IAA745 Calligraphy in Islamic Art and Architecture

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course provides an intensive survey of the historical development of the Arabic script and its application across a wide range of artistic and architectural media. It examines the central role of calligraphy in Islamic cultures, exploring its aesthetic, religious, intellectual, and cultural significance. Emphasis is placed on the communicative, decorative, and symbolic functions of calligraphy in both religious and secular contexts, including manuscripts, architecture, ceramics, metalwork, textiles, and other artistic media. Through close visual analysis and selected case studies, students will investigate the evolution of Arabic scripts and the diverse ways calligraphy has shaped the visual culture of the Islamic world.