FA 0080 World Religious Architecture (Fall 2006)

This course examines a rich variety of the world’s major religious buildings and complexes, focusing particular attention on understanding structural, functional and aesthetic characteristics of individual monuments. Societal conditions and religious beliefs that affected their design and meaning will be examined through readings, discussion and visual/contextual analysis. The primary question we should continually ask ourselves in this course is “How does this structure or complex physically demonstrate spirituality and the religious beliefs of those for whom it was constructed?”

At the conclusion of this course, you will:

1. Possess a strong understanding of world religions and the ways in which religious beliefs are expressed in physical space.
2. Recognize and comprehend the function and meaning of significant religious monuments.
3. Write expressively and thoughtfully about sacred space.
4. Have intimate knowledge of a specific Johnstown area religious structure, acquired through extensive research, observation and analysis.

There is no textbook for this class; therefore, attendance and good note-taking is vital to succeeding in this class. Essential required readings are found on the course web site, with the expectation that you are reading this material in preparation for class discussion.

Faculty Statement:

My role is to facilitate learning through lecture and clarification of specific points through questioning and discussion, whether in the classroom, during office hours or via electronic correspondence. It is your responsibility to attend class, take accurate notes and approach me with any questions and issues for clarification in a timely manner.

Attendance:

While there is no attendance policy for this course, be forewarned that most of what you will be tested on is discussed thoroughly in class. Nothing replaces viewing the images projected on screen. Therefore, regular attendance is necessary to succeed in this course. In addition, as classroom discussion is expected, poor attendance will adversely affect you if it comes down to a borderline decision on your final grade.

Notes and Note Taking:

Under no circumstances do I provide notes for missed classes. It is your responsibility, if you miss a class, to acquire the lecture notes from a classmate. Class assignments and announcements are available on the course website. You may tape-record lectures as long as you inform the instructor in advance, and do not disturb others in the class.

Makeup Exams:

I give make-up exams only in cases with legitimate, documented reasons (death in the family, personal hospitalization, required fieldtrips, etc.). In such cases, inform me as soon as possible and provide written confirmation of your absence. The make-up exam must be taken within one week of the scheduled test; only one makeup exam per student will be permitted. No one can make-up the final exam, which must be taken at the scheduled time during finals week.

Late Assignments:

No extensions are granted for class assignments. The due dates are clearly noted on the syllabus at the beginning of the semester. You should begin each assignment in a timely manner and even complete assignments early. Illness or any other excuse has no bearing on the fact that your work was not turned in on time. Any assignment not turned in by the due date will not be graded, thus earning 0 points for the work. No exceptions are permitted so do not ask!

Academic Integrity:

Please read carefully the Academic Integrity Guidelines in your student handbook. They are followed to the letter in this course. There is ZERO tolerance for cheating or plagiarism. Any time that you use another person’s words or thoughts as your own without giving them proper credit is plagiarism. Any instance of cheating or plagiarism will result in an automatic "F" (0 points) for that assignment, and steps will be taken, according to the Academic Integrity Guidelines, to receive an "F" for the course and for action leading to expulsion from the university. I will not permit re-writing any suspected plagiarized assignment.

Disabilities:

Overall, you can earn 500 points during the semester. On this scale:

500-490 (A+)                         489-465 (A)                            464-450 (A-)

449-440 (B+)                         439-415 (B)                             414-400 (B-)

399-390 (C+)                         389-365 (C)                            364-350 (C-)

349-300 (D)                            299 and below (F)

Your grade will be determined in the following manner:

There will be four exams during the semester (September 25, October 20, November 13 and December 12), each worth 100 points. The format will be multiple choice, and short essay questions drawn from class notes and readings. The final will NOT be comprehensive, but will cover only the material since the last exam. I will post study guides on the course website, and facilitate online study sessions before each exam.

Rather than writing a traditional term paper, this semester we will instead be utilizing our newly-founded powers of architectural observation to analyze and document historical churches in the Johnstown area. The goal is to generate the beginnings of a historical guidebook that would be of great benefit to the local community. All student contributions will be fully acknowledged if a published version is produced.

In consultation with the professor, each student will select a specific religious building to research during the semester. A list of possible topics will be posted in the near future on the course web site under “Assignments.” You must meet with the professor during posted appointment times, and receive approval for your topic before proceeding. Formal consultations will be set up beginning the week of October 2 (a signup sheet will be placed on my office door), but anyone who wants to get started even earlier may meet with me during my regular office hours.

Once your building is chosen, you need to visit the structure and photograph it (inside and out, with permission, of course), and begin to research its history. Make inquiries of church members. Consult local histories and archives, including those housed in the Cambria County Library and other such entities. If desired, the professor will organize several trips to Johnstown neighborhoods with those individuals working on the churches present there, and offer suggestions for analysis and comparison.

The ultimate goal here is to produce a sort of catalog entry on each building, with information not only regarding the actual physical structure, but also the people who have and do use it today. How do the physical work of architecture, its decorative accents, and the sacred space shaped by these elements mold the religious experience for the worshipper? In addition to basic information such as building date, physical street location, materials used, etc., you would want to note things such as: current (and past) name of church; denomination with which its congregation is associated; any unique ethnic groups associated with the building and how they impacted its structure or decoration; and how is the structure a reflection of the neighborhood in which is was built.

August 28                    Course Introduction

August 30                    Sacred vs. Religious Space

September 01              Prehistoric Ritual Centers: Ggantija and Stonehenge

September 04              No Class—Labor Day

September 06              “Sacred Mountains” in Mesopotamia

September 08              The Pyramid Form in Ancient Egypt

September 11              Ancient Cult Temples in Egypt

September 13              Pyramids as “Sacred Mountain” in Mesoamerica       

September 15              Pyramids as “Sacred Mountain” in Mesoamerica (con’t)

September 18              Ancient Sanctuaries in Greece

September 20              Ancient Greek Temples, including the Athenian Akropolis

September 22              The Akropolis: Athens (con’t)

September 25              Exam I

September 27              Roman Religious Architecture as Political Propaganda: The Pantheon

September 29              The Development of the Early Christian Basilica-Planned Church

October 02                  Early Christian Central-Planned Religious Buildings

October 04                  Byzantine Architecture: Hagia Sophia

October 06                  The Emergence of Islam: Dome of the Rock

October 09                  Islamic Mosques: Origins and Regional Styles

October 11                  Taj Mahal and Earthly Visions of Islamic Paradise

October 13                  Northern European Transitions from Paganism to Christianity

October 16                  Romanesque Churches: Regional Styles

October 18                  The Medieval Christian Monastery

October 20                  Exam II

October 23                  Gothic Cathedral as Heavenly Jerusalem

October 25                  Notre Dame at Chartres and Sainte Chapelle, Paris

October 27                  English Gothic

October 30                  The Temple of Solomon/Sistine Chapel

November 01              New St. Peter’s in Rome        

November 03              Baroque and Rococo Churches

November 06              Modernist Ideas and Religious Architecture

November 08              Modernist Religious Architecture (con’t)

November 10              Contemporary Religious Architecture

November 13              Exam III

November 15              Hinduism: Early Developments at Elephanta and Ellora

November 17              Southern vs. Northern Style Temples

November 20              Angkor Wat

November 22              No Classes—Thanksgiving Recess

November 24              No Classes—Thanksgiving Recess

November 27              Buddhism in India: Great Stupa at Sanchi

November 29              Buddhist Monasteries and Lecture Halls at Karli and Ajanta

December 01               Buddhism in China

December 04               Buddhism in Japan

December 06               Shinto Shrines in Japan: Great Ise Shrine

December 08               Concluding Thoughts/Wrap-up  * Term Project due