Monks and Merchants: East Asian Art from Medieval to Contemporary

Catalog description

This course introduces students to the visual and material culture of China, Korea, and Japan from the medieval period to the present. We will focus on the East Asian tradition in painting, calligraphy, ceramics, and architecture. We also explore the social, economic, and intellectual forces behind the production, circulation, and appreciation of artworks. Among the topics discussed in class are art and politics, art and identity, transmission of Buddhist art, etc. Special attention will be given to the transcultural exchange among China, Korea, and Japan as well as the encounter between the East and the West.