Introduction to the Arts of Asia: Materials, Processes, Contexts

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Silk embroidery. Jade carving. Stone sculpture. Woodblock printing. Ink painting. Brush calligraphy. This course offers an introduction to the broad field of Asian art through its key artistic techniques, artworks, and historical contexts. The semester is organized into units covering fundamental art processes that reveal the closely intertwined development of arts and culture across Asia. Through hands-on making activities, classroom discussion, and close examination of objects, we will explore a span of nearly three thousand years in China, Korea, and Japan. Over the course of the semester, we will also discover the surprising ways in which the study of Asian art can be brought into meaningful dialogue with approaches to contemporary art and with broader debates throughout the fields of art history, Asian studies, and the history of religion.