CHINESE ART AND THE WORLD

Credit Hours: 3 · Undergraduate Upper-Level

This course is an introductory seminar studying the history of traditional Chinese art and visual culture from ancient times to the nineteenth century. This course draws upon masterpieces and monuments from both archaeological finds and museum collections, including bronze vessels, funeral objects, painting, calligraphy, sculptures, architecture, ceramics, and so on. Designed for students who have no background in Chinese art, Chinese history, or art history, the seminar uses diverse teaching materials in multiple media beyond traditional textbook-based readings to achieve four main goals: 1) Develop visual literacy through a direct encounter with objects. The development of specialized vocabulary to describe, analyze, and communicate function, composition, and meaning in art. 2) Understand major artistic movements of art and architecture within historical, social, political contexts. 3) Develop specialized knowledge in art from specific geographical locations (e.g. China), time periods, artists or artistic movements. 4) Evaluate and use primary and secondary source materials. Cross-list: ASIA 372 , HART 372 .