Storytelling in Asian Art

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Storytelling is a vital part of the human experience. Stories both reflect and shape the societies in which they are created, holding up a lens to ourselves and others, articulating complex ideas and big questions as well as capturing our innermost thoughts and feelings. For these reasons, stories are also a particularly effective way to immerse ourselves in cultures and time periods other than our own. In this seminar, we will read and discuss great works of literature and analyze their adaptations in painting, print, sculpture, film, and digital media, including: The Tale of Genji, the courtly tale of a dashing prince widely considered the world’s first novel; the Mahabharata, an epic recounting the rivalry between two clans over competing claims to the throne; and the Gandhavyuha, which narrates the young boy Sudhana’s journey from teacher to teacher in his quest for enlightenment. All reading and other assignments will be completed within each class period; no outside work is expected. The longer than usual meeting time will give us the opportunity to slow down and read and analyze texts and images for enjoyment.