The Gothic Revival was once written off as a passing fad for pointed arches and pinnacles, but we now recognize it as one of the major cultural and social movements of the nineteenth century. During its years of greatest influence, it subjected every aspect of art, belief, society and labor to intense intellectual scrutiny, using the Middle Ages as a platform from which to judge the modern world. This seminar will look at the Gothic Revival in America and Europe as a response to the industrial revolution and to modernity. Students will prepare a semester-long research paper. Possible topics include archaeology and antiquarianism, ideas about the origin and development of the Gothic, its political meaning, new building types and new materials, the relationship of the Gothic to the decorative arts and the doctrine of morality in architecture. Enrollment limit: 9. Preference given to graduate students in the history of art.