ASIAN CULTURE AND ART (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Objective

Anything designed by human beings exhibits visual qualities that are specific to the place and culture in which it originates. Asian culture and Art course aims to arrive at a understanding of the origins, meaning and purpose of art and artifacts from a wide range of Asian cultures. Students will have a fundamental interpretation of art in its cultural contexts.

Asian art is “diverse and rich, spanning thousands of years and dozens of countries. It is known for its ritual bronzes, beautiful ceramics, jades, textiles, poetic painted landscapes, garden design, elaborate goldwork, extraordinary temples, shrines, pagodas and stupas, woodblock prints, shadow puppets and the highest art form in East Asian art—calligraphy”.( Oxford University, 2020) Students will engage in hands-on activities such as Asian calligraphy brush painting, create a simulated woodblock print, create mandala and paint a lotus

Execution methods

Practice
- Paint a Lotus & Create Your Own Hanging Scroll and Name Seal
- Create Your Own Mandala
- Make a Temple Book or Japanese Screen
- Create a Simulated Woodblock Print

Most students’ weeks will typically consist of several, or all, of the following: a theory lecture, a one-to-one feedback session focusing on the individual student’s artwork, a practice assignment and forum discussions on Moodle environment.
Teaching usually takes place in the Adobe Connect. Outside the contact lesson, most of the time will be spent doing weekly assignments. Online contact session is usually 10 students and a tutor but there would usually be no more than around 20 students. Most tutorials, lectures are delivered by tutor.

Accomplishment methods

The course comprises 50% theory and 50% practice.

Lessons

Introduction to Asia

Japan and its unique art forms
-Japanese calligraphy, Japanese Manga, Bonseki art, Pottery, Wood carvings, Ikebana, Origami art and the Japanese Art of Tea.
-Exploring painting and poetry in Japan: Bamboo in the Four Seasons, Hokusai and Hiroshige: Great Japanese Prints.

Unique art forms in Korea
-Korean calligraphy, folk dance, Gugak, pottery, handcrafting paper, Sewing Jasu and fabric Bojagi.

Unique art forms in China
-Brushstrokes: Styles and Techniques of Chinese Painting
-The Four Treasures and Other Utensils for a Scholar’s Desk

South & Southeast Asia
-Puppet water, silk painting - unique art forms in Vietnam
-Thailand flying lantern and Loy Krathong festival
-Indonesian shadow puppet

Content

Asian culture and Art summer course provides skills in the critical analysis of objects through the cultivation of visual literacy. The acquired skills have broad applicability in a wide range of professional settings, as well as serving the needs of enduring personal enlightenment.

Materials

Will be announced later

Teaching methods

Pedagogical approach
The course is centered on the individual student’s potential and imagination, therefore, the learning process will be active learning and resource-based learning. The course is designed to be very participative and students would be able to develop subject knowledge and practical skills in Asian art. Students are encouraged to enquire about the nature of reactions to what we call ‘Asian art’. The practical orientation will be integrated with weekly homeworks. The students are encouraged to share their thoughts in the discussion forum, which culminates with their own questions of artistic expressions related to the cultures and art of Asia. Plenty of instructional art resources that contribute to students' understanding of Asian art and its relationship to Asia culture at large.

Mode of instruction
-Individual learning
-Contact lectures (Optional)
Please NOTE that there are online meetings for this course for students who prefer contact teaching rather than individual study. Students are encouraged to prepare well and contribute to in-class discussion. Extra assignments may be set to make up for higher grades.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

• Approve
The student has delivered the all course assignments and these are prepared according to the requirements stated in the course.
• Not approve
Student has not submitted all the course assignments.

Further information

Asian topics have been increasingly visible in the cultural realm, literature and art, including music, digital video, documentary filmmaking, and the visual arts. Asian culture raises fascinating questions that invite many people to explore.
This course aims to provide students with a multidimensional and diverse understanding of Asian cultures such as customs, rituals, festivals, and other tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The regional focus of the lectures will be on East Asia such as China, Japan, Korea and South East Asia. Based on detailed case studies, students will gain understanding of the origins, meaning and purpose of art and artifacts from a wide range of Asian cultures. Students will have a fundamental interpretation of art in its cultural contexts. In addition, students are free to explore other regions as well. The aim is to obtain a broad view regarding the diversity of cultural practice in Asia as well as the art styles.

Course objectives
They will learn about Asia in the fields of art and cultural studies. Students will develop an understanding of:
Japanese culture and its unique art forms, such as Japanese calligraphy, Japanese Manga, Bonseki art, Pottery, Wood carvings, Ikebana, Samurai, Geisha, Origami art and the Japanese Art of Tea…
Unique art forms and cultures in Korea such as Korean calligraphy, folk dance, Gugak, pottery, handcrafting paper, Sewing Jasu and fabric Bojagi.
Unique art forms and cultures in China such as Brushstrokes: Styles and Techniques of Chinese Painting, The Four Treasures and Other Utensils for a Scholar’s Desk
South & Southeast Asian arts such as Puppet water, silk painting which is unique art forms in Vietnam, Thailand flying lantern and Loy Krathong festival, Indonesian shadow puppet
Students are able to improve academic skills to describe and analyze cultural themes in Asian art and interpret them in their art context.