4.619 Historiography of Islamic Architecture
Fall 2006
Instructor: Nasser Rabbat
TA: Azra Aksamija
Seminar: T2-5 (5-216)
Information:
Units: 3-0-9, H-Level Grad Credit
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor, open to advanced
undergraduates
Required Texts: Oleg Grabar, The Formation of Islamic Art (New
Haven: Yale University Press, 1973, 1987 2d ed.); Robert Irwin,
Islamic Art in Context: Art, Architecture and the Literary World.
(Upper Saddle River, NJ; New York: Prentice-Hall; H.N. Abrams,
1997); Yasser Tabbaa, The Transformation of Islamic Art during the
Sunni Revival (Seattle: University of Washington Press: 2001);
George Michell, ed. Architecture of the Islamic World: Its History
and Social Meaning, London: Thames and Hudson, 1978 [reprint
1984].
Background Text: Marshall G.S. Hodgson, The venture of Islam:
Conscience and History in a World Civilization 3 vols. (Chicago:
The University of Chicago Press, 1974).
Reference Tools in Islamic Art & Architecture: http://hcl.harvard.edu/research/guides/iaa/
Announcements
Meeting on Wednesday Nvo 29
Dear AllFor the sake of those among us who have a seminar meeting from 2 to 5 tomorrow, could we meet at 5:15 instead of 5.
Thanks
Nasser
Announced on 28 November 2006 6:23 p.m. by Nasser Rabbat
Visit to Cosmophilia and Make-Up Class
Dear AllProfessor Jonathan Bloom has agreed tomeet us at the shown next Tuesday the 28th of Nov. He suggested that we should be able to park for free (or a nominal amount) in the Beacon St Garage on campus. Just drive up to any of the little kiosks at the gate and ask for directions. They may let you park on the Middle Campus, depending on the time of day. Otherwise you'll get a pass for the garage.
We will still meet at 2:00 in lobby 7. With 3 cars we should be able to fit all.
We will meet back at the classfor an hour (4-5) where we will discuss the following:
Mehmet Agaoglu, "Remarks on the Character of Islamic Art." The Art Bulletin 36, 3 (September 1954): 175-202.
Oleg Grabar, "Reflections on the Study of Islamic Art," Muqarnas 1(1983): 1-14.
Ernest J. Grube, "What is Islamic Architecture," in: ed. G. Michell, Architecture of the Islamic World: Its History and Social Meaning (London, 1978), 10-14.
On Wednesday Nov 29, we will meet from 5 to 7 in 5-216 to discuss the following:
Jean-Charles Depaule, "Improbables detachements: l'architecture et les arts dans la culture islamique," Cahiers du Musee National d'Art Moderne 39 (Spring1992): 26-41.
Samer Akkach, “The Burden of Difference: Rethinking the Role of Culture in Architectural Education,” Architectural Theory Review 5:1 (April 2000), 61-64.
Franz Fanon The Wretched of the Earth, trans. Constance Farrington (New York: Grove Press, 1963), “On National Culture,” 167-99.
Have a happy Thanksgiving
Announced on 22 November 2006 8:35 p.m. by Nasser Rabbat
Reading for November 21
Dear allI will send three articles to be read for the meeting of November 21 with Kishwar Rizvi. Please come prepared with reports and questions.
Nasser
Announced on 14 November 2006 7:04 p.m. by Nasser Rabbat
Visit to FA Photo Collection
Dear AllThis is just to remind you that Jeff Spurr of the Aga Khan Documentation center at Harvard will be conducting a tour of the photographic collection at the Fine Arts Library tomorrow, Thursday October 26 at 4:00 pm. We will meet in front of the FA Library at 4:00.
Announced on 25 October 2006 6:25 p.m. by Nasser Rabbat
Lecture Monday
Dear AllThis is a reminder that our AKPIA speaker this Monday, Lorraine Declety, will be speaking about a topic of great interest to the class. Her talk's title is
Between Scholarship and Experience;
The German and French Discourse on Islamic Architecture
I am hoping to invite her to the seminar the next day to the seminar for further discussion.
I hope that you all can make it Monday at 5:30
Nasser
Announced on 19 October 2006 2:21 p.m. by Nasser Rabbat