Required Readings:

1. Edge of Desire: Recent Art in India. Exhibition Catalogue. Philip Wilson Publishers. 2005.
2. Course Readings (All available on Course Reserves).

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We will also have weekly readings, as e-files will be available on Cabel Library Reserve or on Blackboard.

Course Objectives:

1. You will identify the major artists, their artworks, key movements and thematic developments in the context of the contemporary arts of India, Nepal, and Tibet
2. You will gain familiarity with the major theoretical approaches, historiographic issues, and terms in the study of contemporary South Asian and Himalayan art.
3. You will critically analyze the broader issues of modernism/modernity/post-modernism in relation to contemporary South Asia and the Himalayas.

Instructional Approaches:
As a graduate seminar, this course includes substantial discussion and reading, research, problem-solving, and group work. In emphasizing a dynamic learning-centered approach, this course aims to strengthen your critical reading, analytical, writing, research skills through a combination of small group assignments, open class communication on Blackboard, lots of in-class discussion, and individual research. The key focus will be on gain familiarity of theoretical and thematic issues related to South Asian visual studies. Discussions led by the course instructor, plus supplementary lectures, will help to give a context and conceptual framework to the problems. Only about 1/3 of the class (approx. 1 hour) will include lecture. This will serve as the basis of the two exams.

As part of the problem-based learning (PBL) strategy, there will be a major class project (See Assignments). The main objective of this cumulative activity is to provide an authoritative, creative, and well-researched web resource on this subject. The project is aimed to challenge and motivate you towards construction of knowledge. These will acquire problem-solving, communication, collaboration, planning, and self- evaluation skills after the completion of the project. In other words, you will work collaboratively in groups to solve real world problems, similar to most professional working environment.

The course outline follows a topical theme for each week, in which we will have in-class discussion, individual presents based on the readings as well as assignment related to the theme. Problems, questions and issues are the point of entry into the subject and should be the source of motivation for sustained inquiry into this area.

Students in this course have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences in art history, but each can make a valuable contribution to the efforts of the group. Some students may have more "content" knowledge than others, and will be able to test just how deep that knowledge is, by trying to explain an idea to someone else. Others, by virtue of being unfamiliar with a particular area, can often help their group see a situation from different perspectives and, through their questions, make certain that all in the group finish with a true understanding the material.

Course Format:

The course format consists of lecture, weekly readings, 1-2 paragraph reaction papers, short group/individual presentation, and in-class discussion. The first part of the course will be devoted to content lecture.  Powerpoints of the lectures will be available on Blackboard for your review. The second part of the course will be discussion, based on the specific theme assigned for the week. 2 students are required to conduct the weekly discussion, highlighting the major issues found in the readings. You will be required to write a 1-2 page reaction paper based on the class readings.