General Instructions:

The first paper is an essay asking you to relate written and visual evidence, drawing on the resources of Washington, DC. In order to complete this assignment, you need to go out and visit your chosen object. You do not need background to do this assignment, just some common sense and the willingness to take the time to look closely. Describe your chosen object in clear, descriptive language and offer an informed analysis of the artifact.

Paper Format:

All papers must use the following format. Papers that do not conform to this format will be marked down.

Length: five pages

Line spacing: double-spaced

Margins: 1 inch on all sides

Font: Times New Roman, size 12

Grading and Late Policy:

See the syllabus for details.

Academic Honesty:

Academic honesty is expected of all CUA students. Faculty are required to initiate the imposition of sanctions when they find violations of academic honesty, such as plagiarism, improper use of a student's own work, cheating, and fabrication. The following sanctions are presented in the University procedures related to Student Academic Dishonesty (from https://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrityprocedures.cfm): "The presumed sanction for undergraduate students for academic dishonesty will be failure for the course. There may be circumstances, however, where, perhaps because of an undergraduate student's past record, a more serious sanction, such as suspension or expulsion, would be appropriate. In the context of graduate studies, the expectations for academic honesty are greater, and therefore the presumed sanction for dishonesty is likely to be more severe, e.g., expulsion. ...In the more unusual case, mitigating circumstances may exist that would warrant a lesser sanction than the presumed sanction." Please review the complete texts of the University policy and procedures regarding Student Academic Dishonesty, including requirements for appeals, at https://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrity.cfm and https://policies.cua.edu/academicundergrad/integrityprocedures.cfm.

You must do all your own work and clearly indicate any use of the work of others. Both direct quotations and indirect use of the work of other people must be explicitly noted in your written work. This is true for the use of print materials and the Internet and any other materials you consult. If you use the museum catalogues, brochures, websites, or wall descriptions, cite these too!

Choose one of the following objects below to write your paper on.

Option 1: Icon of St. Thomas at Dumbarton Oaks

Location: Dumbarton Oaks Museum (to be visited by the class on February 21) is located at 1703 32nd St. NW; https://www.doaks.org/. The museum is open to the public 2-5pm daily and admission is free. To get there: take the metro to Dupont Circle and then walk (a good 20 minutes or so) or take the circulator bus. 

Artifact: Look at object no: BZ.1937.7, which is a mid-tenth century plaque showing the Incredulity of Thomas.

Text: Read the following Gospel passage (John 20:24-29) and use it to compare to the image:

24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them

when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.'

But he said to them, 'Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put

my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not

believe.' 26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was

with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and

said, 'Peace be with you.' 27 Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here and

see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but

believe.' 28 Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!' 29 Jesus said to him,

'Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not

seen and yet have come to believe.'

Questions to consider: How does the object relate to the Gospel text? What aspects of the story does the artist emphasize? What choices has he made in how to depict the figure? What is the impact of the chosen material of the object? What effects would the plaque have on a viewer? How might it have been displayed or used?

Option 2: Scroll of St. Basil, 'Heaven and Earth' exhibit, The National Gallery of Art

Location: The exhibit in the West building of the National Gallery of Art is up until March 2 (the class will visit on February 28). The museum is located on Constitution Avenue, between 3rd and 9th streets. The closest metro stop is Archives on the green and yellow lines, or Judiciary Square on the red line. Admission is free and the museum is open 10-5 Monday through Saturday and 11-6 on Sunday.

 

Artifact: The scroll is an illuminated scroll containing prayers composed by St. Basil. It was written in the twelfth century, a period when most works were written in codex (book) form, not as scrolls. The scroll is open to an image of Saints Basil and John Chrysostom, major figures in the Byzantine church, in a church around an altar. Above are portraits of Peter and Paul, and, at the very top, the Virgin Mary.

 

Text: The liturgy of St. Basil is available in translation at: https://www.goarch.org/chapel/liturgical_texts/basil.  You need not read the entire text, but read a portion and use it to give yourself a sense of what was written in the text accompanying the image of Sts. Basil and John. Bring a device with you where you can consult the liturgical text while in the museum, or print out the parts you have chosen to focus on. 

Questions to consider: Why was this written as a scroll? How does the image relate to the text below? What is the impact of setting the figures into a church space? What is the impact of the materials used? How would this scroll have been used?

Option 3: Imperial coins

Location and Artifact: There are selections of Byzantine imperial coins on display both at the National Gallery of Art exhibit and at Dumbarton Oaks (details on both institutions are above). Select one of those coins and compare it to the Charlemagne coin we have examined in class. 

Text: The text in this case is the inscription on the coins; be sure you choose a coin where the catalogue or wall plaque gives you the details of the inscription.

Questions to consider: How do the coins differ? What elements does each coin focus on? How do the inscription and image on each coin combine? What kinds of arguments about royal or imperial power do the coins make? What do you need to know to understand the images and text on the coins?