Modern Korean Art

Undergraduate / Graduate

This course introduces students to key histories, artworks, and theoretical discourses surrounding modern Korean art. Covering the period from the late 19th to mid-20th century, the course explores historical junctures-late Joseon, the Korean Empire (1897-1910), the colonial period (1910-1945), and the Korean War (1950-1953)-as critical moments during which the concepts of modernity and "modern art" (geundae misul) were imported and contested. Beyond providing a basic understanding of modern Korean art history, the course engages with broader art-historical inquiries, particularly how modernity and modernism can be articulated within a global framework. Readings encompass art historical texts as well as theories on global modernisms, theories of imperialism, and decoloniality. Discussion sections will emphasize the close reading of texts and visual materials, including drawings, paintings (oil and ink), photography, sculpture, and architecture.