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 Edo period (1600-1868) .
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 Edo period (1600-1868).
- 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 Muromachi, Momoyama and Edo.

The course will deal with the outline of the History of Japanese art from the Prehistory 10.500 a. C.) to Edo period (1600-1868) 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, painting, sculpture)
- Heian (794-1185) period
-Amidism and Buddhism (architecture, painting, mandala, sculpture,)
-Orizontal scrolls (emaki) (Genji monogatari emaki and Heiji monogatari emaki)
- Kamakura period (1185-1333) (architecture, Kei school of sculpture, painting)
-Muromachi period (ink painting)
-Momoyama period and Rinpa School
-Zen painting (Zenga) and Literati painting (Nanga)
-Edo period (architecture, painting, decorative arts)

Mandatory text
Silvia Vesco, L'arte giapponese dalle origini all'età moderna, Torino, Einaudi, 2021
OR:
Penelope Mason, "History of Japanese Art", Pearson Prentice hall, Upper Saddle River, N.Y., 2005 (second editon). chapters 1-6 (Edo period included)
Nobuo Tsuji, History of Art in Japan, New York, Columbia University Press, 2018

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 first part
-7 questions (multiple choice A,B,C)
-3 images to be identified (for example: subject, material, period, title, author using multiple choice A,B,C)
Written examination second part
-1 image to be identified and described in a more detailed way (the image will be chosen 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.

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.

The lessons will be integrated by 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 attend classes in a different partition from the one assigned alphabetically.
All lessons will be recorded and available only to specific students' categories, on Moodle.

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