HISTORY OF KOREAN ART 2

The course is part of the related/supplementary subjects of the Korea curriculum within the Bachelor's Degree in "Languages, Cultures, and Societies of Asia and the Mediterranean." The course aims to frame the historical development of Korean arts during the transition from antiquity to modernity, focusing on the long Joseon period (1392–1910) and extending to the 20th century during Japanese domination and up to the Korean War (1950–1953). Similar to the "History of Korean Art 1" course, this module seeks to contextualise artistic and architectural objects not only within their original production environment but also within the broader socio-political and cultural landscape surrounding the Korean peninsula.
NOTE: CONTRARY TO WHAT IS STATED BELOW IN THE "Teaching Language" FIELD, THE COURSE WILL BE DELIVERED IN ITALIAN.

By combining attendance of lectures (highly recommended) with careful study of reference texts and other materials provided by the lecturer, students will acquire a solid knowledge of late-dynastic and modern Korean art in relation to the artistic and cultural framework of neighbouring regions: China, Japan, and Northern Asia. Specifically:
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
- General characteristics of late-dynastic and modern Korean art through representative objects and monuments.
- Correlation of Korean art with the cultures and arts of neighbouring regions.
- Fundamentals of iconography and symbolism, with references to philosophical, religious, literary, and social contexts transposed into works of art.
- Chronological evolution of productions, styles, schools, and the interplay between different artistic media.
- Specialist terminology in the field of art, extending beyond the Korean ethnic and cultural sphere.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
- Skills in critically analysing artefacts and monuments as well as broader artistic and cultural themes.
- Ability to use acquired skills to express oneself accurately and effectively in the field of Korean art history — and beyond — at an academic level.
CRITICAL THINKING
The course provides essential tools for recognising diverse artefacts and monuments and situating them within their original context to deepen understanding of how they were made, why they were created, where and when, by whom and for whom, what they represent (explicitly and/or implicitly), and their historical journey over time.
LEARNING SKILLS
Ability to deepen historical-artistic issues related to Korea through bibliographic research, study of primary and secondary sources, visual analysis, and study of museum collections.

A basic knowledge of the topics covered in "History of Korean Art 1" is desirable. Additionally, it is assumed that Korean language students have attended or are concurrently attending courses in Korean literature, history, philosophy, etc. Knowledge of these disciplines for other cultural regions of East and North Asia provides an advantage for the prompt understanding and assimilation of references made during the lectures.

"Joseon: Art in Korea between Confucian Society and Modernisation"
Building on the transcultural approach used to delineate the essence of early Korean culture in the first module of Korean Art History, this second module delves deeper into the evolution of Korean culture and art during the last ruling dynasty. From the late 19th century, the ephemeral Korean Empire (1897–1910) ushered the country into a new phase of major social and political changes coinciding with the rise of colonial powers. It was during this period, particularly under Japanese occupation (1910–1945), that modern Korea emerged, radically transforming its artistic scene. Finally, after regaining a fragile independence at the end of World War II, the newborn republic descended into the nightmare of civil war, leading to the division between South and North and subsequently autonomous (and often opposing) artistic trajectories in the two Koreas.
Initially, the course will cover the history of the Joseon period to outline trends and key events that significantly influenced developments and notable changes in Korean art history. The course will then proceed to an in-depth analysis of various themes, including:
- The relationship between Confucianism and art.
- Palace and religious architecture.
- History of secular Korean painting.
- Furniture, ceramics, and other applied arts.
- Buddhism, shamanism, and popular minhwa art.
The final part of the course will address relations with the Western world and Japan, tracing the emergence of modern art up to the mid-20th century.

All volumes containing mandatory texts are available for consultation in the designated 'Textbooks' section located at the front office of the East Asian Library, Palazzo Vendramin, 1st floor.
For chronological orientation, see Woo, Hyunsoo (ed.), Treasures from Korea: arts and culture of the Joseon dynasty, 1392-1910, Philadephia Museum of Art in association with Yale University Press, New Haven & London 2014, pp. 311-325.

MANDATORY:
The adopted manual is still one of the best references for framing the history of Korean art.
If you wish, you can buy it online at a price ranging from about 5 to 10 euros (shipping excluded): Portal, Jane, Korea – Art and Archaeology, The Trustees of The British Museum, London 2000. Pages 11-19, 108-165, 167-173 (bottom of the page, including fig. 100) + Appendix 1, pp. 215-227 (only information about Joseon ceramics) are required.
However, since the manual is rather reduced in content and in some ways dated, it must be integrated with other materials that better explain some themes and expand others, while providing alternative approaches to research:
Chung, Woothak, “Iconography, Technique, and Context in Koryŏ Buddhist Paintings” (only the paragraph Iconographic Succession from Koryŏ to Chŏson). In Kim, Youn-mi (ed.), Early Korea Project Occasional Series. New Perspectives on Early Korean Art: From Silla to Koryŏ, Harvard University, Cambridge (MA) 2013, pp. 40-50.
Kwon, So-hyun, "Ceramics and Ritual Vessels of the Royal Household" and related catalogue entries (1–25, 29-31, 33-36 / 3–1-2, 5, 7, 10-13, 18) + Song, Unsook, “Buddhism and Art in the Joseon Royal House: Buddhist Sculpture and Painting” and related catalogue entries (4–1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 15, 17, 23-25, 29-30). In Woo, Hyunsoo (ed.), Treasures from Korea: arts and culture of the Joseon dynasty, 1392-1910, Philadephia Museum of Art in association with Yale University Press, New Haven & London 2014, pp. 37-43, 53-67, 124, 127, 129-132, 208, 210-211, 213, 215-217, 221, 232, 234, 241-242, 244, 247-248, 254, 256-257, 264, 270, 272.
Cho, Insoo, “The Emergence of Confucian Culture: Early Chŏson Painting” + Chang, Chin-Sung, “Transformation: Three Centuries of Change in Late Chŏson Painting” + Lee, Jungsil J., “Modern Korean Art in the Japanese Colonial Period” + Kee, Joan, “The Long Breath: Postwar Korean Art” (only the firt part up to the paragraph "Abstraction and Medium" excluded), in Park, J.P. – Jungmann, Burglind – Rhi, Juhyung (ed.), A Companion to Korean Art, John Wiley & Sons Inc., Hoboken (NJ) 2020, pp. 263-286, 291-315, 405-427, 433-438.

SUBSIDIARY:
Hammer, Elizabeth (ed.), The Arts of Korea. A Resource for Educators, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 2001. Available for free download: https://www.metmuseum.org/met-publications/the-arts-of-korea-a-resource-for-educators
Jungmann, Burglind, Pathways to Korean Culture: Paintings of the Joseon Dynasty, 1392-1910, Reaktion Books, London 2014.
Kim, Lena. Buddhist Sculpture of Korea (Korean Culture Series), Hollym, Elizabeth (NJ) 2007.
Starkman, Christine (ed.), Tradition and Innovation in Korean Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 2014. Available for free download: https://www.mfah.org/research/kinder-foundation-education-center/kinder-foundation-gallery-resources

A written exam lasting 45 minutes to evaluate acquired knowledge and skills, structured as follows:
1. Identification and iconographic and/or typological and/or technological analysis of an artefact or monument with contextualisation within its historical, social, and cultural framework (image and dimensions will be provided).
2. Briefly reasoned identification of four artefacts/monuments (images and dimensions will be provided).
3. A set of five multiple-choice or short-answer questions.
This test will assess, among other aspects, the ability to analyse and recognise an artistic object, describe it succinctly but thoroughly using appropriate language, and knowledge of general and specific issues related to Korean art history.

written

The exam grade (minimum 18/30, maximum 30/30) will be determined by the sum of the scores obtained in the three sections of the test.

Lectures supported by PowerPoint presentations. Interaction and dialogue between lecturer and students will be encouraged, including collective analysis of works and discussions on the topics covered. In the academic year 2024-25 the course will be delivered in Italian

English

For contingent reasons, the course will be condensed into the months of March and April 2025, with 2+2 hours of weekly lectures.
Attendance is not mandatory but strongly recommended, especially due to the cross-references made during lectures to other Asian cultures, which are not always as precise or detailed in the available reference texts.