HISTORY OF JAPANESE ART 1

The course is one of the related/integrative teachings of the curriculum on Japanese Studies of the course ""Lingue, Culture e Società dell'Asia e dell'Africa Mediterranea".
This course aims to reach the goals proposed by the course of study in the cultural area of humanities with a specific reference to Japanese art history
Knowledge of the main artistic and architectural developments form the Pre-historical period Jōmon (10.000-300 b.C) to Kamakura period (XIV century).
Introduction to bibliographic, visual and museum references to be able to start an autonomous research in art history field.

Knowledge and understanding
- know and understand the main elements (authors, movements, works, etc.) of the history of Japanese art from Prehistory to the Kamakura period (XIV century)
- know and understand critical concepts and tools in the historical-artistic field
- deepen through the analysis of specific works (architectural, graphic, sculptural, etc.) the knowledge and understanding of the historical contexts already analyzed in other CdS teachings from other points of view (eg historical, philosophical, literary ... )
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
-Be able to interpret and analyse Japanese works of art using a critical approach for a correct iconographic analysis
Judging ability:
Be able to elaborate critical judgments on the artefacts and historical-artistic phenomena of the programme using critical and historiographically solid evidences
- discuss in a critical manner the sources used for the study of the topic
-refine the ability to recognize and critically evaluate extreme oriental art works (Japanese)
Comunication skills:
-Be able to express and elaborate the contents of the program in writing, in a concise and effective manner.
Learning ability:
-be able to summarize the major features of the works considered and make complete and effective outline
-critical approach to the use of different study materials (notes, slides, books, academic articles)
-authonomous study to integrate certain aspects of a specific topics that have not been discussed in depth during the classes
-be able to deal with different materials in English

No particular preliminary knowledge is required

The course introduces the student to the study of Japanese Art History through the vision and analysis of the great themes, works, artists and schools of each epoch in a chronological order. The following periods will be considered: Jōmon, Yayoi, Kofun, Asuka and Hakuhō, Nara, Heian and Kamakura.

The course will deal with the outline of the History of Japanese art from the Prehistory 10.500 a. C.) to Kamakura period (11185-1333)and will be dived in the following parts:
-Introduction/ the Birth of Japan (Prehistory, Jōmon, Yayoi, Kofun periods)
- Shintō architecture (Ise, Izumo, Kasuga)
- Asuka (542-645) and Hakuhō (645-710) periods (architecture, sculpture)
- Nara (710-794) period (architecture, sculpture, painting)
- Heian (794-1185) period
-Amidism and Buddhism (architecture, sculpture, painting)
- Continental influences (Treasures of the Shōsōin)
-Orizontal scrolls (emaki) (Genji monogatari emaki and Heiji monogatari emaki)
- Kamakura period (1185-1333) (architecture, Kei school of sculpture, painting)

Mandatory text
Penelope Mason, "History of Japanese Art", Pearson Prentice hall, Upper Saddle River, N.Y., 2005 (second editon). chapters 1-4 (Kamakura period included till p. 211 of 2005 edition)

Suggested volume:
BOSCOLO MARCHI, Marta, VESCO, Silvia, (a cura di ), "Bi no michi. La via della Bellezza. Esplorazioni nella cultura giapponese per i 150 anni delle relazioni diplomatiche tra Italia e Giappone, Venezia, Ministero per i beni e le attività culturali, Polo museale del Veneto, 2018

Written examination (20 minutes)
-7 open questions to be answered in the briefest way possible
-3 images to be indetify (for example: subject, material, period, title, author)
-1 image to be identify and describe in a more complete way (the image will be choosen only from the book used during the course)
All questions are used to test the candidate knowledge and skills in recognising a Japanese iconography. The more detailed description of a work of art is aimed at the evaluation of the acquisition of critical tools and analysis, the application of the students' knowledge to the discussion of the topics covered and the autonomy of judgment in the analysis, as well as the ability to express in a concise and effective way their observations.
Due to new regulations caused by the emergency COVID 19 written exams could be slightly changed. Please check also on MOODLE

Frontal lessons supported by Power Point images propose the development of Japanese Art History in a chronological order. Each lesson will deal with a significant selection of visual, sculptural, architectural and applied arts of a specific epoch. They will be visualized and analyzed both from a historical point of view and from a technical and stylistic one.

Frontal lesson will be integrated by the projection of images with Powerpoint. For logistical reasons and to ensure the quality of teaching, compliance with alphabetic partitions is recommended (A-L and M-Z). In case of documented necessity and exclusively in agreement with the teacher it is possible to atted classes in a partition different from the one assigned alphabetically.

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