The MA in Renaissance Latin Culture is a one year, full-time degree (or two year, part-time degree) that offers a unique approach to renaissance studies through reconstructing and re-enacting some of the training and perspectives of renaissance humanists. While acquiring cutting edge research, analysis and communication skills, students also learn to read and speak Latin, to design exhibitions that articulate renaissance world-views, and to write imaginary funding proposals from the perspective of renaissance humanists.
The programme examines the development of renaissance culture (art, literature, language and society), providing students with a deep understanding of the emergence of the modern world through a period of classical revival. As well as providing an historically-informed perspective upon modern debates about the purpose and value of a humanities education, the course equips students with the knowledge and skills to undertake sophisticated historical and linguistic analysis of renaissance history, language and culture.
Course Practicalities
The course is designed to encourage sustained, guided learning that evolves from skills training and acquisition of contextual knowledge in small groups to independent research and writing under close personal supervision. During the first two semesters, there will typically be around 8 contact hours per week. Students will consistently have homework for language classes and assigned readings to complete for historical modules. Required study time typically increases in advance of language tests and assignment submission dates.
Two more intensive periods of study occur at the beginning of the course (two days intensive training in palaeography for module CC6008) and at the beginning of the third semester (a week-long summer school involving immersion in Spoken Latin for module HI6079). Students will be advised of the dates for these intensive periods of study well in advance.
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Who Teaches This Course
Dr Jason Harris: specialist in renaissance Latin and in early-modern intellectual and cultural history
Dr David Edwards: specialist in early-modern Irish political and cultural history;
Dr Hiram Morgan: specialist in early-modern Irish political and intellectual history;
Dr Diarmuid Scully: specialist in medieval intellectual and cultural history;
Dr Flavio Boggi: specialist in Italian renaissance art history;
Dr Caitríona O Dochartaigh: specialist in medieval Irish and palaeography;
Vicky Janssens: Latin language teacher
Unique Aspects of the Course
This course is unique in offering students progression from beginners Latin to an immersion experience in Spoken Latin as part of a reconstruction of the lived experience of renaissance humanists within the wider context of historical study of the early-modern period. Students also explore humanist world views through collaborative exhibition design and imaginative funding proposals from the perspective of renaissance humanist scholars. This emphasis upon engaging with humanist lives and thought through lived experience and reimagining represents a ground-breaking pedagogical innovation to supplement and augment the acquisition of formal training in historical analysis.