Navigating Cosmopolitanism: The Art and People in China’s Medieval Metropolis

Catalog description

Chang’an, the capital of the Tang Empire (618-907 C.E.), was the largest city in the world at its time. This course explores the rich visual and material cultures preserved in, excavated from, and created about this medieval metropolis. We will take interdisciplinary approaches to conduct case studies on art across diverse media, including murals, sculptures, and architecture. Case studies will be introduced following the different neighborhoods in Chang’an. We will pay specific attention to the concept of cosmopolitanism. Together we will explore how to reconstruct urban planning and urban experience in medieval China from art and other primary sources. Satisfies Art History major and minor requirement. Satisfies East Asian Studies major and minor requirement. Satisfies History major and minor requirement. Satisfies Chinese Studies minor requirement. Satisfies Visual and Performing Arts requirement. Satisfies Cultural Diversity requirement.