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Übung mit regionalem Schwerpunkt – Einführung in die Kunstgeschichte Chinas / Introduction to Chinese Art History
(Übung, BA, 9 ECTS)
Dahi Jung, M.A.
Dienstag, 10:15–12:00 Uhr
Raum PLD-E-04
The course gives a general introduction to objects, monuments, materials, techniques and genres of Chinese art and material culture from the Neolithic period up until the 21st century. Among the diverse study topics covered are early jade and bronze artifacts, funerary art, Buddhist and Daoist art and architecture, Chinese calligraphy and painting, woodblock printing, Chinese modern and contemporary art as well as different artistic phenomena including the commercialization and professionalization of art. The artworks in focus will be analysed and discussed taking into account their current historical and social contexts and as parts of the most important artistic trends and developments in the history of Chinese art. The study will progress chronologically, with a focus on specific topics as we proceed.
This class is an introductory level course and is open to students of all levels, including beginners with no prior knowledge of Chinese or East Asian art. Class requirements will consist of written assignments, a short oral presentation, and a written exam. The course will be held in English and German. All assignments may be completed in either of the two languages.
Movement of Art between East Asia and the West – Cross-cultural Encounters Between Europe and East Asia in the Early Modern Period
(Seminar, MA, 9 ECTS, Crosslisting)
Prof. Dr. Raphaèle Odile Preisinger & Dr. Antonio De Caro
Dienstag, 10:15–13:45 Uhr
Raum Siehe Details im Vorlesungsverzeichnis
In the 16th century, European travelers and merchants established global commercial routes reaching as far as East Asia. While the Portuguese route allowed access to the ports of Macau and Nagasaki by circumnavigating Africa, the Spanish route led to the Philippines via New Spain. Early on in this process, Catholic missionaries made their way into Japan and China. These encounters spurred the circulation of religious images, books, and other artifacts, which traveled between territories under Iberian rule and East Asia on large carracks. At the end of the 16th century, Jesuit missionaries established a local workshop in Japan to manufacture Christian images in situ.
This seminar will examine the material objects emerging from the cross-cultural encounters of individuals traveling between Europe and East Asia in the early modern period. By focusing on the production of artworks emerging from these encounters, the crucial role played by both local and foreign communities in fostering commercial, cultural, and religious exchanges will be analyzed. Both the impact of European artistic, cultural, and religious traditions in East Asia and the reception of Asian artifacts and travelers reaching Europe from East Asia will serve as focal points.
Individual case studies centering on specific artifacts showcasing the interweaving of local and imported traditions, materials, and practices will disclose the cultural dynamics that generated new forms of objects and aesthetic qualities in both Europe and Asia. Artifacts displaying the complexity of commercial, cultural, and religious exchange include, among others, depictions of European merchants and missionaries and Catholic devotional images created by local artists in Japan and China, as well as portraits of Asian travelers and artifacts made to imitate imported Chinese and Japanese porcelain items created in early modern Europe.
Image-Text Interplay in East Asian Art: From Calligraphy to Manga
(Vorlesung, BA/MA, 3 ECTS)
Prof. Dr. Ewa Machotka
Donnerstag, 12:15–13:45 Uhr
Raum KOL-H-317
This lecture examines the dynamic interrelationship between images and texts in the realm of visual arts and material culture in East Asia. Specifically, it focuses on China, Japan, and Korea, spanning from the premodern era to the contemporary period. A distinctive feature of East Asian arts lies in the integration of textual and visual modes of representation, encompassing a diverse spectrum of artistic practices and mediums. This ranges from ancient calligraphy and painted narrative scrolls to popular prints, printed books, posters, crafts, gardens, and contemporary art and manga.
Importantly, the convergence of textual and visual modes of representation in East Asian arts goes beyond being mere alternative means of conveying identical meanings. Instead, it involves a complex interplay where the relationship between the two modes varies. Depending on the material and social context of these interactions, textual and visual elements may either complement each other, overlap, clash, or synergize, thereby actively shaping the processes of perception and meaning-making. Grasping the nuances of these interactions is paramount for understanding East Asian visual arts and textual cultures. Moreover, it is significant for the analysis of global visual culture in general, particularly multimodal digital media.
This course offers an opportunity to not only broaden one's understanding of the interplay between text and image across various mediums and genres in East Asian art but also to acquaint students with relevantdiscourses in art history, Asian studies, and media studies. Special attention is given to insights from semiotics, narratology, multimodality theory, and cultural studies. Consequently, this course may be relevantnot only for those interested in East Asian art history but also for students in Asian studies, as well as media and communication studies.
Moving Arts Between East Asia and the West – Gender, Power and Art in Japan
(Seminar, BA, 6 ECTS)
Prof. Dr. Ewa Machotka
Mittwoch, 12:15-13:45 Uhr
Raum RAA-E-27
This course explores Japanese art history through the lens of gender, offering a critical examination of how gender difference influences the creation, viewing, and interpretation of art across diverse temporal and cultural contexts.
Centered on Japanese visual culture, the course adopts a chronological approach, spanning from the premodern era to the contemporary, to explore the intersections of gender, art and power. It investigates various aspects, such as the relationship between gender and representation, gender and cultural participation, the impact of gender on canon formation, the intertwining of gender with race and colonialism, the interplay of gender, nationalism, and globalization etc.
The course provides an opportunity to study a wide range of topics linked to the social construction of sex and gender that are also critical for art and visual culture. It will also familiarize students with key theoretical concepts in feminist and queer theory, and postcolonial studies with a particular focus on visual arts. Moreover, the course serves as a platform for developing academic skills (critical thinking, academic writing, and oral presentation) relevant in the academia and beyond it.
Lektürekanon in westlichen und ostasiatischen Sprachen / Topical Readings in East Asian Art History
(Selbststudium, MA, 6 ECTS)
Prof. Dr. Ewa Machotka
2. Juniwoche, nach Vereinbarung
The aim of this course is to expand and deepen the students’ knowledge about content, discourses, theories, and methodologies in the field of East Asian art history. The course is based on individual study of research literature selected by the instructor, and literature tailored to one's own research interests and research project (selected by a student and approved by the instructor). The students are expected to read and critically reflect on secondary sources in English and individually selected texts in East Asian language (Chinese, Japanese or Korean). They should be prepared to discuss these materials during the examination. Upon booking this module through the regular module booking system, students are kindly requested to additionally register with the Assistants during the second week of the teaching period, using the provided registration form available on OLAT.
From Acquisition to Exhibition: East Asian Objects in the Museum Context
(Übung, BA/MA, 6 ECTS)
Isabelle Leemann, M.A.
Montag, 14:00–15:45 Uhr
Raum KO2-F-175
This course explores the question: how do museums collect, study, care for, and present their East Asian objects?
We will trace the different stages an East Asian artefact may undergo in its life as a museum object: from acquisition and entry into the museum collections to research and public exposure in exhibitions. We will explore different factors such as historical legacies, legal frameworks, ethical guidelines and principles, political discourse, as well as scientific research, that inform the approaches and decisions museums take regarding the collecting, interpretation and display of their East Asian collections.
Most East Asian collections in Western museums were formed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Depending on the legacy of the collections, museums’ individual institutional history and identity, as well as their mission and organization, museums have engaged in different ways with their objects and collections. Some institutions specialize exclusively in East Asian art, such as the Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst Köln, while others manage East Asian collections as a part of their holdings and mission. Developments in scientific research, technological advances and political discourse have also influenced these engagements.
Through individual case studies, theoretical and practical aspects of working with East Asian objects in the museum context will be discussed and taught in this course. Sessions consist of readings and practical exercises conducted in and outside the classroom. Field trips to museums are also planned. The course requirements consist of a written assignment and an oral presentation.
The course will be held in German and English. All assignments may be completed in either of the two languages.
Kolloquium für Studierende des Masterstudiengangs und Doktorierende /Research Colloquium in East Asian Art History
Prof. Dr. Ewa Machotka
Mittwoch, 14:00–15:45 Uhr
Raum RAA-E-27
Research Colloquium in East Asian Art History offers a platform for MA students, doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers to develop their individual research projects. Participants will engage in the process of formulating research questions, identifying pertinent research materials and methodologies, and exploringrelevant theoretical frameworks. They will have the opportunity to present their works in progress and receive feedback from their peers. Additionally, the colloquium will facilitate discussions on secondary sources relevant to both individual research projects and the broader field of East Asian Art History.
