Buddhist Art
Code: 106396 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2500239 Art History | OT | 3 | 0 |
| 2500239 Art History | OT | 4 | 0 |
Contact
- Name:
- Francesc Josep de Rueda Roige
- Email:
- FrancescJosep.DeRueda@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- catalan (cat)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- Yes
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- No
Teachers
- Nuria Ribas Valls
Prerequisites
No previous knowledge of Buddhism is required. However, it is advisable that students possess the ability to read and listen to English sources. Therefore, the vast majority of readings and videos will be provided in English.
Objectives and Contextualisation
- To gain knowledge about the artistic manifestations of Buddhism.
- To know the specific bibliographic resources of the discipline in order to be able to deepen in specific topics
of Buddhist Art.
- To acquire a good command of the adequate historic-artistic vocabulary.
Competences
- Art History
- Critically analysing from the acquired knowledge a work of art in its many facets: formal values, iconographic significance, artistic techniques and procedures, elaboration process and reception mechanisms.
- Interpreting a work of art in the context in which it was developed and relating it with other forms of cultural expression.
- Recognising the evolution of the artistic imagery from the antiquity to the contemporary visual culture.
- Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
Learning Outcomes
- Accurately defining and explaining an artistic object with the specific language of art criticism.
- Analysing ideas about an artistic phenomenon in a given cultural context.
- Analysing the creators of an artistic phenomenon in a specific cultural context.
- Analysing the recipients of an artistic phenomenon in a specific cultural context.
- Applying the iconographic knowledge to the reading of artistic imagery.
- Connecting an artistic imagery with other cultural phenomena within its period.
- Distinguishing the elaboration techniques and processes of an artistic object.
- Engaging in debates about historical facts respecting the other participants' opinions.
- Examining an artistic imagery and distinguishing its formal, iconographic and symbolic values.
- Explaining the reception mechanisms of a work of art.
- Identifying the artistic imagery, placing it into its cultural context.
- Reconstructing the artistic outlook of a particular cultural context.
Content
1. General Concepts. Siddharta Gautama and his legacy. Early Buddhism spread.
2. First Buddhist material remains in Indian territory.
3. Theravada Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism and its expansion throughout Asia.
4. Orientalism, colonialism, and decolonization in Buddhist Art.
5. Contemporary Artistic Manifestations.
Methodology
Theoretical and practical classes.
Discussion on some specific topics.
Occasional conferences.
Methodological and bibliographic orientation.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Theoretical and practical classes | 45 | 1.8 | 3, 4, 2, 11, 5, 9, 10, 8, 12, 6 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Methodological and bibliographical orientation | 5 | 0.2 | 11, 9, 12, 6 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Study and preparation | 80 | 3.2 | 3, 4, 2, 11, 5, 9, 10, 12, 6 |
Assessment
- Exercise 1 (written test): 35%
- Exercise 2 (written test): 35%
- Seminar: 30%
The final mark is the result of the addition of the marks obtained in all activities.
If the student has only done some of the compulsory exercises (activities 1, 2 or 3) and he/she has passed
them, he/she will get a "not assessable" when the general addition does not reach the pass or a superior mark.
On the contrary, the student will get the mark that he/she has obtainet. At the time of each evaluative activity,
the teacher will inform the students (Moodle) of the procedure and the date of the revision of the marking.
Only the students who have not passed and have sat for the four compulsory activities (1, 2 and 3) have the
right to a reassessment - the date is set by the Facultie's Academic Management. The maximum mark of this
reassessment is 5.
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade
awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any
disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the
same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.
In the event that tests or exams cannot be taken onsite, they will be adapted to an online format made
available through the UAB's virtual tools (original weighting will be maintained). Homework, activities
and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/ordiscussion on Teams, etc.
Lecturers will ensurethat students are able to access these virtual tools, or will offer them feasible
alternatives.
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise 1 | 35 | 1 | 0.04 | 11, 1, 9, 10, 12, 6 |
| Exercise 2 | 35 | 1 | 0.04 | 11, 1, 9, 10, 12, 6 |
| Seminar | 30 | 18 | 0.72 | 3, 4, 2, 11, 5, 1, 7, 9, 10, 8, 12, 6 |
Bibliography
This is a primary bibliography for this course. More references will be provided for specific subjects during the sessions.
Reference manuals
CORNU, Philippe. 2001. Dictionnaire encyclopédique du bouddhisme. París: Éditions Seuil [Spanish Edition by Akal, 2004].
GOMBRICH, Richard. 2013. What the Buddha Thought. Sheffield: Equinox.
McARTHUR, Meher. 2004 [2002]. Reading Buddhist Art. An Illustrated Guide to Buddhist Signs & Symbols. Londres: Thames & Hudson.
ROONEY, Dawn F. 2008. Ancient Sukhothai: Thailand's Cultural Heritage. Bangkok: River Books.
SILK, Jonathan A. (ed.) 2015. Brill's encyclopedia of Buddhism. Leiden; Boston: Brill.
VÉLEZ DE CEA, Abraham. 2000. El Buddhismo. Madrid: Ediciones del Orto.
Basic bibliography
BEHRENDT, Kurt A. 2007 The Art of Gandhara in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Nova York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art / New Haven: Yale University Press.
BEHRENDT, Kurt A. 2019. How to read Buddhist Art. Londres; New Haven: The Metropolitan Museum of Art / Yale University Press.
LEIDY, Denise Patry. 2008. The Art of Buddhism. An Introduction to its History and meaning. Boston, Londres: Shambhala.
IGUNMA, Jana; SAN SAN, May. 2019. Buddhism. Origins, Traditions and Contemporary Life. Londres: British Library.
JONGEWARD, David. 2019. Buddhist Art of Gandhara in the Ashmolean Museum. Oxford: Ashmolean Museum - Oxford University.
LOPEZ, Donald S. (ed.). 1995. Curators of the Buddha. The Study of Buddhism Under Colonialism. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
PAINE, Crispin. 2013. Religious Objects in Museums: Private Lives and Public Duties. Londres; Nova York: BloomsburyAcademic.
RAMOS, Imma. 2020. Tantra. Enlightenment to Revolution. Londres: Thames & Hudson; The British Museum.
ROONEY, Dawn F. 2008. Ancient Sukhothai: Thailand's Cultural Heritage. Bangkok: River Books.
SULLIVAN, Bruce M. (ed.) 2015. Sacred Objects in Secular Spaces. Exhibiting Asian Religions in Museums. Londres: British Library.
Software
Nothing to say.