Ringling College of Art and Design Course Syllabus Spring, 2009

Mission of the College:

Ringling College of Art and Design recognizes that artists and designers play a
significant role in society. The school's primary mission is to provide programs leading
to a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree that prepare students to be discerning visual thinkers
and ethical practitioners in their chosen area of art and design.
Instructor: Office phone: Email:
Daphne L. (941) 309-5037 drosenzw@ringling.edu
Rosenzweig
Course Course Section: Course Title: Credit
Prefix: number: Hours:
AH 494 01 Japanese Art & Culture 3
Building: Room: Meeting days and times:
Goldstein 06 Monday 3:30 – 6:15 pm
Course Description:
This course examines selected topics in ancient, classic, modern and contemporary
Japanese art. (Not all periods, topics or media will be discussed in depth.)
Prerequisites: AH 191, 192 or equivalent.
Course Objectives:
The course objectives for students are as follows:
 Ability to identify a work of art by title, artist, stylistic period, and school.
 Ability to compare and contrast specific works of art in terms of purpose,
meaning, iconography, style, compositional organization, and historical
significance.
 Understand the designated artistic themes and how themes are variously
expressed and interpreted in different stylistic components of the course.
 Identify aesthetic criteria as they apply to different works of art.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course, students should develop the following competencies:
 Demonstrate the ability to analyze, interpret, and evaluate works of art.
 Demonstrate an understanding of differences in cultures and societies.
 Demonstrate responsibility for independent learning and perseverance towards
goal attainment.
 Recognize the social and ethical responsibility of creating art and design.
 Show an ability to discern artistic merit of diverse forms of art in their contexts.
 Be able to defend critical interpretations concerning the significance of artistic
expression.
Course Outline:
See course schedule, page 5.
Grading Policies:
Attendance policy: Regular and timely class attendance is MANDATORY.
Continual lateness will affect grade. Pick up your folder
from the box when you enter the classroom, and hand it
back at the end of class. Do NOT write on the attendance
sheet stapled to your folder; only the instructor will make
entries on the attendance sheet.

Class absences may be excused for reasons of health,

family emergencies or legal requirements; however, a note
from a doctor or the office of the Dean of Students is
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 required to gain excused absences. There is only ONE
unexcused absence allowed in this advanced class. Each
unexcused absence thereafter lowers your final grade by
one-half of a letter grade. Students are responsible for
material presented in each class as well as any outside
work required for each class.

Assignment criteria: In Liberal Arts Program courses at the Ringling College of

Art and Design, all writing assignments (reports, quizzes,
response papers, essays, essay questions on exams,
research papers, etc.) are expected to be appropriately
organized and coherent, and demonstrate a command of
Standard English. Research should be consistently and
appropriately documented in accordance with a prescribed
format. For clarification of Standard English issues, and
documentation formats, see Keys for Writers (Fourth
Edition), by Ann Raimes.

Required Work: 1) Completion of all required readings, and meaningful

class participation based on the readings and websites
which will be introduced in class.

2) There will be two exams. These are non-cumulative.

50% of each exam will be composed of identification of
selected works of art/terms/forms from your JSB text, and
50% will be in essay/project form (See page 6 of
Syllabus.). SLD students may have tests read to them.
There will be no late exams given. The two exams are
scheduled as follows:

First exam: week five (2/16/09)

Second exam: week twelve (4/13/09)

3) One course essay based on questionnaire (See page 6

of Syllabus.), due no later than week fourteen (4/27/09).

Course Grade: 1) Regular and timely class attendance and active,

meaningful participation (10% of grade).
2) Two exams (30% each, total of 60% of grade).
3) Course essay based on questionnaire (30% of grade).

Extra Credit Activity: There is one extra credit activity which will occur during
this semester, the Florida Token Kai (Japanese Sword
Society) “Nineteenth Annual Japanese Sword Show”, to be
held at the Tampa Airport Marriott Hotel, at TIA. If you
attend, go to one of the demonstrations, or study sword
fittings in several dealers’ cases, and hand in a two-page
summary and critique of this activity, extra credit points
will be awarded.

February 13th (Fri.): 12 pm – 10 pm

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 February 14th (Sat.): 9 am – 10 pm (There are
member/exhibitor activities after this)
February 15th (Sun.): 9 am – 3 pm

If you wish to attend, you must be accompanied by me and

I need to submit your names in advance. (There is usually
a $20 single day admission fee; if enough wish to attend, I
can attempt to “negotiate” this.) See the attached
information sheet, and website
www.floridatokenkai.com/swordshow.html

Grading Opportunities:
There are two exams, one final essay/questionnaire, participation and attendance
credit, and one extra credit activity.
Grading System:
Grade Numerical Equivalent
A Superior Performance 4.00
A- 3.67
B+ 3.33
B Above Average 3.00
B- 2.67
C+ 2.33
C Average Performance 2.00
C- 1.67
D+ 1.33
D Below Average 1.00
D- Lowest Passing Grade 0.67
F Failing 0.00
WF Withdrew Failing 0.00
Grading System:
These grades are not computed in the GPA
P Credit But No Grade
N No Credit
W Withdrew Passing
I Incomplete (see policy below)
Required/Recommended Materials:
Two textbooks, available in bookstore; Open Reserve and Reserve, in Library.
Required/Recommended Text:
The required texts are in paperback and available in the campus bookstore. Please
bring the JSB text to each class, and the AS text to class as requested by instructor.
1) Joan Stanley-Baker, Japanese Art (London: Thames & Hudson, 2000 revised
and expanded edition) [hereafter JSB]
2) Adele Schlombs, Hiroshige (Taschen, 2008) [hereafter AS]

Copies of the required texts are on reserve in the library.

Library and Learning Resources:
Many books have been placed on Open Reserve in the library (See attached list.).
DVDs and videos for required or recommended viewing are also available at the
Reserve Desk in the library (See attached list.). There will also be class hand-outs and
websites to be explored for certain class meetings.

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You will find these library periodicals particularly useful: Arts of Asia, Daruma,
Tricycle, Asian Art News, and Orientations.

The Library has many books devoted to the topics of Japanese prints, netsuke, poetry
and other literary forms, Zen and other forms of Buddhism, ceramics, gardens,
theatre, modern art and architecture, paintings, paper, and calligraphy. It may be
helpful for you to keep the following general call numbers in mind for your quizzes and
final essay/questionnaire:

Japanese poetry and language PL 600’s and 700’s

Japanese theatre PN 2921’s
General Japanese art N 7350’s
Paper TS 1095’s
Japanese prints ND 1059’s, NE 1321-5’s, N 7359’s
Japanese paintings ND 1053’s
Japanese teaism GT 2910’s
Japanese ceramics NK 4210’s
Japanese gardens SB 450’s

Disabilities Accommodations:
The Ringling College of Art and Design makes reasonable accommodations for
qualified people with documented disabilities. If you have a learning disability, a
chronic illness, or a physical or psychiatric disability that may have some impact on
your work for this class and for which you may need accommodations, please notify
the Director of the Academic Resource Center (Room 227 Ulla Searing Student Center;
359-7627) preferably before the end of the drop/add period so that appropriate
adjustments can be made.
Health and Safety:
Ringling College of Art and Design is committed to providing students, faculty, and
staff with a safe and healthful learning and work environment and to comply with all
applicable safety laws and regulations and safe work practices. There will be no eating
in the classroom.
Academic Integrity Policy:
There is a ZERO tolerance policy for theft, plagiarism, and all forms of harassment,
punishable by possible dismissal and receiving an F for the course. Plagiarism is the
intentional and/or unintentional use of another writer’s ideas, words, or research
without proper citation (documentation of the source). The Writing Studio and ARC
can cover the proper ways to document and give credit where it is due. Plagiarism,
theft, and harassment are crimes.
Professional Behavior in the Classroom:
The use of laptops, cell phones, and other mechanical/digital devices during the class
period is not permitted. All electronic devices (notebooks, MP3s, cell phones, etc.) are
to be turned OFF during art history classes. The only exception will be for the
student/notetaker entering the current class lecture notes into his/her computer. For
this purpose only, designated seating will be assigned by the instructor at the
beginning of the semester. If you are anticipating an emergency phone call, please
alert the instructor at the beginning of the class and turn your cell phone to the
vibration mode. Otherwise, all cell phones must be turned OFF. Text messaging during
class is not permitted for any reason.
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During the semester, there may be material discussed and/or illustrated which might
be considered by some to have controversial, adult, or otherwise “politically incorrect”
content. Art and ideas perceived as containing such content, however, are presented
for their educational value, not for reasons of exploitation or confrontation. If you have
a problem, please see the instructor.
Incomplete Policy:
Incompletes are granted only by the direction of the instructor.
Course Schedule (Tentative), Topics and Reading Assignments:

WEEK DATE TOPIC READING

1 1/12/09 Introduction to Japan and Japanese Taste
1/19/09 NO CLASS – MARTIN L. KING HOLIDAY Between this date and
2/8/09, visit the Ringling
Museum to view the
exhibition “Fashioning
Kimono”
2 1/26/09 Early Japan and Shinto JSB:1, 2, 3 to p. 29
3 2/2/09 Early Buddhism JSB: 3 (pp. 29-58), 4 to
p. 76
4 2/9/09 Genji and Other Handscrolls JSB: 4 (pp. 76-106)
5 2/16/09 FIRST EXAM
(JSB Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4)
6 2/23/09 Medieval Japan and Zen JSB: 5
7 3/2/09 The Love of Decoration JSB: 6 to p. 184
3/9/09 NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK
8 3/16/09 The Floating World (1) JSB: 6 (pp. 184-193),
AS: pp. 6-33.
THIS CLASS WILL MEET
IN THE TEACHING ROOM
OF THE LIBRARY.
9 3/23/09 The Floating World (2) AS: pp. 34-45
10 3/30/09 The Floating World (3): Hiroshige and AS: pp. 46-91
Hokusai
11 4/6/09 Japan and the West
12 4/13/09 SECOND EXAM
(JSB Chapters 5, 6, 7; AS pp. 6-91)
13 4/20/09 Modern Art JSB: 7
14 4/27/09 Modern and Contemporary Art
ESSAY/QUESTIONNAIRE DUE THIS WEEK
15 5/4/09 Contemporary Art

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Exam and Course Essay Information:
Exam #1: Based on the exhibition currently on display at the Ringling Museum of Art,
“Fashioning Kimono: Art Deco and Modernism in Japan”, chose one kimono to describe
and discuss in terms of its overall design concepts (include a rough drawing), then
relate it to imagery in Tale of Genji paintings and prints (See books on Open Reserve
and the various Genji tapes and DVDs on Reserve for source material.). Write a 3-4
page double-spaced, coherent and logically developed essay to hand in at the time of
Exam #1; the pages must be stapled and have your name at the top. A Student Pass
to see the Ringling Museum exhibition will be provided by the instructor.

Exam #2: Based on the Schlombs book, choose one Hiroshige print to analyze
thoroughly. In an accompanying essay, first, present the standard “museum label”
type of identification of the work; second, write up information that you have gathered
about the subject of the print (Search the many books on Open Reserve and various
on-line sources, and cite your sources.); third, “de-construct” the image and tell how
it is composed; then, either create your own traditional version of this image or create
a contemporary Japanese-style work based on this image, bringing it up to date. The
re-creations or updates may be in any medium. Write a 3-4 page double-spaced,
coherent and logically developed essay to hand in at the time of Exam #2; the pages
must be stapled, and have your name at the top.

Final Essay/Questionnaire: For each of these three questions, use books on Open
Reserve and be sure to cite your sources. Page counts do not include any illustrations.

1. What five qualities do you associate with Japanese art? Give examples from works
in diverse media. 3-5 typed pages.

2. What one theme or design or work from Japanese art do you find particularly
appealing or interesting, and why? 1-2 typed pages.

3. What single aspect of Japanese art do you find most surprising to you, and why? 1-
2 typed pages.

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Books on Open Reserve in Library:

Library Shelf No. Title Author

Transl. and edited by
BH221.J3 H57 2001 A History of Modern Japanese Aesthetics
Michael F. Marra
BH221.J3 M36 1999 Modern Japanese Aesthetics Michael F. Marra
Zen Masters: A Maverick, A Master of Masters &
BQ9298.S74 1999 John Stevenson
Wandering Poet
DS838.5.K87 2002 Samurai: An Illustrated History Mitsuo Kure
Brice Marden: Work of the 1990's: Paintings,
N6537.M364 A4 1998 Charles Wylie
Drawings and Prints
N6537.O56 A4 2000 Yes: Yoko Ono Alexandra Munroe
Tsuneko S. Sadao and
N7350.S23 2003 Discovering the Arts of Japan
Stephanie Wada
Edited by Julia Meech
N7353.6.U35 D47 2008 Designed for Pleasure: The World of Edo Japan
and Jane Oliver
N7355.M87 2000 Superflat Takashi Murakami
Foreword by Carlo
N7359.A43 A4 2002 Yoshitaka Amano
McCormick
N7359.K37 A4 2003 Hokusai Gian Carlo Calza
Hokusai and His Age: Ukiyo-e Painting,
N7359.K37 H65 2005 Printmaking and Book Illustration in Late Edo John Carpenter
Japan
N7359.M677 A4 2000 Yasumasa Morimura: Historia del Arte
Takashi Murakami: The Meaning the Nonsense
N7359.M87 A4 1999 Amanda Cruz, et.al.
of Meaning
N7359.N37 A4 2003 Yoshitomo Nara: Nothing Ever Happens Yoshitomo Nara
N8194.A3 L6 2001 Shinto: The Sacred Art of Ancient Japan Victor Harris
NA1559.M24 A4 1997 Fumihiko Maki: Buildings and Projects Fumihiko Maki
Takasaki Masaharu: An Architecture of
NA1559.T235 A4 1998 Takasaki Masaharu
Cosmology
NB1055.K66 1991 Contemporary Japanese Sculpture Janet Koplos
NB237.N6 A88 1992b Noguchi East and West Dore Ashton

NC991.I44 1982 Illustration in Japan, v. 1 Anno Mitsumasa

Nihonga: Transcending the Past: Japanese Style

ND1054.5.C66 1995 Ellen P. Conant
Painting 1868-1968
ND1057.K88 M67 1999 Modern Masters of Kyoto Morioka Michiyo, et.al.
ND1059.6.G4 T35 2001 The Tale of Genji: Legends and Paintings Miyeko Murase
Shodo: The Art of Coordinating Mind, Body and
ND1457.J32 R43 1989 William Reed
Brush
ND1457.Z46 T362 1998 Brush Mind Kazuaki Tanahashi
ND2071.A328 1989 The Art of Zen Stephen Addiss
ND1059.6.G4 T35 2001 The Tale of Genji: Legends and Paintings Intro. by Miyeko Murase

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 Library Shelf No. Title Author
Contributors David
ND553.M7 A4 2001 Monet and Japan
Bromfield, et.al.

NE642.B36 A4 2007 Paul Binnie, A Dialogue with the Past Kendall H. Brown, et.al.

NE771.4.M54 1982 The Prints of Paul Jacoulet Richard Miles

Evolving Techniques in Japanese Woodblock

NE1210.P44 1977 Gaston Petit
Prints
Elizabeth de Sabato
NE1321.8.S984 1995 The Women of the Pleasure Quarter
Swinto
NE1321.8.U38 2000 Mount Fuji: Sacred Mountain of Japan Chris Uhlenbeck, et.al.
NE1321.85.K38 C53 The Actor's Image: Printmakers of the Timothy Clark and
1994 Katsukawa School Donald Kenkins
Images from the Floating World: the Japanese
NE1321.8.L36 1978 Richard Lane
Print
Japan at the Dawn of the Modern Age: [published by Boston
NE1322.J36 2001
Woodblock Prints from the Meiji Era MFA]
Woodblock Kuchi-e Prints: Reflections of Meiji Helen Merritt and
NE1322.M48 2000
Culture Nanako Yamada
Intro. by Henry Smith
NE1325.A5 A4 1986 100 Famous Views of Edo / Hiroshige
and Amy Poster
NE1325.A5 A4 1988 Hiroshige: Birds & Flowers Intro. by Cynthea Bogel
NE1325.A5 A4 1997 Hiroshige: Prints and Drawings Matthi Forrer
NE1325.T76 S73 1983 Yoshitoshi's Thirty-Six Ghosts John Stevenson
Exhibition curated by
NE1325.K3 A4 1998 Hokusai: Bridging East and West
Matthi Forrer

NE1325.K3 B44 2007 Hokusai’s Project David Bell

The Hokusai Sketchbooks: Selections from the Edited by James A.

NE1325.K3 M47 1958
Manga Michener

NE1325.K5 D38 2007 Utamaro and the Spectacle of Beauty Julie Nelson Davis

Munakata Shiko: Japanese Master of the

NE1325.M8 A4 2002 Masatomo Kawai, et.al.
Modern Print
Japan 2000: Architecture and Design for the Edited by John
NK1071.J36 1998
Japanese Public Zukowsky
NK1071.T73 2001 Traditional Japanese Design: Five Tastes Michael Dunn
NK3637.A3 E197 1989 Sho Japanese Calligraphy Christopher J. Earnshaw
NK4860.5 J34 M5 1999 Issey Miyake: Making Things Issey Miyake
The Kimono Inspiration: Art and Art-to-Wear in Edited by Rebecca A.T.
NK4860.5.U6 K56 1996
America Stevens
NK8884.A1 F53x 1994 Fiber Art Japan Kiyoji Tsuji
Edited by Kamon
NK8884.T75 1993 Traditional Japanese Small Motif Textile Design
Yoshimoto
NK1071.I9323 1999 Katachi: Classic Japanese Design Takeji Iwamita
NK2084.A1 S64 1994 Japanese Style Suzanne Slesin

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 Library Shelf No. Title Author
NK2195.S89 V36 2002 Powershop: New Japanese Retail Design Carolien van Tilburg
Edited & translated by
From the Country of Eight Islands: An
PL782.E3 F74 1986 Hiroaki Sato & Burton
Anthology of Japanese Poetry
Watson
PL788.4.G4 2006 The Tale of Genji Yoshitaka Amano
Translated with intro. by
PL788.4.G415 E5 1990 The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shihibu
Edward G. Seidensticker
PL674.C5 D9 1977 The Kanji ABC Andrew Dykstra
PL676.Y67 1999 Kodansha's Furigana Japanese Dictionary
The Art of Inuyasha: Collection of Original
PN6790.J33 T35 2003 Rumiko Takahashi
Illustrations
Masterpieces of Japanese Garden Art (5
SB458.M5813 1992 Mizuno Katsuhiko
volumes)
SB458.O373 2000 Japanese Gardens of the Modern Era Haruzo Ohashi
Nancy Moore Bess and
SB317.B2 B47 2001 Bamboo in Japan
Bibi Wein
Reading Zen in the Rocks: The Japanese Dry
SB458.B4713 2000 Francois Bertheir
Landscape Garden
TR647.M667 A4 2002 `71-NY Daido Moriyama
TR647.T63 A4 2003 Heian: Compositions by Seiju Toda Intro. by Vicki Goldberg
Translations by Udo
TR647.Y35 A4 1999 Iwao Yamawaki
Breger
Z270.J3 I3713 1986 Japanese Book Binding Kojiro Ikegami

DVD/Videos on Open Reserve in Library:

Video DVD Library Shelf No. Title Minutes

BL1032.E27 2002
X Eastern Philosophy - Part 1 (Shinto) 50
(part 1)
The Long Search - v.9 Buddhism: The Land of the
X BL80.2.L66 1989 (v.9) 52
Disappearing Buddha - Japan
BQ9449.D654 M68 Mountains and Rivers: Mystical Realism of Zen
X 45
1996 Master Dogen
X DS827.S3 S26 1999 Samurai Japan 47
X DS827.S3 S4 2003 Secrets of the Samurai 26
DS835.J36 1989
X Japan Past and Present: The Meiji Era 53
(part 3)
DS835.J36 1989
X Japan Past and Present: The Age of the Shoguns 53
(part 4)
X DS836.D5 1989 The Discovery of Japan 30
Japan Past and Present: Buddha in the Land of the
X DS851.B82 2002 53
Kami
X DS897.K84 A53 2004 Water: The Lifeblood of Kyoto 53
DS897.K84 F68 2002
X Four Seasons in Kyoto: Winter 47
(part 1 & 4)
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Video DVD Library Shelf No. Title Minutes
X GT2912.O4 J36 1993 The Japanese Tea Ceremony 30
X GT3412.G45 2000 Geisha 51
X ML340.5.N343 1994 Nagauta: Heart of Kabuki Music 30
The Paths Dreams Take: Japanese Art from the
N7352.P37 2000 Collection of Mary Griggs Burke and the
Metropolitan Museum of Art (CD-ROM)
X NA1557.T6 T6 2004 Architecture 2000: Tokyo the Eclectic Metropolis 29
ND1059.6.G4 G45
X The Genji Scrolls Reborn 60
2003
X NE1323.J37 1991 Japanese Woodcut Workshop 75
X NE1325.K3 G74 2006 The Great Wave 50
X NE2480.F68 Four Stones for Kanemitsu 28
X NE771.4.U73 1991 The Urban Bonsai 42
X NK3637.A2 S56 1989 Shodo: The Path of Writing 30
X NK4210.H32 S54 1996 Shoji Hamada 30
X NK5028.T35 T35 2002 Toshiko Takaezu 28
X NK8884.A1 O25 2005 Obi: The Pinnacle of Japanese Beauty 15
X NX584.Z8 L58 1992 Living Treasures of Japan 59
X PL788.4.C4 T34 1995 The Tale of Genji 110
PL788.4.G415 T35
X The Tale of Genji 60
2004
X PN1997.D742 2003 Akira Kurosawa's Dream 120
X PN1997.P54 1998 The Pillow Book 126
X PN1997.R3652 2003 Ran (Masterworks Edition) 160
PN2924.5.K3 A78
X Art of Kabuki 36
2003
PN2924.5.K3 P678
X Portrait of an Onnagato 30
2005
X SB458.D74 1992 Dream Window: Reflection on the Japanese Garden 57
X T27.J3 J3 1991 Japan Dreaming 58
TS1130.J36 1994 45
X Japanese Style Papermaking
(part 1, 2, 3) (each)

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