ARTS 354 - Topics in East Asian Art: Monuments in a Comparative Perspective

An examination of personal, religious, and political monuments in ancient-modern Japan and China, this course explores diverse approaches in the construction of monuments and memorials. Do monuments help us remember the past; allow us to generate new memories, or both? We will focus on the overall artistic design of sites, including material, iconography, and space, and examine how features have been reshaped or generated controversies. Topics may include the Ise Shrine, Todaiji, Peace Memorial Park, Nanjing Massacre Museum, and Tian’anmen Square.  
Instructor: B. Cheng
Prerequisites & Notes
Background in East Asia or Art History is strongly recommended.