousand years on the Shaman’s path. New York: William Morrow & Co., 1993.
  • HAMMOND, Norman, La Civilización Maya. Madrid: Alhambra, 1988.
  • JORALEMON, Peter David, A Study of Olmec Iconography. Washington: Dumbarton Oaks, 1971.
  • LANDA, Diego de., Relación de las cosas de Yucatán. México: Porrúa, 1973.
  • LEÓN PORTILLA, Miguel, Visión de los vencidos. México: UNAM, 1976.
  • LEÓN PORTILLA, Miguel, Los antiguos mexicanos a través de sus crónicas y cantares. México: F.C.E, 1977.
  • MAGNI, Caterina, Les olmèques. Des origines au mythe. Paris: Du Seuil, 2003
  • MANZANILLA, Linda; LÓPEZ LUJÁN, Leonardo (coord)., Historia Antigua de México. El México antiguo, sus áreas culturales, los orígenes y el horizonte Preclásico. México: Porrua, 1994-95.
  • MILLER, Mary Ellen; TAUBE, Karl, The Gods and symbols of ancientMexico and the Maya. London: Thames & Hudson, 1993.
  • MILLER, Mary Ellen, El arte de Mesoamérica. Barcelona: Destino, 1999.
  • MORLEY, Sylvanus G., La Civilización Maya. México: F.C.E, 1975.
  • PASZTORY, Esther: Pre-Columbian Art. Londres: Everyman Art Library, 1998.
  • PIÑA CHAN, Román, Los olmecas. La cultura Madre. Barcelona: Lunwerg, 1990.
  • RIVERA DORADO, Miguel, Chilam Balaam de Chumayel. Madrid: Crónicas de América, 1986.
  • SAHAGÚN, D. Fray Bernardino De , Historia general de las Cosas de Nueva España. Madrid: Crónicas de América, 1990.
  • SCHELE, Linda; MILLER, Mary E., The Blood of Kings. Dynasty and Ritual in Maya Art. New York: George Braziller Inc., 1986.
  • SHARER, Robert,  The ancient Maya. Stanford (Calif.) : Stanford University Press, 2006 (6a ed.)
  • THOMPSON, John Eric, Grandeza y decadencia de los Mayas. México: F.C.E., 1985.
  • VAILLANT, George, La Civilización Azteca. México: F.C.E, 1980.
  • WESTHEIM, Paul, Ideas fundamentales del Arte prehispánico en México. Madrid: 1987.
  • WESTHEIM, Paul, Arte antiguo de México. Madrid: Alianza Forma, 1988.