UVA in Prague: Threshold of European Art and Culture
In this course, students will learn the visual and cultural history of Prague and the Czech Republic, one of the most important Central European sites, and former seat of the Holy Roman Empire. At the intersection of eastern and western cultural roots and traditions, the art history of Prague from its earliest Romanesque roots to the fall of Communism and even current contemporary artistic exploration following the Velvet Revolution of 1989, constitutes a unique lens through which to explore all periods of European art and culture. This course focuses upon early and medieval traditions in week one and then continues with Renaissance, Baroque, fin-de-siècle, Communist, and independent Czech traditions in week two. Daily explorations of art historical topics are complemented by local lectures on culture, language, literature, and politics from the local Czech staff at Park Lane International School.