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Courses in Art History
Art
2750
Topics in World Art
*Offered in alternate years.
4
SEMESTER HOURS
Description:
This is a course that was designed to expand the offerings
of the art history curriculum beyond its Eurocentric limits.
In order for us to understand ourselves and our place in the
world, it's important for us to learn how to see through the
eyes of artists from a wide variety of cultures. Rather than
concentrating on just one artistic tradition, then, we'll
explore three different ones in hopes of seeing stylistic
and thematic connections as well as innovations. We'll look
at Chinese Buddhist art, its origins in Indian sculpture and
its spread to Japan, and we'll continue with the great periods
of Chinese painting in the Sung, Yuan, and early Ming dynasties.
We'll then turn to Africa, paying closest attention to Benin
and Yoruba art from Nigeria, and we'll end the semester with
a consideration of one of the Mesoamerican cultures, the Aztecs.
Instructor:
Elise
Smith
Syllabus
Textbooks
(in order of use):
Alistair Shearer. Buddha. The Intelligent Heart. London:
Thames & Hudson, 1992.
George Rowley. Principles of Chinese Painting, rev.
ed. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1959.
Herbert M. Cole. Icons. Ideals and Power in the Art of
Africa. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press,
1989.
Frances F. Berdan. The Aztecs. New York and Philadelphia:
Chelsea House Publishers, 1989.
Grading
will be based on:
Three exams (the last being given during the final examination
period) - 20% each
Oral presentation - 20%
Class attendance and participation - 20%
Important
Note: You should always let your teacher know in advance if
you're having trouble meeting a deadline or if you're unable
to take an exam at the regularly scheduled time. Otherwise
you may receive a 0 for the assignment or exam.
Policy
on Attendance and Lateness: If you miss more than 3 classes
for any reason your grade starts plummeting, which is a rather
dire-sounding way of helping you to understand how important
I think it is that you come to class on a regular and attentive
and prepared basis. Otherwise the course simply won't work
for you as it should. Those three excused absences cover minor
illnesses and just generally goofing off and spring fever;
if you have a major illness or emergency that requires extended
absence, be sure to let me know as early as possible so that
we can work out some way for you to make up the time you miss.
Over my
years as a teacher I've become more and more perturbed by
chronic lateness. Certainly I'd rather you come late than
not come at all, but habitual lateness shows a marked lack
of respect and courtesy for the class enterprise--so each
significantly late arrival will count as half an absence.
* * *
If you're
having problems of any sort that are affecting your work in
this course or as a student at Millsaps, please feel free
to come talk to me about it.
COURSE
OUTLINE
China
Week 1:
Early Buddhist Art in India and China
READ: Sherman Lee handout & Shearer, 5-31, by Monday,
Sept. 5
2: Buddhist
sculpture and temple architecture in China
READ: Shearer, 32-95, by Friday, Sept. 9
3: The
Art of Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism
READ: Paul Reps handout by Monday, Sept. 12
4: Painting
in China in the Sung, Yuan and early Ming Dynasties
READ: Rowley, 3-23 (& use pp. 81-82), by Monday, Sept.
19; Rowley, 29-51, by Wed., Sept. 21; & Rowley, 61-63,
66-73, 77-80, by Fri., Sept. 23
5: Painting
in China, cont'd.
EXAM: Friday, Sept. 30
Africa
6: Nok,
Ife, and Benin art; NO CLASS Fri., Oct. 7
READ: Cole, 12-51, by Monday, Oct. 10
7: Benin,
cont'd.; Divination
READ: Cole, 136-159, by Wed., Oct. 12
DUE: Topic for oral presentation must be approved by Fri.,
Oct. 14
8: Images
of ancestors and deities
READ: Cole, 52-73, 160-74, by Wed., Oct. 19
9: NO
CLASS Mon., Oct. 24 (FALL BREAK); Images of women
READ: Cole, 74-91, by Fri., Oct. 28
DUE: Working bibliography for oral presentation due Fri.,
Oct. 28
10: Images
of Men
READ: Cole, 92-135, by Wed., Nov. 2
EXAM: Fri., Nov. 4
Aztec
11: Creation
and sacrifice
DUE: Detailed outline of oral presentation & ist of slides
needed, due Fri., Nov. 11
READ: Berdan, 13-21, 24-35, 78-103, by Fri., Nov. 18 (&
as background see pp. 37-77; the glossary on pp. 106-07 will
also be useful)
12: Creation
and sacrifice
13: Aztec
goddesses
14: Aztec
goddesses; Oral presentations start
15-16:
Oral presentations
* * *
This syllabus is subject to change at the disgression of the
instructor.
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