Admission requirements
Admission to the MA Asian Studies, the MA Asian Studies (research), the MA Arts and Culture, the MA Arts and Culture (research) or the MA Religious Studies and an academic interest in Asia and art history. Students who are interested in taking this course, but who do not fullfil these requirements are requested to contact Prof. Dr M.J. Klokke.Prof.Dr. M.J. Klokke.
Description
This course focuses on religious narratives in Asian art. Religious stories in Asia are, as elsewhere, continuously retold, reworked, and adapted to new contexts, not only by way of words, but also by way of the visual medium. Stories, such as the Ramayana, a famous Indian epic that spread to Southeast Asia and beyond, and the Jatakas, pan-Asian stories about the previous lives of the Buddha, have various textual versions, but also as many visual versions, dating from ancient times to the present. Starting from Gombrich’s ‘theory of decorum’ we discuss the great flexibility of the visual medium in adapting such religious narratives to new contexts (domestic, religious, political) and the ways in which their meanings were manipulated in the course of this process. In class we examine a number of case studies (Jatakas, Buddha's Life Story and/or Ramayana) within various different Southeast Asian contexts, but your paper may focus on other religious stories in other Asian contexts.
Course objectives
Knowledge of the religious art and material culture of South and Southeast Asia
Insight in the function of religious art in its art historical and cultural context
Insight in the art historical discipline as applied to Asian art
Insight into some of the problems and debates in the study of Asian art
Academic skills to describe and analyse religious themes in Asian art and interpret them in their (art) historical context
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Attendance is compulsory for all sessions. Students must prepare well and contribute to in-class discussion. If a student cannot attend because of illness or misadventure, they should promptly inform the convener. Extra assignments may be set to make up for missed class time, at the convener’s discretion. Absence without notification may result in lower grades or exclusion from assessment components and a failing grade for the course.
Assessment method
*5 written reports of readings (weekly)
*Paper, 3000-4000 words (at the end of the block)
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average.
The resit consists of the same subtests as the first opportunity
Assessment and weighing
| Partial Assessment | Weighing |
|---|---|
| 5 x written reports of readings | 40% |
| paper | 60% |
In order to pass the course, students need a pass mark (“voldoende”, i.e. “5.50” or higher) for the research paper and for the course as a whole.
The research paper is written in two stages: a first version, on which the convener will offer feedback, and a final version. Feedback on the first version is conditional on this being handed in before the deadline. The grade will be determined on the basis of the final version only. (The paper deadline mentioned in uSis is for administrative purposes only. The actual date will be communicated by the convener.)
All categories of assessment must be completed in the same academic year. No partial marks can be carried over into following years.
Resit
Only if the total weighted average is 5.49 or lower and this is the result of a paper graded 5.49 or lower, a re-sit of the paper is possible (xx%). In that case the convener of the course may decide to assign a (new) topic. The deadline for this version will be determined by the course convener, after consultation with the student.
A re-sit for other course components is not possible.
Inspection and feedback
If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
A syllabus will be posted on Brightspace at the start of the course. Weekly readings will be made accessible through Brightspace.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available on the website.
Registration Studeren à la carte en Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office de Vrieshof.