69512 - Principles of Asian Art (1)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide the student with a basic knowledge of the main topics and problems concerning the artistic traditions of South Asia and East Asia. By its conclusion, the student will be able to discuss the subjects both in writing and orally employing the appropriate terminology and displaying a critical appreciation of the bibliographical material.The student will be able to place the artworks in the cultural context of their provenance.

Course contents

Foundations of Chinese and Japanese art
The course will provide an outline of Chinese and Japanese art broken down into the major themes. The lectures will provide the student with an understanding of the main features of Chinese and Japanese art history and a critical appreciation of the artworks in their cultural context, including use of comparative analysis.
Topics:
- Art in the tomb (contents of the main Chinese tombs from the Eastern Zhou to the Tang dynasty)
- Buddhist art in China and Japan
- Landscape painting in China and Japan
- Decorative arts in Japan

The course will include an introductory lecture on the methods and approach of the discipline, while the final lecture will summarize the main themes and problems discussed during the course and prepare students for the final examination. The syllabus will be provided at the first lecture and will be included among the material available on the ‘Virtuale’ platform.

From Monday 10th February 2025.

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography for students attending and NOT attending:

- S. RASTELLI, L'arte cinese. I. Dalle origini alla dinastia Tang, Torino, Einaudi, 2016.

- M. PIRAZZOLI-T’SERSTEVENS, La Cina, Torino, Utet, 1996, vol. II, pp. 359-467 (Chinese landscape paintings only).

- M. MURASE, Il Giappone, Torino, Utet, 1992.

Foreign students can refer to the Italian language bibliography or contact the lecturer for a list of alternative readings in English.

 

 

 

Teaching methods

Frontal lesson: presentation, reading and analysis of selected works

Assessment methods

The exam will be conducted orally and will assess the student's command of the material studied in the course. The student will be asked to provide a commentary on images selected from among those found in the course texts and will be judged on his ability to summarise and critically discuss topics raised in the course, making use of the exam bibliography and the course tools provided.

The assessment will thus consider the student's:
- competence in commenting on the images, i.e. in identifying, dating and contextualizing the works illustrated;
- knowledge and understanding of the topics covered;
- ability to summarise and analyse themes and concepts;
- familiarity with the terminology associated with the subject and his ability to use it effectively.

Top marks will be awarded to a student displaying an ability to provide a full description of the images and an overall understanding of the topics discussed during the lectures, combined with a critical approach to the material and a confident and effective use of the appropriate terminology

Average marks will be awarded to a student who has memorized the main points of the material and is able to summarise them satisfactorily and provide an effective critical commentary, while failing to display a complete command of the appropriate terminology.

A student will be deemed to have failed the exam if he displays significant errors in his understanding and failure to grasp the overall outlines of the subject, together with a poor command of the appropriate terminology.

There are 6 exam sessions per year, in principle distributed as follows:
- 2 between September and November
- 2 between January and March
- 2 between May and early July

Teaching tools

Power point presentations available on the 'Virtuale' platform.

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Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students.

Office hours

See the website of Nicoletta Celli