From its earliest uses as an imitation of rock crystal to Michael Craig-Martin’s exploration of the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation, glass has been pressed into artistic service, crafted and collected. In this series of art history lectures we look at the various ways in which glass has been used by artists as a medium, a carrier and a subject in art. From the colourful stained glass that entered Gothic cathedrals an essential part of the medieval materialisation of the heavenly Jerusalem to the conceptual exploration of the transubstantial argument that a glass of water can also be an oak tree, this series of lectures promises the usual mix of insightful scholarship and surprising detail.
Course aim
This course discusses the various ways in which glass has been used by artists as a medium, a carrier and a subject in art. Topics range from stained glass in medieval cathedrals to modern conceptual art.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- I will understand how glass has been used in the visual arts over time.
- I will gain insights into the unique qualities of glass as an artistic medium.
- I will understand how glass as medium connects with philosophical ideas of seeing and being.
- I will learn about analysing and interpreting visual works of art.
What else do I need to know?
You will need an internet connection, speakers, a microphone and a webcam so that you can use our video learning platform, Zoom, and a personal email address to join the WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas.
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