Greece and Italy: An Artistic and Literary Odyssey

The legacy of the Greek and Italian cultures in the Western world -- from the Minoan world to that of the Italian Renaissance -- continues to hold considerable sway over contemporary cultures. The great writings and powerful visual arts that were produced in Greece and Italy established standards of excellence which succeeding generations have both struggled against and paid homage to up to the present day. In this program, we will study the texts and monuments of two of the most dynamic and seminal cultures in Western history: Classical Greece and Renaissance Italy. We will read writings from the periods we study, such as Homer's Odyssey , Aeschylus' Oresteia , and Vasari's Lives of the Artists, as well as contemporary offerings such as Mary Renault's The King Must Die and Roberto Calasso's The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony. Throughout the program we will learn about modern rediscoveries and re-interpretations of all of these periods and places, including our own, which may culminate in a journey to Greece and Italy.

Fall quarter ("Naissance"), we will investigate the rise of the Greek polis , or city-state, from the ashes of the Bronze Age Aegean civilizations and that of the Etruscans in what is now Tuscany. In addition to reading primary source materials, we will study the architecture, sculpture and painted pottery that was produced. To further our understanding, we will also study the ancient Greek language and the basics of drawing.

Winter quarter ("Renaissance"), our focus will be on the Roman appropriation of Greek art and thought and the later Florentine rediscovery and interpretation of the Classical past. We'll study how 15th-century Italians used the ideas they found in classical literature and learning as the basis for revolutions both in artistic practices and the conception of humanity. We will continue our study of ancient Greek and also learn the basics of photography.

During the spring ("Odyssey"), we may travel to Greece and Italy for an eight-week period, visiting, studying and holding seminars in sites and cities that are synonymous with the classical world and the Renaissance. If travel abroad is funded, we will start in Crete, visiting the Palace of Knossos and other important places on the island. Next, we will travel to mainland Greece where we will visit numerous sites, including Athens, Corinth, Olympia and Delphi. The last four weeks will be spent in Florence, where we will make side-trips both to nearby Etruscan sites and the cities of Pisa and Siena.