Then the Chinese efforts to meet the challenges of the new world order first through a Confucian revival and later through embracing Western technology and ideas are examined. The class traces the development of the Chinese Communist party and the KMT, warlordism, China's involvement in World War II and the founding of the People's Republic of China. The course concludes with a look at the effects of the economic and political reforms of the past two decades. Through Asian art from Neolithic times to the present, from China, India, Japan, Persia, Korea, Central Asia, Java, Cambodia and Vietnam, this course demonstrates what distinguishes these artistic cultures from each other and from various European artistic traditions. This course also introduces the vocabulary, techniques and patterns of thinking students will need in advanced art history courses.
Priority is given to first-year students and sophomores.
This study of East Asian paintings and woodblock prints from China's Han Dynasty to twentieth-century Japan includes discussion of the impact of the artists social status on works of art and the nature of Japans reinterpretation of Chinese forms. These courses offer continued practice and drill in the spoken language and work in the language laboratory. Emphasis is on expansion of vocabulary and reading skills. By the end of the year the student may expect to know 1,000 ideographs and be able to read simple texts. This course introduces representative works of Chinese literature in English translation.