Images, Visions and Dreams: Discovering Medieval Images (evening class)

Class every Wednesday 6pm to 8pm starting 23 October 2024

Discover the rich tapestry of European medieval visual culture with Dr. Sarah James, a renowned medievalist, on an fascinating journey through the vibrant world of medieval images. From wall paintings, tapestries and stained glass to manuscript illuminations, metalwork and painted statues, medieval society was immersed in imagery that was both decorative and deeply symbolic.

In this course, we will delve into the hidden meanings behind these fascinating images, exploring how they communicated knowledge, inspired emotions, and reflected the social and cultural contexts of their time. You’ll uncover the power of medieval images to evoke humor, affection, reverence, and even fear.

Over the 8 weeks of the course, Sarah will guide us through a wide range of media, helping us to understand the multifaceted roles of images in medieval life. We will also engage with literary and philosophical texts that offer insights into medieval perspectives on imagery and its place in the world. Unlike today, the medieval era did not draw clear lines between lived experience, fantasy, dreams, and visions, resulting in some of the most astonishing and vivid imagery ever created.

Whether you are new to the study of history, art, or literature, this course welcomes all curious minds. Join us for an unforgettable exploration of the medieval imagination and its enduring legacy.

No previous experience of history, visual studies or literature needed - all welcome.

Organised by Imperial College London's Adult Education Service

Participants will receive an Imperial College London attendance certificate

apply.

Programme (may be subject to modification)

1. Wednesday 23 October 2024: Reading images then and now
2. Wednesday 30 Octover 2024: Word and image: ekphrasis; images in the Gawain manuscript
3. Wednesday 6 November 2024: Monkey business: the hidden language of marginal images in manuscripts
4. Wednesday 13 November 2024: Public images: wall paintings and statues; preaching
5. Wednesday 20 November 2024: Light of heaven: stained glass; religious devotion
6. Wednesday 27 November 2024: Other worlds: images of heaven, hell and dream lands
7. Wednesday 4 December 2024: Controversy: iconophobia and iconoclasm
8. Wednesday 11 December 2024: Facing the past: medieval images now

Host or Publisher Imperial College London