History of Art 136b, Art of India, Medieval Period, Spring 2006 Syllabus

[ca. 500-1500, sculpture & architecture]

Joanna Williams: Office Doe Library, 411a, Thurs. 2:30-4:00 (sign-up sheet)
Dwinelle 7312, Tues. 2:30-3:30 (pot-luck)
Sujatha Meegama: Office 411A Doe, Weds. 3:30-4:30
Texts: course reader, Copy Central, Bancroft ( Moffitt will have 1 copy)
Susan Huntington, Art of Ancient India (out of print! Moffitt has 5 copies)
Website for images forthcoming
Assignments: Short essay (2-4 pp), topic assigned, due Feb. 22 (15% final grade)
Midterm, (slide comparisons + unknowns) April 4 (20% grade)
Paper (c. 10 pp, subject your choice,original idea+research); decide topic by April 4 due May 4 (40%
grade)
Final exam (slides not cumulative; prepared essay) Weds, May 17, 5-8pm (20% grade)
Section participation (5% grade)
Readings: * means required--in reader
others optional--for paper or general interest; all should be in Moffitt
1. Jan 17-Introduction
*Richard Davis "Introduction-A Brief History of Religions in India" in Lopez, Donald ed., Religions of India in
Practice (Reader #1)
Basham, Arthur. Wonder that Was India. Ch. VII.
Zimmer, Heinrich. Myths & Symbols of Indian Art & Civilization(good read, Jungian twist)
For future reference:
Dimmitt, Cornelia & J. van Buitenan. Classical Hindu Mythology (translates major myths)
Banerjea, J.N. Development of Hindu Iconography (best for north Indian iconography)
Gopinatha Rao, T. A. Elements of Hindu Iconography (best for south Indian iconography)

Sections Jan. 18: the real skinny about this course

2. Jan. 19 Elephanta
*Granoff, Phyllis. "Heaven on Earth" (reader #2)
*Michell, George. "Architecture of Elephanta" (reader #3)
*Huntington 275-81 (reader #4)
Berkson, C. et al. Elephanta: Cave of Shiva.
Spink, W. Ajanta to Ellora.

3. Jan. 24 Later carving in the Western Deccan (Parel stele, Kalachuri Elephanta, Aurangabad)
Huntington 265-74
Berkson, Carmel. Caves at Aurangabad
Malandra, Gerri. Unfolding a Mandala: Buddhist Cave Temples at Ellora

Sections Jan 25: What is a Hindu shrine? Compare Huntington, Granoff, and Michell
4. Jan. 26 Western Chalukya 1, Caves at Badami, Aihole
Huntington 282-90
Tarr, Gary. "The Caves of Badami," xerox on reserve
5-6. Jan. 31, Feb. 2, Pallava Art
*Kaimal, Padma "Playful Ambiguity & Political Authority in the Large Relief at Mmallapuram," (reader #5)
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Kaimal, P. Learning to See the Goddess Once Again: Male & Female in Balance at the Kailsantha Temple
in Kncpuram (Xerox on reserve)
Huntington 387-413
Lockwood, Michael. Mahabalipuram Studies
Srinivasan, K.R. Dharmaraja Ratha

Sections, Feb. 1: Discuss Kaimal

7. Feb. 7. Early Cola Temples

Huntington 509-522

Sections, Feb. 8: architectural style and region

8. Feb. 9. Mature Cola Temples

*Ramanujan, A.K. " Afterword to Hymns for the Drowning" (reader #6)
Huntington 522-533
V. Dehejia, Art of the Imperial Colas

9.Feb. 14.Vijayanagar
*Fritz,John. "Was Vijayanagar a 'Cosmic City'?" (reader #7)
Huntington 573-586
Anand,Mulkhraj & Michell Splendours of the Vijayanagar Empire: Hampi (Marg )

Sections, Feb. 15: Architecture and town plan (discuss Fritz, Younger, Parker below)

10. Feb. 16, Nayak Temples

*Younger, Paul. "Srirangam" (reader #8)
*Parker, Samuel. "The Matter of Value inside and out: Aesthetic Categories (reader #9)
Huntington 587-600

11. Feb. 21 South Indian Bronzes

*Coomaraswamy, Ananda Kentish. "The Dance of Shiva" ( reader #10)
*Davis, Richard.,"Cola Bronzes in Procession" (reader #11)
*Kaimal, Padma, Shiva Nataraja: Shifting Meanings of an Icon (reader #12)
Huntington 532-539
Sivaramamurti, South Indian Bronzes
Smith, David. The dance of Shiva: Religion, art, and poetry in South India

Sections Feb. 22: debate between Coomaraswamy and Kaimal

12. Feb 23. Western Chalukya 2, Temples at Aihole, Pattadakal

*Wechsler, Helen. "Royal Legitimation, Ramayana Reliefs on the Papanatha Temple at Pattadakal, " (reader #13)
Huntington 322-337

13. Feb. 28. The Kailasanatha at Ellora

*Chatham, Doris. "Myth, Cult, and Cetan at the Kailasa Temple, Ellora" (reader #14)
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Huntington 341-5
Dhavalikar, M.K. Masterpieces of Rashtrakuta Art: the Kailas

Sections, March 1, Review

14. March 2. Mid-term exam: slide comparisons, unknowns

15. March 7, Hoysala Temples

*A. Volwahsen-handout
Huntington 555-572
Settar, S. Hoysala Temples (2 vols)

Sections, March 8, Architectural type & region: Nagara, Dravida, Vesara

16-18. March. 9-16, Orissa: Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konarak

*Kulke, Hermann. "Rathas & Rajas: the Car Festival at Puri (reader #15)
*Donaldson, Thomas. "Ganga Monarch & a Monumental Sun Temple (reader #16 )
Huntington 415-433
Behera,Karuna Sagar, Konarak.(2 vols)
Donaldson, Thomas. Hindu Temple Art of Orissa (3 Vols)
Eschmann, Anncharlott, et al. Cult of Jagannatha & the Regional Tradition of Orissa
Mitra, Debala. Bhubaneswar (guidebook, Archaeological Survey of India)

Sections, March. 15. Video: Dance, and Worship

19. March 21. Khajuraho

*Desai, Devangana. "Placement & Significance of Erotic Sculptures at Khajuraho"(reader #17)
Huntington 466-483
Kramrisch, Stella. The Hindu Temple(2 Vols). (not just Khajuraho)
Desai, Devangana. Erotic Sculpture of India

Sections, March 22. Why is erotic sculpture on a temple?

20. March 23. Yogini Shrines (Khajuraho, Hirapur, Bheraghat, Kanchi)

*Dehejia, Vidya, "Kalachuri Monarch and his Circular Shrine of the Yoginis"(reader #18)
Dehejia. Vidya, Yogini Cult and Temples, a Tantric Tradition
March 27-31 Spring Break

21. April 4, Islamic Architecture in North India

*Patel, A. Toward Alternative Receptions of Ghurid Architecture in North India (Late 12th -Early 13thCen
tury CE) (reader #19)

Sections, April 5: Social, religious, and visual pluralism; discuss paper topics

22-23. April 6, 11 Western India (Rajasthan & Gujarat)

*Granoff, Phyllis, "Halyudha's Prism: Experience of Religion in Medieval Hymns" (reader #20)
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Huntington 449-60. 483-500
Desai, Vishakha. Gods, Guardians, and Lovers
Jain-Neubauer, Jutta, Stepwells of Gujarat
Sections, April 12. Discuss "Halyuddha's Prism"

24. April 13. Art of Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh

*Pal, Pratapaditya,"Munificent Monarch & a Superior Sculptor, 8th c. Chamba" (reader #21)
Huntington 353-375
Pal, Pratapaditya. Bronzes of Kashmir.
Postel, M., Neven, et al. Antiquities of Himachal.

25-6. April 18, 20. Pala India, Nepal

*Jaini, Padmanabh The Disappearance of Buddhism & the survival of Jainism in India: A study in Contrast
(reader #22)
*Harle, James, "A National Syncretism" (reader #23)
Huntington 387-413
Asher, Frederick. Art of Eastern India
Kramrisch, Stella. Art of Nepal (Asia Society)

No Sections, April 19 Sujatha will hold office hrs. to discuss papers; students encouraged to attend
conference on Time of the Colas, April 22-3, Geballe Room, Townsend Center

27. April 25 Art of Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa period

*Harle, James Sri Lanka: Buddhism Preserved (reader#24)
Sections. April 26. various kinds of Buddhism and Buddhist art

28. April 27. Sculptors and Builders

*Williams, Joanna, Unfinished Images (reader #25)

29. May 2. Folk Arts and their place

30. May 4. In class review by Sujatha , no sections May 3.

TERM PAPER DUE
Final exam: Wednesday, May 17, 5-8pm