CLASS 6736 - Ekphrasis: The Art of Description from Homer to Anne Carson

(crosslisted) ARTH 6730, COML 6736

Fall. 4 credits. Letter grades only.

V. Platt.

This course explores the use of “speech that brings the subject matter vividly before the eyes.” Known in classical antiquity as ekphrasis, this trope has received intense attention in recent decades across the fields of classical philology, art history, and literary studies. Setting ekphrasis within its broad context of use within antiquity (from rhetorical handbooks and speeches to epic poetry, epigrams, and technical treatises), we will trace the process by which the term has come to refer specifically to descriptions of works of art. From Homer’s shield of Achilles to the vivid descriptions of the Greek novel, this ‘sub-genre’ of ekphrasis has also enjoyed a rich reception in later western literature, from Keats and Browning to Ashbery and Carson. Students will be encouraged to explore ekphrastic techniques across genres, cultures, and periods (and to practice writing ekphraseis themselves), whilst also considering the degree to which the discipline of art history is grounded in ekphrastic practice. All literature will be available in translation.