ARTS/JPNA220 Japanese Art and Aesthetics Updated August 2021
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Course Number and Title ARTS/JPNA220 Japanese Art and Aesthetics Updated August 2021 Subject Area Arts Class Style Lecture Year Available 2nd Year Term(s) Offered Fall Semester Prerequisites None Number of Credits 3 Instructor Mike Blow Course Description This course introduces the aesthetics of Japanese art, architecture and traditional crafts. The course is split into three sections. Section 1 provides a chronological approach as a historical framework, covering master works from all periods. Section 2 explores a variety of expressions of Japanese art (such as ikebana, ukiyo-e or anime) and is largely based upon student research presentations. Section 3 takes a deeper look at Japanese aesthetics, their origin and their relationship to (and influence on) ideas of beauty in the west. The course is delivered through lectures, readings, discussion, tutorials and flipped classroom research presentations. All students in this course should preview and review the materials thoroughly and spend about 2 hours to do so. * Class plan for this academic year based on the students' course evaluation and feedback in previous academic year To encourage more of a group dynamic if using zoom. Course Objectives At the end of this course students should be able to: (i) identify a variety of Japanese artwork and architecture by type, use, and period, (ii) explain general principles of Japanese aesthetics using the proper terms, (iii) ask informed questions and express reasoned opinions regarding unknown works, and (iv) demonstrate an informed appreciation for the art and architecture of Japan, (v) possess an inter-cultural understanding and be open-minded towards other cultures. Message to students Hello, Thanks for looking at this course. Learning is one of the most challenging, and rewarding things you can do and I am very happy that you have chosen to study at iCLA. Below you can find out how to contact me and what I expect of you in the class. Please come along, learn a lot, and don't forget to have fun. Contact: [email protected] Office hour: TBC, please email to arrange an appointment Class rules In general: get involved, read around the subject between lessons, ask questions anytime Online students: cameras on, microphones off unless asked to speak Face to face students: no laptops open in lectures (please bring pen and paper or a tablet to take notes). Covid 19 precautions to be followed, masks are mandatory. Prerequisite None Indicative Self-learning All students in this course should preview and review the materials thoroughly and spend about 2 hours to do so. Grading Criteria Mid-term exam 20% Mid-term presentation 30% Term Project and report 50% Organization There will be two classes per week of 75 minutes each. The course is delivered using lectures and seminars. Assessment is by an exam, a student presentation and a paper. Plagiarism policy Plagiarism is the dishonest presentation of the work of others as if it were one’s own. Duplicate submission is also treated as plagiarism. Depending on nature of plagiarism you may fail the assignment or the course. Repeated act of plagiarism will be reported to the University which may apply additional penalties. Required Materials and Textbooks The course uses material from the following books and students are encouraged to read them in more depth. They are available through the library or as pdfs online. History: J. Stanley-Baker. Japanese Art. Thames and Hudson. T. Nobuo (trans. Rousmaniere). History of Art in Japan. University of Tokyo Press. Sei Shōnagon. The Pillow Book. Penguin Classics. Murasaki Shikibu. The Tale of Genji. Tuttle. Aesthetics: A. Juniper. Wabi Sabi. Tuttle. J. Tanizaki. In Praise of Shadows. Vintage. K. Okakura. The Book of Tea. Penguin. Hearn, L. Glimpses of an Unfamiliar Japan. Indicative Course Schedule Week 1 Introductions Session 1: Introduction to Japanese Art Session 2: Introduction to Japanese Art Week 2 Japanese Art History - Prehistory Session 1: Prehistory Session 2: Asuka and Nara Week 3 Japanese Art History - Classical Session 1: Heian (794-1185) Session 2: Sei Shonagon’s Pillow Book Week 4 Japanese Art History - Warring States Session 1: Kamakura and Muromachi (1185-1573) Session 2: Brief, groups and subjects Week 5 Japanese Art History - Unification Session 1: Azuchi-Momoyama (1576 – 1615) Session 2: Research Project Tutorial Week 6 Japanese Art History - Edo and Modern Session 1: Edo (1615 – 1868) Session 2: Modern Japan (1868 - Present) Week 7 Session 1: Practice test and Tutorial Session 2: Test (Japanese Art History) Week 8 Session 1: Student presentations Session 2: Student presentations Week 9 Session 1: Student presentations Session 2: Student presentations Week 10 Session 1: Student presentations Session 2: Student presentations Week 11 Session 1: Student presentations Session 2: Project brief Week 12 Japanese Aesthetics 1 Session 1: Reading and discussion: Lafcadio Hearn, Glimpses of an Unfamiliar Japan Session 2: Mono no Aware and Wabi Sabi: “nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect” Week 13 Japanese Aesthetics 2 Session 1: Shibui and Iki: simplicity and complexity Session 2: Project tutorials Week 14 Japanese Aesthetics 3 Session 1: Yugen and Ma: Mystery and Space Session 2: Reading and discussion: Tanazaki, In Praise of Shadows Week 15 Japanese Aesthetics 4 Session 1: The modern Japanese aesthetic Session 2: Project tutorials Week 16 (Day 1): Project submission.