150106 UE Approaches to Contemporary Chinese Art (2022S)

In the first half of the semester, each session comprises a theoretical introduction by the course leader, discussion of assigned weekly reading, and group conversation on relevant artworks. After students’ midterm submission of an exploratory outline, the second half of the semester focuses on case studies and student presentation of artwork analysis—the work is chosen from a suggested list or proposed by the student—that uses the methods and recurring themes discussed in class.

The course sessions and required reading list are all in English; Chinese-language literature will be provided for some sessions as suggested reading and will not affect the assessment. All materials will be available on moodle.

To work on the assignments, students are asked to pick a piece of contemporary Chinese art they have either personally seen or accessed via online viewing room and when justifiable, secondary sources; consider that besides web-based or digital works, the pandemic has given rise to many entirely online exhibitions worldwide. The emphasis is not to recount an immersive and meditative experience with the artwork, but to consciously configure its meaning in multiple aspects.

For the outline (1-2 pages) and presentation, students should try applying two or more methods discussed in the class to the artwork of their choice. In presentations, the class will discuss their work in progress, challenges, and thereby receive feedback from each other and the course leader. Throughout the semester, students should note the problems they have met in fulfilling the requirements, be it difficulty with locating and understanding literature, explaining the choice of methods, or grounding their analysis in the societal context.

This process prepares for a final paper (6-8 pages) that centers on one approach that the student finds the most fruitful in their analysis; alternatively, the student can continue to develop a comparative paper using different approaches but will have to explain why this is important for understanding the artwork or the unique Chinese context. Details on the assignments will be given at the beginning of the semester.

Please note that the requirements to submit the final paper and attend the course regularly (maximum 2 unjustified absences allowed) must both be fulfilled to pass the course, regardless of the partial grades received for other assignments.