Oriental Languages and Cultures

Educational Goals The module on Korean visual arts is meant to complement the students’ knowledge of Korean culture by providing them with a general overview of the artistic developments that took place in the Korean peninsula from the Neolithic to the early 19th century. As stated in the title of the module, Korean art history will not be analyzed in isolation but within the wider perspective of the interrelationships between Korea and its neighbours -China, Japan and other Asian regions- and their impact on the visual arts. Each period of the Korean history will be illustrated through the most significant artefacts, works of art and architectural remains examined in comparison with similar ones from other cultural contexts. Specific Goals At the end of the module the students will gain a general knowledge of Korean art history from the Neolithic to the late Chosŏn period (1392-1910) and will be able to single out the specific characteristics of Korean art within the broader network of cultural interrelationships in the East Asian region. The students are requested to write a paper on one of the topics analyzed in the module to demonstrate their personal critical approach: the paper will be presented and discussed at the time of the exam.