the class site is: asianart.class.arizona.edu. · “office hours” virtually, to clarify doubts,...

ART 160A1: Introduction to South Asian Art & Visual Culture Pre-Summer Session: LEC 131. class site: asianart.class.arizona.edu

Instructor: Dr. Manisha Sharma Email: [email protected]

Join the class as: asianart.class.arizona.edu �1

Fulfills requirements for Gen Ed: Diversity Emphasis Gen Ed: Tier 1 Traditions and Cultures AFGHANISTAN

PAKISTAN

INDIA

NEPAL BHUTAN

BANGLADESH

MYANMAR

SRI LANKA

MALDIVES

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course offers points of entry to understanding and recognizing historical and contemporary presentations of visual expressions of South Asian culture(s). Students will be introduced to belief systems, aesthetic systems, and lifestyles of this region by studying historical and contemporary examples of art and popular (visual) culture. We will look at perspectives as expressed within the region as well as by diaspora.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

This 3-credit course fulfills the Tradition & Cultures (TRAD) objective, which is one of the GEC Tier I requirements for the arts, as described in the GEC curriculum requirements for the University of Arizona.

It also meets the Diversity Emphasis requirements for GEC curriculum since it falls under the description of Non-Western Studies. However, students may claim this course as fulfillment of only one of these. For m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e v i s i t h t t p : / /catalog.arizona.edu/2010-11/gened_tiers.html#tier1

Students wanting this course to count towards the Honors program should contact the instructor in the first week of the course for an enhanced curriculum & project experience.

COURSE OUTCOMES:

As per Tier One course requirements, students in this course will:

Gain an understanding of factors influencing the identity of peoples and cultural artifacts of this region Be able to identify some significant concepts, historical moments and vocabularies in South Asian art and culture. Learn strategies of critical inquiry and analysis by responding to images from and about this region Practice several strategies of critical writing, both creative and academic, resulting in 10 pages/2500 words of written work.

COURSE SITE & COURSE MATERIALS:

The class site is: asianart.class.arizona.edu. All course materials (syllabus, calendar, readings, assignment descriptions etc will be posted on this site.

You will post your assignments on this site as well, in the form of a blog. Each student will have their own blog on this site.

You will access the materials by logging into the site, from its home-page, using your NET ID.

Only grades will be posted to D2L.

No text book is required for this class.

All reading materials will be posted in the class site as pdfs or as links.

Texts assigned to read include academic articles, blog posts and newspaper articles, movies, advertisements, and images.

http://asianart.class.arizona.edu

mailto:[email protected]

http://catalog.arizona.edu/2010-11/gened_tiers.html#tier1





http://catalog.arizona.edu/2010-11/gened_tiers.html#tier1





COURSE STRUCTURE:

The course is divided into 3 thematic modules. We will cover one module per week. You will submit 3 assignments, in response to each module.

Week one: A region of diversity. In this module, you will be introduced to various religious and spiritual belief systems in the area, through a study of architecture. You will study the symbolic concepts guiding Hindu temples (India), Islamic mosques (Pakistan), Buddhist stupas (Sri Lanka), and Christian churches (India). In this module you will encounter the spiritual nature of South Asia.

Week Two: Complex histories & hybrid cultures: In this module, you will be introduced to the ways in which multiple cultural histories combine to produce unique and rich artistic practices. As an example of this, you will study Mughal art and design. In particular, you will study Mughal fashion (textile) and jewelry, Mughal Miniature paintings, and Architecture of the Taj Mahal. In this module you will encounter the material nature of South Asia.

Week Three: Representations of South Asian Diaspora in Visual Culture: In this module, you will examine representations of South Asians in South Asia (in Bollywood films) and Western media (TV and film). In studying this, we will reflect on the impact of such representations on the identities and lived experiences of diaspora (in North America). We will also study the concept of cultural appropriation vs appreciation in this same context. In this module you will encounter the contemporary experiential nature of South Asians abroad.

ASSIGNMENTS &

GRADING

Assignment # 1: Module 1. Expository essay. Due May 22nd 2-3 page paper (600-700 words) 30 points

Assignment # 2: Module 2 Response Essay Due May 29th. 3-4 page paper (900-1200 words) 30 points

Assignment # 3: Module 3 Personal Narrative Essay Due June 5th. 3-4 page paper (900-1200 words) 40 points

Read, consider, & Respond

Writing guides, details and grading rubrics for each assignments are posted on the module pages on the course site.









The subject matter of this course may contain material that may challenge or offend your moral, religious or political values and

beliefs.

To be more specific, we will view and discuss works of art that may

contain or deal with nudity, profanity, sexuality, and violence.

You are not expected to agree with the content and viewpoints

presented, but you are required to respectfully consider these texts.

This is important because learning to work with diverse beliefs and

world views is a key aspect of critical thinking.

You are encouraged to contextualize the texts in ways

that speak to your personal ideas and experiences, to make them relevant to you. However, your

responses to this content- whether positive or negative- must not be

disrespectful or reflect un-thoughtful prejudice.

In short: you are welcome to dislike the

images or disagree with the beliefs presented, but your response must

reflect a thoughtful & clearly processed articulation of WHY you dislike / disagree, in a larger

social context, beyond your personal ideology. If you have

questions or concerns about this, please contact the instructor for

clarification (see University Policies).

COURSE POLICIES:

Each week, you must check in to access the online lecture and mark your attendance. The instructor will be available for “office hours” virtually, to clarify doubts, ask questions and exchange ideas. All assignments must be posted on time, and in the required format. Please ask if you need ANY clarifications about any aspect of the course materials and assignment requirements. It is your responsibility to clarify any doubts you might have. You must complete the assigned readings and should use the guiding questions and prompts. These will help you contextualize the material for optimal learning, and help you respond to the assignment requirements. All written assignments should follow the given formatting guidelines (as per APA style manual). You should proofread your work for grammar and spelling before submitting for a grade. You should carefully perform a plagiarism check on your work - please read the guidelines on how to do this (posted under Writing Resources, on the class site). Late work: 5 points will be deducted for every 12 hours lateness. Work that is more than 2 days late will not be graded.

Accessibility & Accommodations

It is the University’s goal that learning experiences be as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on a disability, please let me know immediately so that we can discuss alternative options.

I would like to discuss ways to ensure your full participation in the course. If you determine that formal, disability-related accommodations are necessary, it is very important that you be registered with Disability Resources (621-3268; http://drc.arizona.edu) and that you notify me of your eligibility for reasonable accommodations. We can then plan how best to coordinate your accommodations.

DISCLAIMERS &

CONTENT ADVISORY









BEHAVIORAL POLICIES:

Professionalism and courteousness: Please maintain professional and courteous online behavior, as you would in an in-class discussion. Be respectful to your instructors and your peers. While using online discussion boards, the instructor reserve the right to remove posts that we deem inappropriate and to deduct points from the poster’s grade accordingly.

Take responsibility for communication:Your instructor will take every effort you keep you apprised of your grades and attendance record and your understanding of class topics and assignments. However, this is a reciprocal contract. You are an equal partner in the responsibility of this class being a successful learning experience for you. You need to make sure you are always aware of your status and progress in class.

From the University Policy on Threatening Behavior:

“The aim of education is the intellectual, personal, social, and ethical development of the individual. The educational process is ideally conducted in an environment that encourages reasoned discourse, intellectual honesty, openness to constructive change and respect for the rights of all individuals. Self discipline and a respect for the rights of others in the university community are necessary for the fulfillment of such goals.”

From the University Code of Academic Integrity: “Integrity is expected of every student in all academic work. The guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student’s submitted work must the student’s own. This principle is further by the student Code of Conduct and disciplinary procedures established by ABOR Policies 5-308 – 5-403, all provisions of which apply to all University of Arizona students.”

The Code of Conduct is available at

http://azregents.asu.edu/rrc/Policy%20Manual/5-308-Student%20Code%20of%20Conduct.pdf

The Policy on Threatening Behavior is available at

http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/disruptiveandthreateningstudents

The Code of Academic Integrity is available at http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/codeofacademicintegrity

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

Image: Swati Khurana, Thirsty Bride, 2005, digital inkjet print, 30 x 20 in. From the exhibition, "Passage to New Jersey: Women Artists of the South Asian Diaspora in Our Midst.” Source: http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/exhibits/dwas/dwas_2008




http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/codeofacademicintegrity

http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/exhibits/dwas/dwas_2008



http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/exhibits/dwas/dwas_2008




http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/codeofacademicintegrity


the class site is: asianart.class.arizona.edu. · “office hours” virtually, to clarify doubts,...

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