Japanese culture, history and aesthetics
Art Research Building 1F
Wednesday 10:30-12:00
This course has two primary objectives: first, to introduce students to the design creativity embedded within Japanese culture, and second, to explore contemporary aesthetics as a framework for understanding everyday life. Each student will first identify their own subject of interest—such as architecture, film, products, or crafts—and contribute a small topic related to the theme of each class (e.g., modernity, decoration, simplicity, touch). By the end of the course, students will either conduct an in-depth investigation into one of these topics or synthesize several into a comprehensive report, culminating in a poster presentation.
Oct. 2 (Wed.)
Participants will present their research interests. Based on this, each participant will define their own subject matter for the course. This can range from tangible objects like architecture, crafts, or clothing to intangible activity such as cleaning, eating, or communication—anything that can be designed. In subsequent classes, you will be expected to find a relevant example that links both the class topic and your chosen subject matter, and give a brief presentation on it. The next shared topic will be "Japanese Culture," for which I will suggest an approach to guide your exploration.
Oct. 9 (Wed.) 10:00 AM
Location: Ticket counter on the 2nd floor of the Osaka Nakanoshima Art Museum
Please note that you do not need to purchase tickets. If you arrive early, please wait for me. We will first visit the exhibition of Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota. Then we'll go to the Osaka University Nakanoshima Center to share our impressions of the exhibition. I will also show you the Ruskin exhibition, and we will finish around 12:00.