What pictures reveal

Pictures have existed since the early days of man and through all periods in human history – in illiterate prehistoric societies as well as in the cultures of Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome up to the present. They provide cultural insights into how people lived – what they wore, what they ate – as well as what they thought and in which gods they believed. That is why pictures have a particularly high standing in archaeological sciences. In the lecture series „Visual Culture and Anthropology,“ archaeologists from various specialties will examine the phenomenon of pictures using examples from places such as Greece, Egypt, Central Asia and China. They will discuss the characteristics and meanings of pictures in the various eras and societies, but also what you can learn about people from the pictures themselves.

The series will kick off on May 15, 2017 at 6:15pm with a lecture by Prof. Dr. Philippe Descola from the Collège de France Paris entitled  „Images as indexes of ontological pluralism“. In his mind, pictures are an expression of the ontological. He applies an ethnological-sociological perspective, claiming that every culture has its own basic view about the body and mind and that both can be connected through pictures. Descola will examine the ways in which pictures can be used as evidence to support this assumption – and what they say about „worldviews“. Further dates include May 29, June 12, July 10, and July 24. The lectures all begin at 6:15pm and take place in the Kollegiengebäude I, Lecture hall 1015.

The series is organized by the Institute of Archaeological Sciences at the University of Freiburg and is sponsored by the „Landesinitiative Kleine Fächer“ (State initiative for specialized fields) Baden-Württemberg. The event is open to the general public and the lectures will be held in German and English. The admission is free and no registration is required.

Further information and the program

Flyer for the lecture series


Contact:
Prof. Dr. Ralf von den Hoff
Institute of Archaeological Sciences, Department of Classic Archaeology.
Tel.: 0761/203-3072 (oder -3073)
Fax: 0761/203-3113
E-Mail: vd.hoff@archaeologie.uni-freiburg.de