HISTORY OF INDIAN, HIMALAYAN AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN ART MOD.2

This course is a core component of the undergraduate degree programme in Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa (South-East Asian curriculum). Its aim is to develop and strengthen students’ knowledge of the artistic productions of India and the Himalayan regions (Module 1), as well as those of the South-East Asian region (Module 2).
The course offers an overview of the visual history and material culture of these areas, examining artistic and architectural works within their respective historical, political, and religious contexts, with particular attention to Buddhism and Hinduism. At the same time, it seeks to foster an understanding of how the study of the visual domain can serve as a crucial tool in the analysis of historical, political, religious, and social phenomena, both in antiquity and in modern and contemporary times.

The aim of the Module 2 is to foster a critical approach to the artistic and architectural production of selected regions in Southeast Asia. By the end of the course, students are expected to master the specific vocabulary and be able to recognise, describe, and critically analyse the artistic and architectural productions of the regions studied, in relation to their historical, political, and religious contexts.
Significant emphasis will be placed on understanding artistic phases, patterns of patronage, and the evolution of various regional productions and their distinctive artistic vocabularies. The course particularly seeks to encourage students to reflect on the symbolic importance and perception of artworks, as well as to examine how artistic patronage and production have been utilised as instruments of political propaganda and identity construction. Furthermore, the course will consider the significance of the sites studied in both modern and contemporary contexts.

The course does not require any prior knowledge of the subject.

This year’s Module will examine key aspects of the material and visual culture of Southeast Asia, with particular focus on Thailand and Cambodia. Through the analysis of a selection of sites and artworks associated with various religious and cultural contexts in the region, the course aims to trace the artistic developments, placing significant emphasis on the dynamics of interaction and exchange of artistic vocabularies and techniques.
Buddhist and Hindu art and architecture, along with their conceptualisation in the region, will be the primary themes addressed, forming the basis of the proposed analyses. Additionally, the course will explore cultural interactions between the studied areas and exchanges with neighbouring kingdoms. Finally, the musealisation of Southeast Asian artistic productions will be examined in depth, alongside ongoing debates regarding the conservation, musealisation, restitution, and repatriation of artworks.

Essential readings:
- Course notes and slides.
- Choice of Italian or English version of:
Alexandra Green, Il Sudest asiatico. Una storia per oggetti, Einaudi Torino 2023
Alexandra Green, Southeast Asia: A History in Objects, The Trustees of the British Museum – Thames & Hudson Ltd, London 2023
- One volume of your choice from:
Marilia Albanese, Angkor. Fasto e splendore dell’impero Khmer, White Star, Vercelli 2002
Marilia Albanese, Angkor. Splendors of the Khmer Civilization, White Star, Vercelli 2002
Nicoletta Celli, Antica Thailandia. Storia e tesori di un’antica civiltà, White Star. Vercelli 2010
- One articles of your choice and the introduction from:
Louise Tythacott and Panggah Ardiyansyah (ed. by), Returning Southest Asia’s Past. Objects, Museums, and Restitution, Nuss Press, Singapore 2021.

Numerous additional readings will be indicated and made available on the university’s e-learning platform, moodle.unive.it. These will be useful for consolidating the student’s preparation, deepening the topics discussed during the lessons, and completing the required in-depth study.

Attending students will be asked, during the course, to work in small groups to prepare a brief oral presentation on one of the articles listed in the bibliography. This will then be shared with the class (as group work) to encourage a critical discussion of the topics covered. The article discussed in class will not need to be studied for the final exam, as it will have already been evaluated during the group discussion. Non-attending students will present their chosen article during the final oral exam, where it will be evaluated.
The assessment of performance will be based on the outcome of a final oral exam covering the course content and assigned materials. Special emphasis will be placed on the use of appropriate technical vocabulary and the ability to critically engage with the readings and topics proposed.

oral

Assessment Grid:
28–30 with honours: Excellent command of the topics covered in lectures and textbooks; clear ability to organise and prioritise information; appropriate and precise use of technical terminology.
26–27: Good knowledge of the topics addressed in lectures and assigned readings; reasonably well-developed ability to structure and present information orally; adequate familiarity with technical terminology.
24–25: Knowledge of the topics covered in lectures and textbooks is not always thorough; oral presentation is generally structured, though the use of technical terminology is occasionally inaccurate.
22–23: Frequently superficial understanding of the topics addressed in lectures and textbooks; oral presentation is unclear and lacks appropriate use of technical terminology.
18–21: Partial and sometimes fragmented understanding of the topics covered in lectures and textbooks; oral presentation is confused and demonstrates limited use of technical terminology.

Lectures and in-class discussions will be complemented by guest lectures delivered by invited researchers. The course will take the form of a seminar and adopt a thematic approach, working directly with visual materials. The study of styles, artworks, and patterns of patronage will serve as a basis for discussion and as a stimulus for critical analysis.