Instructor: Ellen Handler Spitz and R. Howard Bloch
Meeting: T Th 1p-2:15p
What can words say that images cannot, and what can images say that words cannot? In quest of answers, we consider a set of examples taken from visual and verbal media that stimulate discussion of word-image connections and collaborations. A static visual image is perceived as a whole all at once, while verbal language is experienced through time, like music. Do these modes evoke different ranges of emotion? Are they processed differently deep in that zone where ideas and feelings lead to action? How do words and images enhance, undercut, elaborate each other? Examples are drawn from historical periods ranging from prehistory to the present, focusing on ancient and Renaissance art and ekphrasis; medieval stained glass, manuscripts, and textiles; children’s illustrated books; graphic memoirs and comics. Additional topics include Egyptian hieroglyphs, Chinese characters, and modernist visual poetry.