Literature and Legend 1

2007 Arts of Asia course
Tuesdays 1 - 2pm
Domain Theatre, Lower Level 3

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In this first half of a two-year course we journey through the Middle East to India, the Himalayas and Southeast Asia, focusing on the rich artistic heritage inspired by powerful legends, magnificent myths, romantic histories and profound philosophies. Under the sway of major religious traditions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam, and boasting a wealth of secular stories, each of these cultures have left behind an artistic legacy that ranges from elegant calligraphy and jewel-like illuminated manuscripts to resplendent textiles and narratives immortalised in temple reliefs.

Term 1  

• 6 March - The Presence of the Word: Symbolism in Islamic art and architecture. Samer Akkach, senior lecturer in architectural design, history and theory and founding director, Centre for Asian and Middle Eastern Architecture (CAMEA), University of Adelaide
   
• 13 March - Writing the Qur’an: Speech of the invisible God made visible. Anthony Johns, Qur’anic Arabic scholar and emeritus professor, Australian National University
   
• 20 March - Woven Words: Poetic themes in textiles of the Safavid Persian and Ottoman Turkish courts. Susan Scollay, Eastern and historic textile specialist, contributing editor Hali and PhD candidate, School of Historical and European Studies, La Trobe University
   
• 27 March - Romance and Tragedy in the Persian Epic. Charlotte Schriwer, project assistant, Arts of Islam: treasures from the Nasser D. Khalili collection
   
• 3 April - Here is love: poetry of Rumi and the art of  Hossein Valamanesh. Hossein Valamanesh, artist
   
• 17 April - The tales of the parrot and other early Mughal painted entertainments. Jim Masselos, honorary reader, School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry, University of Sydney
    
• 24 April - Battles, bravery and beyond: Chronicles of the Mughal emperors. Chaya Chandrasekhar, curator of South and Southeast Asian art
   
• 1 May -  Manichaean art in Iran and Central Asia. Sam Lieu, FAHA, FSA, professor of ancient history and co-director, Ancient History Documentary Research Centre, Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University   
   
• 8 May -  Influence of Indian epics on Indonesian Islamic art. James Bennett, curator of Asian art, Art Gallery of South Australia
   
• 15 May - Pirates to prophets: legendary heroes and icons in Malaysia . Matt Cox, conservator
   
• 22 May - The Indigenous La Galigo legend and the influence of Islam on the talismanic flags of South Sulawesi. Joanna Barrkman, curator of Southeast Asian art and material culture, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
     
• 29 May - Revision

Term 2

• 7 August - Mahabharata, India’s greatest epic: its stories and myths, and significance for Indian culture. Tamara Ditrich, lecturer in eastern religions and co-director, Centre for Buddhist Studies, University of Queensland
    
• 14 August - The epic Ramayana: its heroes, heroines, history, and heritage. Chaya Chandrasekhar
   
• 21 August - Love song of the dark lord: illustrations of the Gita Govinda. Jackie Menzies, head curator of Asian art
   
• 28 August - Expressions of love and devotion: bhakti poetry and Rajput painting . Carol Cains, curator of Asian art, National Gallery of Victoria
    
• 4 September - Jatakas: the Buddha’s previous births in Indian art and literature. Mark Allon, lecturer in South Asian Buddhist studies, Department of Indian Subcontinental Studies, University of Sydney
   
• 11 September - Buddhist narrative in Tibetan literature. David Templeman, independent scholar and PhD candidate, Monash Asia Institute, Monash University
   
• 18 September - The epic in Tibet. David Templeman, independent scholar and PhD candidate, Monash Asia Institute, Monash University
   
• 25 September - Romancing the tome: A Jataka tale in Javanese verse. Kate O’Brien, research associate, University of Sydney
   
• 2 October - Vessantra Jataka: text as imagery in Cambodia and Thailand. Gill Green, honorary associate, Department of Art History and Theory, University of Sydney
   
• 9 October - Text and image in Panji stories from Bali. Adrian Vickers, professor of Southeast Asian studies, School of Languages and Cultures, University of Sydney
   
• 16 October - Tales of the Mekong: Revealing Angkor to the world. Milton Osborne, independent scholar and adjunct professor of Asian studies, Australian National University
   
• 23 October - Revision
   
• 30 October - Slide Test