ART HISTORY 375: LATER JAPANESE PAINTING & WOODBLOCK PRINTS
Course Requirements
Image Study: Students should review visual material weekly on their own. Images are posted on the AH 375 website, but references to better images in books found in Kohler Art Library will be distributed by email. For prints, the students will have opportunities to study authentic works in the Elvehjem's Van Vleck Collection. You can also find a considerable number of images on the web. Some are on the website for this course, but you are expected to use other resources noted below.
Readings: You must read the required texts in their entireties. Further required readings will come from the class notebook and from the Grove Dictionary of Art (printed version in the Kohler Library and online version available through the library’s website). N.B. Students should complete the readings before the relevant lectures. I will often offer alternative interpretations for consideration.
Assignments (percentages of grade may be adjusted to give credit for improvement)
All students: one short paper (1-2 pages, 10%) and two quizzes (25% each)
Regular undergraduates: another short paper (3-5 pages, 15%) and another quiz (25%)
Honors undergraduates and graduates: a substantial term paper (40%)*
*Other students who do well on the first paper may take this option, and I highly recommend it for anyone considering going to graduate school in the humanities. Art Department graduate students may substitute a "creative" project and brief write-up.
Exam Expectations: The quizzes will emphasize thoughtful application of what you have learned rather than extensive memorization of details. Nonetheless, to get every possible point, you are expected to be able to identify works discussed in your exam essays by artist, rough date, and a title if it is reasonable to expect it. Some works have alternate titles or translations of Japanese titles. In such cases, use your favorite.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Kobayashi, Tadashi. Ukiyo-e: an Introduction to Japanese Woodblock Prints. Tokyo ; New York: Kodansha International, 1992.
Nishiyama, Matsunosuke. Edo Culture: Daily Life and Diversions in Urban Japan, 1600-1868. Honolulu: University of Hawai`i Press, 1997.