Goddesses and Heroines: Images of Women in the Art of China and Taiwan
ARHA 278
Fall 2016
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
CEAS 167, FGSS 279 |
This course examines the history of visual representations of women in China and Taiwan from the 12th to the early 20th century. During this period, images of women increasingly appeared in the art of China and Taiwan as guardians and advocates for the weak and the suffering, as well as political or moral allegories. These mythical and legendary figures, such as Guanyin, Mazu, and Nie Xiaoqian, empowered both women and men who were in poverty, peril, or despair. Their heroic and divine images combine traits of feminine qualities highlighted in a male-chauvinistic tradition and symbols of a mega-being beyond any gender-specific definition. By tracing the formation and transformation of images of women in the art of China and Taiwan, this course will explore three themes: (1) the development of female cults in the visual cultures of China and Taiwan; (2) the relationship of feminine representation, human morality, and divine power in Chinese and Taiwanese societies; (3) the negotiation of political and cultural identities in these societies through the appropriation of female images. The goal of this course is to offer students contextualized knowledge about women's roles in the arts and visual cultures of China and Taiwan. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA ART |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (CEAS-MN) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 90% or above |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Beverly Bossler, COURTESANS, CONCUBINES, AND THE CULT OF FEMALE FIDELITY: GENDER AND SOCIAL CHANGE IN CHINA, 1000-1400
Suzanne E. Cahill, TRANSCENDANCE AND DIVINE PASSION: THE QUEEN MOTHER OF THE WEST IN MEDIEVAL CHINA
Martin Palmer et al., THE KUAN YIN CHRONICLES: MYTHS AND PROPHECIES OF THE CHINESE GODDESS OF COMPASSION
Robin R. Wang, IMAGES OF WOMEN IN CHINESE THOUGHT AND CULTURE: WRITINGS FROM THE PRE-QIN PERIOD THROUGH THE SONG DYNASTY
Marsha Weidner et al., VIEWS FROM JADE TERRACE: CHINESE WOMEN ARTISTS, 1300-1912. Selected additional readings (articles and excerpted chapters) available on the course Moodle
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Examinations and Assignments:
Requirements of this course include weekly readings, 3 essay-exams, a research proposal, a presentation, and a 15-page final paper. |
| Instructor(s): Sena,Yunchiahn Chen Times: .M.W... 02:50PM-04:10PM; Location: BOGH113; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: 5 | JR major: 5 | | |
| Seats Available: 11 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 2 | JR non-major: 2 | SO: 5 | FR: 0 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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