Author: Roisin Astell

Back to York

Published by

  The weather has been pretty dismal, as I am sure many of you know! Yesterday the river Mersey was somewhat distempered, and with some mighty huge waves. Here’s a  photo that I took right before a wave swooped over the rails and got my shoes all wet; not fun. So tomorrow I leave the confines and comforts of home life, to go back to York to tackle my Death and Devotion exam. The exams this year take the form of a 48 hour open exam – basically writing two 1500 word essays over two days. Gulp. Wish me luck.

Belated Merry Christmas!

Published by

I just wanted to write a quick post to say Merry Christmas to all out there! I hope everyone is having an enjoyable Christmas break. If you have exams – good luck, I hope the revision is going well. Don’t get too worked up about trying to revise every minute of the day (If you’re like me). Try and have some relaxation time and enjoy spending the Christmas break with your family and those you love. On that note – I’m off to see what’s in the christmas sales! Sending festive cheer!

‘And so this is Christmas’

Published by

  I cannot believe that term has finished and I am back in the comforts of family home living. This term has been hectic, but in a good way. My ‘Death and Devotion’ module has been beyond awesome – I have been completely inspired and wish I could just keep learning! My Tutor Emily has been very inspiring. I have always been interested in the Medieval period, and was always intending to hopefully continue my studies within this period, and this course has just confirmed it. From studying France and England, to Spain, Bohemia and Italy – I feel that I have traveled as a pilgrim so to speak throughout my reading and learning. Even though I’ve really enjoyed the module and all the reading, it is nice to have a break and put my feet up! This holiday will see me relaxing, catching up on readings not completed and getting all my material and revision ready for my open book exam in the beginning of January (a topic I shall not discuss any further …

Art History Christmas Party

Published by

On Wednesday 4th December 2013 at 19:30 the Art History society are hosting their annual Christmas party! Tickets cost £15, and food will take the form of a wide variety of buffet food and a glass of wine. There will also be a band performing, so check out the facebook page to keep up-to-date with information. For more information check out the facebook event page! https://www.facebook.com/events/651118501606418/?source=1 If you want to buy your tickets you can buy them here: http://www.yusu.org/tickets/ticket/5021

This week – Alfonso X’s Cantigas

Published by

This week in ‘Death and Devotion’ we have moved swiftly from Paris and England, and are now focusing on Castile and Leon. Within this, we are primarily looking at King Alfonso X’s Cantigas! The Cantigas are a collection of poems about the Virgin Mary which would have been performed in the court, and during the feast days of the Virgin. I’m not going to lie, before encountering this week I was a little skeptical as to what the Cantigas would sound like. But after reading more about them, the historical context and political propaganda behind their conception; I actually quite like them! Here are a few for you to enjoy! I think it’s fascinating that people during the medieval period would have listened to these, and would have invested emotional resonance into them. History of Art definitely incorporates pretty much everything you can think of, and I think that this week proves it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwh0m5EzRXg Cantigas 137 is my favourite, it’s just so cheerful! I feel like I am actually back in the Middle Ages listening …