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HA960-30 Deconstructing Medieval and Early Modern Buildings

Department
SCAPVC - History of Art
Level
Taught Postgraduate Level
Module leader
Jennifer Alexander
Credit value
30
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

Introductory description

Very few historic buildings have escaped alteration over the period in which they have been in use. Changes to liturgy, and to society, have required that the buildings are adapted to accommodate these changes. By studying the fabric of the buildings, reading the evidence in the structure and combining this with documentary research it is possible to build up a picture of the whole history of individual monuments.

Module aims

This research-based module introduces students to the subject of buildings archaeology and gives them the chance to get involved in a current research project on a local building, so that they also gain practical experience. Aspects such as building materials, documentary research, antiquarian and topographical studies, stylistic analysis and comparative studies will be evaluated as sources of information and scientific methods of analysis such as dendrochronology examined.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Methodologies for Interpreting Buildings
Antiquarianism
Structural Development
Building Materials
Masons, Surveyors and Architects
Geometry and the medieval Mason
Design books and their uses in the 16th-18th Centuries
Case Study Lincoln Cathedral
The Country House as a subject for study

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Demonstrate an in-depth ability understanding of the design and construction methods used for medieval and early-modern buildings
  • Deploy skills in documentary research
  • Analyse constructions using archaeological methodologies
  • Initiate and sustain group discussion through intelligent questioning and debate at an appropriate level
  • Ability to undertake research and to write up the results in the form of a well-structured argument using accurately specific techniques of analysis and enquiry at an appropriate level
  • familiarity with essential ICT skills
  • Ability to conduct independent research and analysis
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with others
  • Ability to evaluate one’s own needs and intellectual progress
  • Show understanding of diverse viewpoints
  • Ability to find, select, organize and synthesize evidence
  • Ability to formulate a sustained argument
  • Think conceptually and independently at an appropriate level
  • Sophisticated visual analysis
  • Bibliographical skills at an appropriate level
  • Critical analysis of cultural artefacts in their context

Indicative reading list

Richard K Morriss, The Archaeology of Buildings, (Stroud 2000)
Warwick Rodwell, The Archaeology of Churches, (Stroud 2005) 3rd edn
Lance Smith, Investigating Old Buildings, (London 1985)
Jason Wood (ed.) Buildings Archaeology Applications in Practice, (Oxford 1994)
Tim Tatton-Brown and Julian Munby (eds) The Archaeology of Cathedrals, (Oxford 1996)
Jean Gimpel, The Cathedral Builders, (Salisbury 1983)
L.F. Salzman, Building in England down to 1540, (Oxford 1967) 2nd edn

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

  • Demonstrate an in-depth ability understanding of the design and construction methods used for medieval and early-modern buildings
  • Deploy skills in documentary research
  • Analyse constructions using archaeological methodologies
  • sophisticated visual analysis
  • critical analysis of cultural artefacts in their context

Transferable skills

  • initiate and sustain group discussion through intelligent questioning and debate at an appropriate level
  • ability to undertake research and to write up the results in the form of a well-structured argument using accurately specific techniques of analysis and enquiry at an appropriate level
  • familiarity with essential ICT skills
  • ability to conduct independent research and analysis
  • ability to collaborate effectively with others
  • ability to evaluate one’s own needs and intellectual progress
  • show understanding of diverse viewpoints
  • ability to find, select, organize and synthesize evidence
  • ability to formulate a sustained argument
  • think conceptually and independently at an appropriate level
  • bibliographical skills at an appropriate level

Study time

Type Required
Seminars 10 sessions of 4 hours (13%)
Tutorials 3 sessions of 1 hour (1%)
External visits 1 session of 2 hours (1%)
Private study 255 hours (85%)
Total 300 hours

Private study description

Required and recommended reading for seminars and tutorials and research for written assessment.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A2
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
5,000 Word Essay 90% No

Assessed Essay

Reassessment component is the same
Assessment component
Engagement 10% No
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Written feedback and dedicated feedback tutorials

Courses

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 1 of TRSA-V1PF Postgraduate Taught Culture of the European Renaissance

This module is Option list A for:

  • Year 1 of THAA-V4PJ Postgraduate Taught History of Art and Visual Studies

This module is Option list C for:

  • Year 1 of TPHA-V7PN Postgraduate Taught Philosophy and the Arts