Religion 331DE - Destroying Art Past and Pres.

In this course, we will investigate the destruction of artworks and monuments for religious or political reasons, called iconoclasm. The seminar addresses the current debates involving the removal and destruction of confederate monuments in the U.S. and responses from government, media, and social critics. Concurrently, we will study key historical moments of iconoclasm ranging from the Byzantine era to the Protestant Reformation and the French Revolution. Studying iconoclasms in different historical periods raises the issue of the power of art in society. Through class discussion, group work, original research, and writing, we will explore how past iconoclasms may inform our understanding of the present. The work also involves an inquiry into art historical methodology as well as approaches from fields such as critical race theory, and a consideration of the role of the art historian in the present debates and social justice movements.