40 552 Moving Monuments: Rome (Autumn 2026)

Gourse responsible: Victor Plahte Tschudi

OCCAS Moving Monuments: Rome has run yearly since 2014 and offers a study of historical monuments, pursuing a triple aim: 1) It provides training in in-depth, critical analyses of specific sites in Rome; 2) an understanding of the history and media through which these sites are transformed, and 3) prepares for a confident oral presentation of original research. 

Initially, the students are asked to pick a monument in Rome from a preselected list. Throughout the term, they will work with and investigate their chosen monument in ways that challenge and expand the notion of “monument” and that include manifestations in books, images, films, texts etc. To aid the investigation, weekly seminars led by OCCAS teachers will present a spectrum of approaches to architectural research. 

“Moving” may refer to the concrete transportation of architecture, but also to the recreation and circulation of monuments in various media and materials, museums and models, print- and preservation strategies. Experts in respective fields join forces to share their insights about past monuments but also about the methods that enable us to think, write, and talk about them.  

In collaboration with a supervisor, each student will format the research on the chosen monument to a 30-minute public lecture held at the end of term. Together with the written manuscript, the lecture, will be basis for course assessment

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At the conclusion of the course the student should be able to:

• Explain the outline and key points in the urban and architectural history of Rome  
• Conduct archival studies on historical monuments 
• Reflect critically on history as a discipline and on its forms of mediation  
• Analyze, select, and organize textual and visual material into an academically sound narrative  
• Compose and give a public lecture based on your own research 

The schedule for the studio consists of weekly lectures by teachers and invited guest speakers, a guided field trip to Rome with a prolonged study period at The Norwegian Institute in Rome, three seminars with student presentations, regular supervision, final lectures with reviews. 

Physical attendance at lectures, reviews, supervision sessions, discussions, and other educational activities is expected and necessary in order to achieve the learning outcomes

Form of assessment:Project

Grading scale: Pass/fail

In order to be assessed in this course, the student must have completed the following activities and assignments:

A final 30-minute lecture with illustrations presented for an invited audience and an external guest critic. The manuscript for the lecture is handed in advance of the lecture and form part of the assessment too.