ASN 255 Boston and Japanese Art: The Other Tea Party
Many are unaware Boston is home to perhaps the finest collection of Japanese art outside of Japan. Students will travel to the city to investigate its unique connection with Japan. Through fieldwork and readings, they will learn the stories of notable, young Bostonians, who disillusioned with materialism in the Gilded Age, turned to Buddhism and Japanese culture and aesthetics as models for a new way of life and self-exploration. Lectures from guest experts and in-class experiences with the Japanese ritual of tea will deepen students’ understanding of these stories. At the same time, students will develop a working knowledge of and appreciation for Japanese art and aesthetics as well as the cultural and religious concepts underpinning them.