ESOPExchange Students from Overseas Program

This course aims to explore visual arts in Japan and its development, focusing on traditional, modern and contemporary visual art movements, while providing students with a general understanding of the history of Japanese art.
We will look through different forms of art media to explore how Japanese visual art and its aesthetics have been shaped, and how it influences Japanese life and perspectives today. Focusing on “art appreciation” practice, students are expected to develop an observational approach and gain a deeper understanding of Japan and its culture by the end of the course.

The course aims to nurture a critical eye for the visual arts in Japan through lectures, while referring to correlated art movements as well as the historical background of the arts in Japan.

By the end of the course, students will:
-be acquainted with various forms of Japanese visual art, gaining insights into the historical development of arts in Japan.
-possess a deeper understanding of visual expression, cultural concepts and aesthetics of today.
-learn how to “observe” and understand art through art appreciation exercises.
-comprehend and apply standard terminology within the study of Japanese art.

英語 / English

To develop student understanding of visual arts in Japan, and to give students the opportunity to share individual cultural backgrounds, the class focuses on in-class lectures, art appreciation session and discussions, with associated readings, videos, and guest lectures.
Students are expected to actively engage in discussions.

Main assignments include:
-weekly journal entries about the topics covered that day
-mid-term report covering topics discussed in the first half of the course. Details will be announced during the course.
-final presentation to allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and interests in key concepts based on what they have learned through lectures and discussions. Students are to make a short presentation as their final report on a topic of their choosing – subject to instructor approval – that relates to materials covered in the course. The presentation style will be announced during the course.

The feedback will be provided to the student via Hoppii grading system as grading scores. The instructor will provide the feedback session during the class, or one-to-one advice individually to give actionable recommendations for improvement according to the needs.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1.[オンライン/online]：Introduction

Introducing the course and expectations

2.[対面/face to face]：Eyes Towards Nature

Looking into abstracts and symbols

3.[対面/face to face]：Buddhism and Art in Japan

Exploring the influence of religious beliefs

4.[対面/face to face]：What Makes It “Japanese”?

Art of storytelling and its tradition

5.[対面/face to face]：Realism

Observing humanity in art

6.[対面/face to face]：Transience and Imperfection

wabi sabi in art

7.[対面/face to face]：Power of People

Media and mass art

8.[対面/face to face]：Guest Lecture

Aesthetic of beauty in forms and patterns

*The guest lecturer and date are subject to change

9.[対面/face to face]：Influence of Foreign Cultures

New waves of art movements

10.[対面/face to face]：Showcasing “Powers”

Exploring propaganda in art

11.[対面/face to face]：How to present visual art

Museum and art gallery innovations

12.[対面/face to face]：Research and Strategy

Discussion and review of work-in-progress for the final presentation with the guest lecture, giving advice for how to develop creative ideas.

13.[対面/face to face]：Final Presentation

Giving presentation

14.[対面/face to face]：Review & The Role of Visual Art in Our Society

Presentation feedback session/Diverse art expressions

*Students are required to pre-read assigned material and come prepared to discuss the content at each lecture. Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.
*Every week, students are required to submit a short journal entry related to the topic covered in each lecture. Students are also expected to bring or collect materials that relate to the topic to be covered in each lecture. Mutual feedback for your assignment and activity will be discussed at the beginning of each class.
*Also, students are expected to visit museums and galleries as much as possible.

Course materials will be provided both during the class and on HOPPII.

Recommended Readings:
While not compulsory, students are encouraged to read the following books:

1)Hideki Nakazawa. Art History: JAPAN 1945-2014. Art Diver, 2014

2)Doryun Chong. From Postwar to Postmodern: Art in Japan 1945-1989:Primary Documents (MoMa Primary Documents). Duke University Press, 2012

3)Joan Stanley-Baker. Japanese Art (World of Art). Thames & Hudson, 2014

4)J. Thomas Rimer, Toshiko McCallum. Since Meiji: Perspectives on the Japanese Visual Arts. 1868-2000. Univ of Hawaii Pr, 2011

5)Mason, Penelope E., and Donald Dinwiddie. History of Japanese Art. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005

Other Online Resources:
-Japanese Art
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_art#Miyabi
-Google Arts and Culture: Made in Japan
https://artsandculture.google.com/project/made-in-japan
-Japanese Art Metropolitan Museum of Art
https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2015/discovering-japanese-art
-Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture collection
https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt500023mk/


-Students are also expected to follow Japanese news. Some useful links are:
https://mainichi.jp/english/
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/
https://japantoday.com/
https://the-japan-news.com/
Students are welcome to share other media outlets in class.

Participation and Attendance 30%
Weekly Journal 20%
Mid-term Report 20%
Final Presentation 30%
*Grading criteria are subject to change in accordance with the number of registered students.

*This is not an art and craft course, and does not provide lessons to develop practical skills for drawing, design, etc: therefore, individual creative skill is not subject to assessment.

*Handouts will be prepared for each class. All assignments must be submitted through the online platform and students are recommended to bring a laptop if available.
*For the final presentation, students are required to submit a short presentation. (presentation style will be announced during the class.)

*HOPPII will be the main platform used to share class information, materials, reports, etc. Other platforms may also be used for convenience and according to need.
*The date for the guest lecture is subject to change depending on the guest’s availability.
*The instructor taught the same class in 2022 and has 10 years of experience in translation and interpretation in the field of arts and culture, and will teach the knowledge of how to appreciate art that the instructor has developed as an artist.