HISTORY OF ART IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

The course is part of the core teachings of the undergraduate degree programme in Languages, Cultures, and Societies of Asia and the Mediterranean Africa (Southeast Asia curriculum). It aims to build and consolidate students’ knowledge of the artistic productions of the Southeast Asian region.
The teaching seeks to provide an overview of the visual history and material culture of selected areas in Southeast Asia, examining artistic and architectural productions within diverse historical-political contexts and religious traditions. Simultaneously, it aims to help students understand how the study of visual culture can serve as a crucial tool in analysing historical, political, religious, and social phenomena across antiquity, modernity, and the contemporary period.

The aim of the course is to foster a critical approach to the artistic and architectural production of selected regions in Southeast Asia. By the end of the course, students are expected to master the specific vocabulary and be able to recognise, describe, and critically analyse the artistic and architectural productions of the regions studied, in relation to their historical, political, and religious contexts.
Significant emphasis will be placed on understanding artistic phases, patterns of patronage, and the evolution of various regional productions and their distinctive artistic vocabularies. The course particularly seeks to encourage students to reflect on the symbolic importance and perception of artworks, as well as to examine how artistic patronage and production have been utilised as instruments of political propaganda and identity construction. Furthermore, the course will consider the significance of the sites studied in both modern and contemporary contexts.

None, but a good knowledge of the English language in order to access autonomously to the bibliography is desirable.

This year’s course will examine key aspects of the material and visual culture of Southeast Asia, with particular focus on Thailand and Cambodia. Through the analysis of a selection of sites and artworks associated with various religious and cultural contexts in the region, the course aims to trace the artistic developments, placing significant emphasis on the dynamics of interaction and exchange of artistic vocabularies and techniques.
Buddhist and Hindu art and architecture, along with their conceptualisation in the region, will be the primary themes addressed, forming the basis of the proposed analyses. Additionally, the course will explore cultural interactions between the studied areas and exchanges with neighbouring kingdoms. Finally, the musealisation of Southeast Asian artistic productions will be examined in depth, alongside ongoing debates regarding the conservation, musealisation, restitution, and repatriation of artworks.

Essential readings:
- Course notes and slides.
- Choice of Italian or English version of:
Alexandra Green, Il Sudest asiatico. Una storia per oggetti, Einaudi Torino 2023
Alexandra Green, Southeast Asia: A History in Objects, The Trustees of the British Museum – Thames & Hudson Ltd, London 2023
- One volume of your choice from:
Marilia Albanese, Angkor. Fasto e splendore dell’impero Khmer, White Star, Vercelli 2002
Marilia Albanese, Angkor. Splendors of the Khmer Civilization, White Star, Vercelli 2002
Nicoletta Celli, Antica Thailandia. Storia e tesori di un’antica civiltà, White Star. Vercelli 2010
- One articles of your choice and the introduction from:
Louise Tythacott and Panggah Ardiyansyah (ed. by), Returning Southest Asia’s Past. Objects, Museums, and Restitution, Nuss Press, Singapore 2021.

Numerous additional readings will be indicated and made available on the university’s e-learning platform, moodle.unive.it. These will be useful for consolidating the student’s preparation, deepening the topics discussed during the lessons, and completing the required in-depth study.

Attending students will be asked, during the course, to work in small groups to prepare a brief oral presentation on one of the articles listed in the bibliography. This will then be shared with the class (as group work) to encourage a critical discussion of the topics covered. The article discussed in class will not need to be studied for the final exam, as it will have already been evaluated during the group discussion. Non-attending students will present their chosen article during the final oral exam, where it will be evaluated.
The assessment of performance will be based on the outcome of a final oral exam covering the course content and assigned materials. Special emphasis will be placed on the use of appropriate technical vocabulary and the ability to critically engage with the readings and topics proposed.

oral

Frontal classes, complemented by lectures, conferences and the discussion of issues raised during the classes. The course will adopt a thematic approach and will move from the analysis of the visual productions. Through the study of styles, art objects and dynamics of patronage, discussions and a critical approach will be ecouraged.

Italian

Attendance is highly recommended; however, those who are unable to attend regularly can contact the professor via email to receive suggestions on how to best prepare for the exam.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development