Friday lates: Text as image from the Renaissance to now
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- Start Date: 20 Jun 2025End Date: 20 Jun 2025Last Spaces LeftFri (Evening): 18:00 - 20:00OnlineFull fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £12.00
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What is the course about?
It is tempting to see words in artworks as explanations of subject matter. Words feel like a shortcut to the meaning of an artwork. However, in most works of art, words are part of the image. They are meant to evoke ideas rather than define the image. This short course uses the theme of text as image to explore a wide range of artworks from around the world, from about 1400 to the present. The purpose of this course is to help you 'read' artworks better, but also to explore the possibility that words, like images, are not as clear as they appear to be.
This course takes a post-structuralist approach, a philosophical perspective that will be explained at the start of the session.
What will we cover?
-Post-structuralism, primarily the concepts of Roland Barthes
-The beauty of the word, calligraphy in China and Islam
-Graffiti
-Inscription and dedication in paintings, Van Eyck and Hans Holbein
-Captions and poems, Goya and William Blake
-Text as the art, contemporary artists Glenn Ligon, Jenny Holzer and Ed Ruscha.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
-Understand how to approach an artwork that contains text, the questions to begin to ask
-Discuss how at least one of the artists discussed uses text in their work
-Have a basic grasp of post-structuralist ideas on text and image.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is open to all levels. However, please note the course deals with philosophy as much as it deals with art, presenting a different kind of art history than some students may be accustomed to.
You will be taught online via Zoom and should therefore be comfortable with basic computer technology related to Zoom, its microphone, camera and chat functions.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught with slide presentation, lecture and brief discussion/question and answer. The session is 2 hours with a 5 minute screen break at the end of the first hour.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no additional costs. You may wish to bring a notebook to take notes.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Search our website for 'Friday Lates' to see a range of short courses on a variety of art historical topics.
Sarah Jaffray holds a BA and MA in Art History with an emphasis in 19th/20th century France and a minor in the Italian Renaissance. She holds a second MA in Cultural Theory from Goldsmiths, University of London. Sarah was a lecturer for several colleges and universities in the Los Angeles area before relocating to London in 2012. She has worked in curatorial roles at the British Museum and Wellcome Collection. In addition to her current teaching at City Lit, Sarah is a lecturer at the University of Arts London and the Tutor Coordinator for City Lit's Art History programme. Her art historical practice focuses on experimental narratives, artistic process, art pedagogy, politics and philosophy. Sarah's current research is focused on translation and empathy.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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