School of Art History Online Lecture Series: Athletics & Aesthetics -- Sport in Art History State propaganda through art and sport in fascist Italy
This new School of Art History Online Lecture Series is an exploration of the history of golf in Scotland told through the collections of The R&A World Golf Museum and The Royal & Ancient Golf Club. Explore the dynamic intersection of art and sport in this six-week series, where art history meets athleticism. From golf to rugby, cycling to the Olympics, discover how artists have captured the energy, grace and cultural impact of sport across centuries.
Each week features an expert-led lecture followed by a live audience Q&A, offering a unique opportunity to dive deeper into the stories behind the artworks. Brought to you by the University's School of Art History in collaboration with The R&A World Golf Museum, this thought-provoking series offers fresh perspectives for art lovers, sports fans and curious minds alike.
Sport was part of Fascist ideology in 1930s Italy. Sports activities were organised to train men to be strong and to fight for the fatherland, but also to show the strength and power of Italy. The Foro Mussolini is a sports complex in Rome built between 1928 and 1938. Inspired by Roman architecture, the complex celebrates masculine athleticism, fascism and colonialism through its monumental artworks. Today, the Foro can be understood as 'difficult heritage' comparable to reminders of 1930s and 1940s Nazism. State propaganda through art and sport in fascist Italy will explore the Foro and its artworks and address the political and practical challenges of difficult heritage.
Dr Gönül Bozoğlu, Lecturer in Museum and Heritage Studies at the University's School of Art History, will present this lecture. Her current research is about engaging with marginalised communities whose heritages have been suppressed. She also works in the intersection of heritage studies and film practice.
The other events in the series are:
- Painted Links: an exploration of the history of golf in Scotland told through the collections of The R&A World Golf Museum and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
- From Ancient Greece to modern spectacle: the visual culture of the Olympic Games
- Cycling in Modern and Contemporary Art
- Oval balls and cubist players
- Women in sport in art
Each week in the series there will be a lecture from 2pm to 3pm, followed by a half hour question and answer session. The series costs £120 with a special rate for R&A members, R&A staff, and University of St Andrews staff and students of £90. Please book your tickets online through the University Shop.
Image credit: St Andrews (Railway poster), Reginald Higgins, circa 1925. Reproduced by kind permission of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.