| CODE | BLH4012 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Traditional Materials and Technologies | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 10 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Conservation and Built Heritage | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit will provide a broad overview of the main materials and technological processes used to produce a selection of decorative surfaces. The overview will also include key developments of these technological processes in the Maltese as well as the more general European and Mediterranean contexts. The importance of understanding traditional materials and techniques when defining the values of cultural heritage will also be emphasized. Primary sources and technical studies will be the basic sources of information, and actual case studies will be examined at first hand during the site visits. Students will be asked to research a specific technological process in relation to a traditional artifact and to present their research in a seminar at the end of the study unit. The site visit component is designed to encourage students to put into practice the theoretical frameworks acquired in the classroom, in order to 'read' a historical artefact and/or decorative surface, and/or a building. Emphasis will also be placed on the use of traditional materials, tools and technologies to develop practical and manual skills including manual dexterity. Study-unit Aims: The aims are: - to provide an introduction to the traditional techniques and technologies used for a target selection of decorative surfaces from antiquity to the present, through the use of primary sources and technical studies; - to provide an understanding of the implications of materials and technologies for the assessment of values of these decorative surfaces; - to use traditional materials, methods and tools to develop manual and practical skills. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the processes used in the manufacture of a given decorative surface; - Use the appropriate terminology to describe traditional manufacturing processes of decorative surfaces. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply the observation skills learnt during the course to systematically describe a decorative surfaces; - Identify key stages and events in the history of an object through an examination of its materials and workmanship; - Demonstrate the ability to handle traditional tools correctly and to choose and use traditional materials in a suitable manner to produce a replica or image of a decorative surface. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: Adam J.P., 1994, Roman Buildings, Materials and Techniques, Indiana University Press. Borg J. G., 1975, Is-Sengha tal-Bini, 2nd edition, Progress Press, Malta. Cennino Cennini, The Craftsman's Handbook, translated by Daniel V. Thompson, Jr. Dover. New York, 1963. Mahoney L., 1996, 5000 Years of Architecture in Malta, Valletta Publishing, Malta. Skola Glormu Cassar, Reprint 2004, Il-Bennej, DOI, Malta. Vasari On Technique, translated by L.C. Maclehose. Dover. New York, 1960. Vitruvius, The Ten Books of Architecture, translated by M.H. Morgan. Dover. New York, 1960. Supplementary Readings: Rockwell P., The Art of Stoneworking: a reference guide. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, 1995. Spiteri S., 2008, The Art of Fortress Building in Hospitaller Malta, BDL Publishing, Malta. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Blended Learning | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Maxine Anastasi Mark Azzopardi Jo Ann Cassar Roberta De Angelis Chiara Pasian |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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