AH3134 Collecting Chinese Art: Histories and Practices

Academic year

2023 to 2024 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

To be confirmed

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr Y L Huang

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr M Huang

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module explores the histories and practices of collecting Chinese art with reference to famous collections kept in imperial palaces, private houses and public museums in China and other parts of the world. Students will learn to analyse the designs, artistic values and cultural significance of a variety of Chinese artefacts and artworks in different media. While considering the cultural rules of taxonomy as well as the provenance and authenticity of collectables, students will also evaluate the strategies, tastes and scholarships of pioneering collectors and their roles in museums and the art market. The interdependent relationships and exchanges between art dealers, collectors, connoisseurs, curators, scholars and artists will be examined in relation to the social, economic, political, ideological and aesthetic dimensions of collecting practices. Issues of power, gender, identity and cultural politics embodied in collections of Chinese art will also be discussed.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

(AH1001 OR AH1003), AH2001, AH2002

Assessment pattern

100% coursework

Re-assessment

100% coursework

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2-hour lecture and 1-hour seminar (x 11 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

39

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

270

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • 1. Interpret the formation of selected famous collections of Chinese art in China and elsewhere in relation to their historical context through presentation, discussion and writing
  • 2. Identify precious and controversial objects of Chinese art and artefacts in private collections or public museums and examine their provenance and cultural politics
  • 3. Analyse and compare the rarity, designs, aesthetic qualities and cultural significance of collectables
  • 4. Recognise influential figures, such as art dealers, collectors, connoisseurs, scholars, curators and artists, and assess their contributions in amassing, preserving and promoting important collections of Chinese art
  • 5. Explain the social, cultural, economic and political functions of collecting across cultures and times
  • 6. Articulate issues of cultural reception, identity, power, gender and the ethics of colonial collecting in their analysis of a variety of objects, people and textual references