ARTH 151 - New Topics in Art History

May be repeated three times for credit.

Spring 2024 Topic: Survey of Japanese Art History and Material Culture

This course introduces the history of art and design in Japan, from prehistory through the 20th century. Lectures will take place weekly focusing on painting, sculpture, architecture, gardens, screens, lacquerware, ceramics, and metalwork. It will consider the way that major cultural developments informed the trajectory of artistic traditions, such as court culture, war, Buddhist and Shinto worship, the observation of art from China and Korea, modernity and tradition, and the relationship between objects and space. Required student-lead discussions and guest lectures surrounding the history and materiality of specific works of art will provide deeper insight into the materiality of objects. Students will develop a final paper on a topic relevant to the course.

Anticipated Terms Offered: Bi-Annually