Monday, September 10, 2012

ART HIST 4E03: Readings & Questions for Monday Sept. 17

The guideline handout for the essay proposal, oral presentation and essay is currently available at the SOTA office (TSH 414). Please ask at the desk. With respect to the reading for next week (Monday Sept. 17) please note that I have changed the selection from the outline. The reading is now:

Paula Findlen, "Jokes of Nature and Jokes of Knowledge: The Playfulness of Scientific Discourse in early Modern Europe," Renaissance Quarterly. vol. XLIII, no. 2, (Summer 1990), pp. 292ff.

Please note that two photocopies of the text have been placed in the SOTA office for you to borrow and duplicate (recommended). As noted during this morning's seminar I would ask that you borrow the readings for no more than 1- 2 hours so that others may have a chance to go over the material in a timely manner. I suggest that you photocopy the text for yourself so that you can read it thoroughly. Please note that this journal publication is also available online through JSTOR. 

In preparation for next week's class I am asking you to consider the following questions in relation to the reading:

1. What is Findlen’s argument in this essay?

2. What, according to Findlen, were the uses of lusus (jokes) in 16th- and 17th-century scientific enquiry and discourse?

3. Findlen discusses Pliny’s thoughts on lusus naturae (jokes of nature). What were Pliny’s thoughts on this matter and why does Findlen draw the reader’s attention to his views?

4. The Jesuit polymath Athanasius Kircher is also mentioned. What were his particular views on lusus naturae and why are they mentioned in the course of Findlen’s discussion?

5. Findlen refers to a variety of optical illusions (mirrors and anamorphic images, for eg.) that were popular in the 17th century. Of what significance were these devices and illusory games according to Findlen?

6. Findlen’s essay deals with the interests of joking in the context of Renaissance and Baroque scientific culture. How might the period concepts of lusus naturae have played into (or have had an impact upon) art and art theory?

Please consider these questions and come to class prepared to respond.

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