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TAD3304

Indian art and design: from pre-history to contemporary 3A ( 6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL)

Undergraduate
(A&D)

Leader: To be advised

Offered:
Not offered in 2005.

Synopsis: This unit is designed to encourage empathy with the peoples Indian sub-continent, through the study of its Art /Design, Religions, and Social History. The course will develop students' awareness of Anthropology of Art and Design, theories and research methodologies in the study of cross-cultural aesthetics; much of which is also applicable to the study of non-Indian aesthetics. This course will further students knowledge of Palaeolithic to Contemporary Indian Art and Design. Emphasis will be placed on the elite histories of Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic visual culture. European influence on Indian visual culture, prior, during and post the Colonial period, will also be covered in some depth.

Objectives: On successful completion of this unit, students will: 1.identify the great traditions of India Art and Design, from the Palaeolithic period to now.Especially the pre-Indo-European heritage and teh development of Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Tantric, Islamic, and Christian Art/Design; 2.demonstrate a knowledge of rural and tribal traditions of Indian Art and Design; 3.recognise influences of European Art and Design, prior, during and post the Colonial period; 4.identify and comment criticaly on the iconography, context, function and design logics of various examples of Indian Art and Design; 5.demonstrate a good historical and philosophical understanding of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Tantricism, Islam and Christianity, in India. Apart froma n introductory history of styles format, this unit will also introduce students to the study of Social Change and Visual Modernity amongst elite and subaltern populations; 6.show developed research and writing skills; 7.show developed abiltiy to speak about visual material to a critical audience; 8.formulate critical attitudes to Art and Design froma Postcolonial, Subalternist, Poststructuralist and/or Feminist point of view.

Assessment: Short essay (1600 words) 40% + Long essay (2800 words) including class presentation 55% + Reader discussion 5%

Contact Hours: 3 class hours and 9 hours of independent study per week

Prerequisites: A second year sequence in TAD units for faculty course students or permission for all other students.

Prohibitions: TAD2303,TAD2313, TAD3314