Art of Japan
FA 71B
Mon/Wed/Thu 9:00-9:50am
Professor: Aida Yuen Wong
Office: 212, Mandel Center for the Humanities
Office hours: Thu2:15-4:15pm (or by appointment)
Contact Information: or x62670
Course Description and Objectives
This course surveys the arts of Japanfrom antiquity to the modern period. The objects and monuments studied—ceramics, sculpture, architecture, painting, calligraphy, etc.—communicate the richness and salient features of Japanese culture through the ages. Apart from aesthetic appreciation, you will learn to analyze images through reference to their creators, styles, historical contexts, and functions.
Textbooks:
Stanley-Baker, Joan.Japanese Art (London: Thames and Hudson, 2000).
Varley, Paul.Japanese Culture, 4thedition (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2000).
Complete all readings assigned for the week ahead of class. These assignments are posted on LATTE.
Requirements and Grade Distribution
- Attendance and participation: 10%. More than three absences without legitimate excuseswill negatively impact your grade. In the event of sickness, family emergencies, job interviews, athletic competitions, or other “excused”absences, please alert me via email as early as possible. Please supply relevant documentation when relevant.
Active participation will be taken into account in grade assessment.
- Twoin-class midterm examinationsand a final examination (Dates are subject to change)
Midterm 1 (Feb 10): 20%
Midterm 2 (March 17): 25%
Final Exam (TBA): 25%
If you fail to come to class or are late to arrive on an examination day without relevant documentation, you will not be granted a make-up or time-extension. Oversleeping is not an acceptable reason for requesting a make-up. These conditions are non-negotiable.
- Write a five-page paper on a work of art seen at a current exhibitionanywhere in the world.Study the work in person and provide an illustration.Describe the display, style, subject, function, and meaning. Some research is required. More instructions will be distributed later in the course.
Due: April 23 (20%). Late papers will receive a grade reduction.
Format: double-spaced, one-inch margins, no bigger than 12-font script, no extra spacing in-between paragraphs. Include page numbers.
You are expected to be honest in all of your academic work. The University policy on academic honesty is distributed annually as section 5 of the Rights and Responsibilities handbook. Instances of alleged dishonesty (including plagiarism) will be forwarded to the Office of Campus Life for possible referral to the Student Judicial System. Potential Sanctions include failure in the course and suspension from the University. If you have any questions about my expectations, please ask.
Lecture Notes
Notes taken in class will serve as the primary text for the course, therefore it is important that they be as legible and complete as possible. Listen for and learn the description language used to analyze individual works of art.
Computers should only be used for notetakingin class. As a general courtesy, all other electronic devices must be shut off during class time.
Image Archive
Major images shown in classare posted on LATTE weekly.
To view these images, follow the instructions below. Should you have any difficulty with these instructions, please contact Lisa Zeidenberg (Fine Arts Librarian: ). Professor Wong will not be of help with technology.
Log in to ARTstor (you will be prompted to register if you don't yet have an account).
From the Tools menu (on the far right), choose "Download offline presentation tool (OIV)."
Select PC or Mac and click the Download button.
When downloading is complete, install the image viewer on your computer.
You should then be able to view the presentation files.
More information and FAQ:
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If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please provide the relevant documentation immediately.
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