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HYBRID (IN-PERSON): The Ancient Art of Mesoamerica   

**This class will be taught as a Hybrid. This section of the class will be In-Person**

Embark on an odyssey through ancient Mesoamerica, where its art reveals fascinating origin myths,  incredible artistic skill, and profound worldviews. As we travel through the underworld, we encounter  celestial entities and transformative shamanic powers that transcend time and cross spiritual  boundaries. Prepare to be inspired by the legacy of Mesoamerica as we travel from the stunning Mayan  temples to the monumental sculptures of the Olmec and Zapotec cultures before meeting with the ever influential Teotihuacan society. Join us on an adventure towards the enduring testament of the human  spirit of creativity, connecting a vibrant tapestry of ancient beliefs, languages, and traditions. 

Week by Week Outline

Week 1. Introducing the Popol Vuh, the sacred “Mayan Bible” that will open our world and connect us to  an ancient past through the spiritual realm. This text will act as a companion to introducing and exploring  artworks. 

Week 2. Enter the Mayan underworld that shows us how today's geological formations have shaped  ancient understandings of the celestial realm. Examine symbolism in visual art and oral traditions that  continue exerting force on our world today. 

Week 3. The mother culture of Mesoamerica, the Olmec, will connect us to the deep history of ideas long  associated with the Maya, present a wider angle of origin myths crossing cultural boundaries, and  introduce us to a phenomenal "recycling" of art. 

Week 4. Examine the beginning of Mesoamerican time through the Zapotec culture's incredible art and  architectural structures that offer an early insight into celestial bodies instructing early American  architects.  

Week 5. Explore the fascinating murals and multicultural city of Teotihuacan near today's Mexico City that  will leave us with questions, mysteries, and new theories based on recent research that suggest the  complex cultural crossroads of Mesoamerica converged here.  

Week 6. Examine the temples and monumental pyramids with hidden tombs of Mesoamerica that offer us  clues to who the leaders of these cultures were, what the people believed, and how these societies  interacted.  

This class is not available at this time.  

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