Courses

This 2015 English Cultural Landscape programme will consist of four courses that will enable students to investigate the wide range of English material culture found in the cultural landscape today. Two courses will deal with English architecture, one course with English material culture, and one with issues relating to heritage conservation and the way in which English landscape and culture are displayed in museums and historic sites. There are no prerequisites for any of these courses.

A History of English Architecture I: Roman to Medieval

Jerry Pocius

This course will examine the English architectural traditions that had the initial and most permanent impact on the cultural landscape that is seen today. Architecture will be examined chronologically: Roman building types and materials; Anglo-Saxon housing; the various stages of the medieval (Romanesque, Gothic, Decorated, Perpendicular), and the initial impact of the Renaissance on Tudor buildings. All types of privileged buildings will be examined: cathedrals, castles, parish churches. Vernacular housing will be examined as well. Architecture will be examined as a cultural product of time and place.

A History of English Architecture II: Early Modern to Postmodern

Jerry Pocius

An examination of buildings from the seventeenth century to the present. The Tudor rebuilding of the English landscape will be examined, with discussions of Continental influences on forms and technologies. Eighteenth century Georgian styles will be discussed, and their impact on urban cities and towns. The nineteenth century was largely a century of style revivals, followed by the twentieth century's concern with form and materials. Buildings elite, popular and vernacular will be examined, public architecture as well as private dwellings. As in the earlier course, architecture will be examined as a cultural product of time and place.

English Material Culture

Archaeology instructor

An examination of English material culture, with an emphasis on the decorative arts, discussing the historical and cultural significance of various artifact forms. A broad range of materials will be covered, including furniture, ceramics, glassware, and other household artifacts. Regional traditions will be used to examine current theoretical issues in material culture and historical archaeological research--both within the current British scene, and in connection with North American colonial contexts.

English Museums and Historic Sites

Jerry Pocius

An exploration of the development of England's museums and historic sites with a focus on large institutional museums, English Heritage-registered sites and UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Lectures will cover the beginnings of the museum movement in the 17th century to the declaration of UNESCO sites in the 20th century. Themes include the evolution of private "curios cabinet" collections of the wealthy to the first public museums; the classification of collections; influences of the World Exhibition movement; the modern museums of the 21st century. The history of UNESCO and how it chooses world heritage sites will also be covered. In addition to the traditional English museum, ecclesiastical buildings and manor houses as heritage sites will be examined.

Cross-listing

In previous ECL programmes, all four courses have been cross-listed with Folklkore, History, and Archaeology. Two courses have been cross-listed with Geography. A similar request will be made for the 2015 programme.

Evaluation

Evaluation for these courses will be based on:

1. Mid-term examinations that will be written at the end of the six weeks of classes in St. John's and before departure for Harlow.

2. A field journal that will document the field trips.

3. Field research project. Each student will choose one course in which to do a field research project which will consist of a library paper completed before departure to Harlow, and a field documentation paper on the materials of the project. This paper will be due upon our return to Canada.

4. Final examinations. Three final exams will be written in Harlow, one in each of the remaining three courses non-field project courses.