The Plastic Arts in Judaism — the First 3,000 Years

A documentary exhibition combined with lecture and discussion series on the function fulfilled by art in Judaism in the Biblical era, Hellenistic and Byzantine eras, the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Modern eras. Discussions on issues such as: Who is a Jewish artist? What is the meaning and consequence of the controversy within Judaism about allowing creation and exhibition of plastic arts? How do statues and pictures function as commentary on Biblical creativity (for example, 3rd century Dura Europos)? [Note: this course would not be supported by a Posen Foundation Grant as a stand-alone course, and works only in the context of a larger program in the study of Judaism as Culture or Secular Judaism.]

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