Spring 2001      Pika Ghosh
T-Th 11-12.15      pghosh@email.unc.edu
Hanes Art Center 118     Office Hours: Tue 2-4.30

This course will focus on paintings, sculpture and ritual implements created in a Buddhist ritual context in Tibet.  The course is organized around the Ackland Art Museum’s exhibition Buddhist Art from Tibet and Nepal.  As the installation will open in February, we will have the opportunity to observe a show in the making, and participate in discussions surrounding the decisions and acts of interpretation involved in the display of works of art and culture.
 We will examine objects in several contexts. As these objects belong to a living cultural tradition, we have the opportunity to examine artifacts within their ritual context.  We will examine their making within the patronage of religious institutions and frameworks.  We will then explore the circumstances of their consecration and use for religious ceremonies and as tools for meditation.  Next, taking a biographical approach to objects, we will consider how these objects have come to inhabit modern, secular spaces. How are these objects transformed into works of art in museums? We will consider the political circumstances surrounding the recent prominence of Tibetan art in America.  Finally, we will examine the nature of more secular viewing rituals in art museums whereby these objects have become the focus of contemplation.
 
REQUIRED TEXTS
Fisher, Robert E.  Art of Tibet. London: Thames and Hudson, 1997.
Lopez, Donald Jr. ed.  Curators of the Buddha. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 1995.
Lopez, Donald Jr. Prisoners of Shangrila. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 1998.
Reynolds, Valrae ed. From the Sacred Realm.  Treasures of Tibetan Art from the Newark Museum.  Munich, London, and New York: Prestel, 1999.

RECOMMENDED
Fields, Rick.  How the Swans Came to the Lake. Boston: Shambhala Publications, 1992.
Karp, Ivan and Steven D. Lavine.  Exhibiting cultures: the poetics and politics of museum display. Washington : Smithsonian Institution Press,1991.
Rhie, Marylin M. and Robert A F Thurman.  Wisdom and compassion : the sacred art of Tibet. New York: Tibet House New York, in association with Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1996.

RESERVE READINGS
Additional readings for discussion are available at the Art Library Reserve Desk. Readings must be completed in preparation for the assigned date. You must read actively. What are each author's main points and underlying assumptions? What is the author's tone? What are your responses? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the author's arguments? How can you apply this discussion to your experience of visual arts?

MUSEUM COLLECTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS
The Ackland Art Museum will install a Buddhist altar during the semester.
The Virginia Museum of Art in Richmond has a permanent Tibetan gallery.
The Newark Museum in Newark, NJ has one of the oldest collections of Tibetan art in the country.

SCHEDULE

Jan 9
Preliminary Meeting

Representations of Tibet and Buddhism
Jan 11
No Class Meeting: Please use this time to preview the film Lost Horizon, (video V1497 in undergraduate library non-print collection) for discussion next class

Jan 16
Discussion

Jan 18
Internet Search Projects

Jan 23
Reading: Prisoners of Shangrila Introduction, Ch 1

Jan 25
Reading: Prisoners of Shangrila Ch 5.

Jan 30
Reading: Curators of the Buddha, Ch 2

Feb 1
Film: Kundun

Feb 6
Film: Kundun Contd.

Feb 8
Reading: Prisoners of Shangrila. Ch 6, 7.

Arts of Tibetan Buddhism

Feb 13
Guest Lecture, Barbara Matilsky, Curator, Ackland Art Museum
Reading: Reynolds Ch 1

Feb 15
Introduction to Tibet’s Geography, History, Religion
Reading: Fisher Ch 1

Feb 20
Images, Objects and Altars
Reading: Fisher Ch 2, Reynolds, Ch 5

Feb 22
The Newark Museum’s Altar
Reading: Reynolds, Introduction

Feb 27
Ackland Art Museum: the Making of a Sandmandala

Mar 1
Kalachakramandala (V 7111)

Mar 6
Ackland Art Museum
Reading: Karp and Lavine, Ch 2, 3

Mar 8
Ackland Art Museum
Reading: Karp and Lavine, Ch 10, 12

Mar 13
Spring Break

Mar 15
Spring Break

Mar 20
Sacred experience at an altar: Discussion with monks from Namgyal Monastery

Mar 22
Research Resources and Bibliographic Instruction

Mar 27
Visual Analysis of Objects for Catalog Entries

Mar 29
Visual Analysis of Objects for Catalog Entries

April 3
Scanning and Photoshop Session with Karin Breiwitz, Center for Teaching and Learning

April 5
Webpage-making workshop with Suzanne Cadwell, Center for Informational Technology

April 10
Writing Review of Final Drafts of Catalog Entries

April 12
Writing Review of Final Drafts of Catalog Entries

April 17
Presentation and discussion of Webpages

April 19
Presentation and discussion of Webpages

April 24
Presentation and discussion of Webpages

April 26
Presentation and discussion of Webpages

May 1
Conclusions

Take Home Final Examination

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Each student will report on one reading or film over the course of the semester.  The report will consist of a presentation of the author’s main argument, critique of his position and your response to the reading.  You are responsible for any background research necessary to understand the material.

The first project involves searching the internet for two sites by typing keywords such as Tibet and Buddhism into a major search engine. You must examine the contents of the sites and consider the approaches and agendas of their authors.  You will then be able to compare how this material is represented on the internet today in relation to the earlier representations in films such as Lost Horizon.

The main project for this course will involve learning to write catalog entries for pieces in the museum installation.  Each entry will contain both description of form from close looking and an introduction to the content and ritual context of the object.  Through a series of written exercises these entries will be drafted with a museum audience in mind and reviewed as a group.  The final part of the project involves publishing these entries, linked to the course webpage.

The final grade will be composed of the book report, two class projects (internet search, web catalog entries), final exam, and class participation.  Attendance is mandatory: your grade will be affected by any unexcused absences.  Students taking the course Pass/Fail must complete all assignments.