This course introduces students to the development of modern visual art in India, Indonesia and Japan in relation to process of colonisation and decolonisation. Students will be offered an understanding of how modernism in these countries follows regionally and culturally specific trajectories, responding to political, technological and social transformations. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding the formation of national consciousness in the context of imperialism, and on the relationship between national belonging and cosmopolitanism. While dominant discourses in art history tend to consign non-western modernist art to a marginal status and/or treat it as derivative or Euro-American innovations, this course highlights complex interrelations between these non-western modernisms and the development of Euro-American modernism.
Concentrating on a century of artistic practices from the later nineteenth century onwards, the course will offer students an introduction to visual practices, historical approaches and theoretical formulations that deal with modernism, across national and international perspectives. The course will address colonial and postcolonial histories of art, as well as relations between art practice and national traditions.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- demonstrate familiarity with the major trajectories in modernist art in India, Indonesia and Japan, c. 1860-1970;
- understand historical, political and aesthetic issues that relate to individual artists, periods or movements;
- analyse the work of significant artists in formal and contextual terms;
- critically evaluate major theoretical issues that underpin the work of Asian modernist artists; and
- present well-researched and competent oral and written discussions pertaining to the course material.
Indicative Assessment
- Annotated bibliography, 1000 words (25) [LO 1,3,4,5]
- Essay, 2500 words (40) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Tutorial presentation including submission of PowerPoint Slides/presentation notes, 8 minutes (25) [LO 2,3,5]
- Participation (10) [LO 1,2,3,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:
a) 36 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures and 12 hours of tutorials; and
b) 94 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Bibliography supplied on Wattle
Preliminary Reading
Bibliography supplied on Wattle
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.