Week 1
Lesson 1
Introductions and Early China
We will situate ourselves in the Asian continent and evaluate maps of the areas we will explore in this class. We will move from east to west in the class, from China to Western Africa. In this first week, we start our dive into the long-lasting artistic traditions of China. We will look at some of the earliest surviving works from the area, including bronze and pottery, discussing why more materials do not survive. We will discuss the importance of precious materials, specifically Porcelain.
 Week 2
Lesson 2
Chinese Painting and Intro to Japan
Students will continue their exploration of Chinese art traditions. We will evaluate different styles of Chinese calligraphy and painting and discuss how different dynasties had different expectations. Specifically, we will unpack the traditions of ink-wash painting and courtly, silk painting. In this class, we will highlight the dual practices of Chinese art--meditative, religious art creation and courtly art production. Time given, we will introduce the arts of Japan in this class. 
 Week 3
Lesson 3
Japan
First, we will learn about the history of Japanese printwork, looking at some of Japan's most famous artists--Hiroshige and Hokusai! We will discuss techniques for creating prints, specifically ukiyo-e, and how they impacted Western art after the end of Japanese isolationism. Further, we will discuss the importance of paper art, or origami,  and how it has developed over time. Finally, we will spend a bit looking at Manga, Anime, and how they connect to earlier traditions.
 Week 4
Lesson 4
Southeast Asia and Buddhist Traditions
We will focus on how Buddhism has impacted the arts in this area of the world in different ways. For example, we will travel to Tibet and look at sand mandalas as an emanation of the Buddhist belief that materials are transitory and constantly changing. We will also evaluate large scale relief sculptures of Indonesia and how they represent the human form. Finally, students will travel to Cambodia to the temple at Ankgor Wat, the largest religious site in the world.
 Week 5
Lesson 5
Indian Art and Hindu Traditions
Students will start with a basic overview of Hinduism and discuss Hindu sculpture, comparing and contrasting to representations of Buddhism we saw the week before. In this class, we will highlight how traditional burials in India left very few early art objects behind for us and what ephemeral materials are. Our big exploration for the day will be the monument of the Taj Mahal. Students will take a virtual field trip to the site and discover why and how it was built and why it is so famous.
 Week 6
Lesson 6
Islamic Arts of Asia and Northern Africa
Students will focus on Islamic arts and artistry, bridging the histories of Asian art with our first discussions of African art. To begin, we will discuss what factors make Islamic art look so different from Buddhist and Hindi art that we have evaluated over the prior two weeks. We will emphasize the applied arts in this class, looking at everything from Persian carpets to silk to Islamic furniture. Special attention will be paid to Islamic architecture and tile work. 
 Week 7
Lesson 7
Early African Arts and the Arts of West Africa
Students will explore some of the earliest art known to man, highlighting the cave art and paleolithic art found in various parts of Africa. Further, students will explore the arts of Western Africa, particularly contemporary Nigeria, where we will explore the significance of wood and stone carvings in the region. Students will learn about the history and significance of Kente cloth in Ghana and the controversy of the Benin Bronzes of Nigeria.
 Week 8
Lesson 8
Arts of Central and South Africa
Students will continue to learn about the varied artistic styles of African communities, highlighting the works of central and south African artists. Students will learn about the cult Nkondi sculptures of the Kongo people and discuss works that are never entirely finished and the idea of the lifespan of an artwork. We will discuss the art of basket weaving and the Rwandan artform of imigongo, produced entirely by women. 
 Week 9
Lesson 9
European Traditions of Primitivism and Orientalism
We reflect on what we have learned over the last eight weeks of class and discuss cultural appropriation in art through two movements--Primitivism and Orientalism. Students will learn what each of these terms mean and how European artists of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries adopted and reworked traditional Asian and African art motifs and perpetuated stereotypes through these images. This is key for understanding why these art forms have been largely ignored by the art historical community
 Week 10
Lesson 10
Contemporary African and Asian Art and Final Projects
Students will learn about contemporary artists addressing the issues currently faced by African and Asian communities, including el-Anatsui and Yinka Shonibare. Students will learn how traditions we have covered have been adapted in the contemporary period and blended with modern technologies. Students will also have the opportunity to share their findings from their final writing projects in the first half of the class as we wrap up our ten-week exploration!