SEMESTER AT SEA COURSE SYLLABUS Colorado State University, Academic Sponsor Voyage: Spring 2018 Discipline: Art and Art History Course Number and Title: Art 320, Global Encounters in Art (Focus on Religious Art and Architecture Asia and Europe) (Section 2) Division: Upper Faculty Name: Larry Silver Semester Credit Hours: 3 Prerequisites: The standard CSU prerequisite one (1) modern to contemporary art history course is waived Description: This course will follow the route of the ship, starting with East Asia (Japan and China) and will introduce students to the religion and accompanying politics that gave rise to the temples, shrines, and artistic creations in the many countries visited. Focus will be on the major world religions of each region, with attention to regional differences and changes over time. (In order): Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Orthodox Christianity, Catholic and Protestant Christianity, and Judaism. Learning Objectives: ability to analyze art and architecture, aesthetically and structurally, but also especially in relation to religious function; deeper awareness of religious traditions served; plus comparative appreciation of both art and religion REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS (used copies and all editions acceptable): AUTHOR:Robert Fisher TITLE: Buddhist Art and Architecture PUBLISHER: Thames&Hudson, paper ISBN: 978-0500-202654 AUTHOR: George Michell TITLE: Hindu Art and Architecture PUBLISHER: Thames&Hudson, paper ISBN: 9-780500-203378 AUTHOR: Robert Hillenbrand TITLE: Islamic Art and Architecture PUBLISHER: Thames&Hudson, paper ISBN: 978-0-500-20305-7 AUTHOR: Beth Williamson TITLE: Christian Art. A Very Short Introduction PUBLISHER: Oxford, paper ISBN: 9-780192-803282
AUTHOR: James O'Gorman TITLE: ABC of Architecture PUBLISHER: Penn Press, paper ISBN: 9780812216318 On Reserve (Recommended): Jonathan Bloom/Sheila Blair, Islamic Arts, Phaidon, paper Vidya Dehejia, Indian Art, Phaidon, paper John Lowden, Early Christian and Byzantine Art, Phaidon paper Fiona Kerlogue, Arts of Southeast Asia, Thames & Hudson paper Robin Cormack, Byzantine Art, Oxford, paper Veronica Sekules, Medieval Art, Oxford paper Samantha Baskind/Larry Silver, Jewish Art: A Modern History Reaktion, pb Craig Clunas, Art in China, Oxford, paper TOPICAL OUTLINE OF COURSE Depart Ensenada, Mexico--January 5 B1-January 8 Introduction to Architecture Reading: O'Gorman B2--January 10 Learning to Look--Painting and Sculpture Reading: Fisher, Introduction B3--January 13 Introduction to Buddhism: Life of Buddha, Pantheon Reading: Fisher, Chapter Three B4--January 15 Early Buddhist Art in Japan, Nara Reading: Fisher, Chapter Two January 16--International Date Line Crossing (lost Day) B5--January 18 Later Buddhist Art in Japan, Pure Land and Zen Reading: Fisher, Chapter One January 19--Study Day, no class B6--January 21 Buddhist Art in China--Caves and Pagodas Reading: Fisher Chapter Two (review) B7--January 23 Buddhist Art in Southeast Asia Recommended: Fisher, Chapter Four; Kerloge (on reserve)
Kobe, Japan--January 24-28 Class field trip to Nara B8--January 30 Introduction to Hinduism--major figures and myths Reading: Michell, Chapter One Shanghai, China--January 31-February 1 In Transit--February 203 Hong Kong--February 405 B9--February 7 Early Hinduism--Introduction to Art and Architecture Reading: Michell, Chapter Two Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam--February 8-13 B10--February 15 Mature Forms of Temples--North vs South Reading: Michell, Chapters Three-Four NO Class February 16 B11--February 18 Introduction to Islam--Mediterranean Origins Reading: Hillenbrand, Chapter One Yangon, Myanmar--February 19-23 B12--February 25 Central Asian Islam--Mongols and Persians Reading: Hillenbrand, Chapters 8-9; Gruber (e-reserve) B13--February 27 Mughal Islam--Taj Mahal et al. Cochin, India--February 28-March 5 March 7--Study Day (Neptune Ceremony) B14--March 8 Cairo and Baghdad Reading: Hillenbrand, Chapters Two-Three, Six B15--March 10 Ottomans and Istanbul Reading: Hillenbrand, Chapters Five, Ten B16--March 13 Iberia and Morocco; Islam in West Africa Reading: Hillenbrand, Chapter Seven
B17--March 15 Introduction to Christian Art--Icons and Narratives Reading: Williamson, Short Introduction B18--March 17 Early Christian Art and Early Orthodox Art Recommended: Lowden; Cormack (reserve) Cape Town, South Africa--March 18-23 B19--March 25 Catholic Medieval Art and Architecture Recommended: Sekules (reserve) B20--March 27 Later Catholic Art and Architecture--Renaissance Changes Recommended: Loren Partridge, Art of Renaissance Rome (reserve) B21--March 29 Iconophobia and Iconoclasm--Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity Tema, Ghana--March 30-April 1 Takoradi, Ghana--April 2-3 B22--April 5 What is Protestant Art and Architecture? Reading: Williamson, Chapter Five B23--April 7 Study day April 8 B24--April 10 Issues of Jewish Art--Review Recommended: Baskind/Silver (reserve) Casablanca, Morocco--April 11-14 B25 Final Exam Day--April 16 Arrive Bremerhaven, Germany--April 19 FIELD WORK Semester at Sea field experiences permit students to compare, contrast, and synthesize the different countries and cultures encountered across the course of the voyage. Besides the one field class, students will compile a journal of comparative study of sacral spaces and ornaments in at least four (4) ports. These, in turn, will be used then for a final, comparative essay, also using material learned in class readings and discussions.
Field Class & Assignment Field Class attendance is mandatory for all students enrolled in this course. Do not book individual travel plans or a Semester at Sea sponsored trip on the day of your field class. Field Classes constitute at least 20% of the contact hours for each course, and are developed and led by the instructor. Field Class and Assignment: (+ Burmese textile traditions, led by Bettes Silver-Schack) The Field Class for this Course will take place in Yangon, Myanmar on Tuesday, 20 February Buddhism in Yangon Experience grandeur and richness of Shwedagon Pagoda, plus massive modern pagoda by junta general (excellent for background, e.g. Life of Buddha) experience techniques and artistry of Burmese weaving Relevant TRIPS (Open to entire ship): Religious Monuments of Sri Lanka (Buddhist, Hindu) Islamic Sites of Fez (Islamic) METHODS OF EVALUATION / GRADING SCALE GRADING SCALE The following Grading Scale is utilized for student evaluation. Pass/Fail is not an option for Semester at Sea coursework. Note that C-, D+ and D- grades are also not assigned on Semester at Sea in accordance with the grading system at Colorado State University (the SAS partner institution). Pluses and minuses are awarded as follows on a 100% scale: Excellent Good Satisfactory/Poor Failing 97-100%: A+ 93-96%: A 90-92%: A- 87-89%: B+ 83-86%: B 80-82%: B- 77-79%: C+ 70-76%: C 60-69%: D Less than 60%: F Method of Evaluation: Journal Updates and Comparative Essay 50% Final Exam 30% Field Class 20% ATTENDANCE/ENGAGEMENT IN THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM Attendance in all Semester at Sea classes, including the Field Class, is mandatory. Students must inform their instructors prior to any unanticipated absence and take the initiative to make up missed work in a timely fashion. Instructors must make reasonable efforts to enable
students to make up work which must be accomplished under the instructor s supervision (e.g., examinations, laboratories). In the event of a conflict in regard to this policy, individuals may appeal using established CSU procedures. LEARNING ACCOMMODATIONS Semester at Sea provides academic accommodations for students with diagnosed learning disabilities, in accordance with ADA guidelines. Students who will need accommodations in a class, should contact ISE to discuss their individual needs. Any accommodation must be discussed in a timely manner prior to implementation. A lette4r from the student s home institution verifying the accommodations received on their home campus (dated within the last three years) is required before any accommodation is provided on the ship. Students must submit this verification of accommodations to academic@isevoyages.org as soon as possible, but no later than two months prior to the voyage. STUDENT CONDUCT CODE The foundation of a university is truth and knowledge, each of which relies in a fundamental manner upon academic integrity and is diminished significantly by academic misconduct. Academic integrity is conceptualized as doing and taking credit for one s own work. A pervasive attitude promoting academic integrity enhances the sense of community and adds value to the educational process. All within the University are affected by the cooperative commitment to academic integrity. All Semester at Sea courses adhere to this Academic Integrity Policy and Student Conduct Code. Depending on the nature of the assignment or exam, the faculty member may require a written declaration of the following honor pledge: I have not given, received, or used any unauthorized assistance on this exam/assignment. RESERVE BOOKS FOR THE LIBRARY Partha Mitter, Indian Art (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001). Donald W. Mitchell, Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience, 3 rd edition (New York & Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013). FILM REQUEST: None ELECTRONIC COURSE MATERIALS None ADDITIONAL RESOURCES None