Catalog Description

Advisory: Eligibility for ENGL 1A
Hours: 54 lecture
Description: Survey of the religion, art, philosophy, literature, music, and architecture of Asia - from prehistory to the present - with an emphasis on India, China and Japan. (CSU, UC)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Describe and critically evaluate cultural expressions in art, architecture, history, literature, music and philosophy in the Asian worlds.
  • CSLO #2: Analyze themes, styles, and techniques of art reflective of the Asian worlds.
  • CSLO #3: Analyze representative cultural artifacts from the Asian worlds.
  • CSLO #4: Construct an essay that discusses themes in the humanities from the cultures of India, China and Japan, utilizing the language of the humanities discipline.

Effective Term

Fall 2022

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

54

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

162

Course Objectives

Students will through oral and written work:
1. Identify the major works of art, literature, and philosophy of Asia in general;
2. Relate Asian humanistic expression and cultural development to the major dynasties of China and eras of Japan;
3. Identify, compare and contrast, and evaluate the more prominent philosophical and religious ideas of Asia and their influence on literature and the fine arts;
4. Construct an historical chart that identifies and temporally places individuals, events and eras in Asian history;
5. Describe and analyze the relationship between the arts, literature, religion and philosophical ideas of Asia with the everyday life of individuals in the various Asian cultures; and
6. Compare and contrast elements of art, literature, philosophy, religion and every day life of Asian Cultures with Western Cultures.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • AA/AS - Behavioral Sciences
    • AA/AS - Fine Arts
    • AA/AS - Multicultural Studies
  • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
    • CSUGE - C1 Arts
    • CSUGE - C2 Humanities
    • CSUGE - D3 Ethnic Studies
  • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
    • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)
      • IGETC - 3B Humanities

    Articulation Information

    • CSU Transferable
    • UC Transferable

    Methods of Evaluation

    • Classroom Discussions
      • Example: After learning about the Taoism and Confucianism, students will be prompted to compare and contrast the role of the Tao in the Analects and in the Tao Te Ching, and based on these discussions, students will write a short paragraph identifying which philosophy resonates best with them, and explain their choice. Submitted paragraphs will be evaluated by whether they include relevant concepts and coherent reasoning.
    • Essay Examinations
      • Example: In a short essay, describe and explain what, in your view, are the three most important differences between Buddhism and Hinduism? Use examples and passages from relevant primary texts to help explain and support your ideas.
    • Objective Examinations
      • Example: A. Students will take a multiple-choice examination on Sikhism. For example: Who was the founder and first guru of Sikhism? (A) Guru Govind Singh, (B) Guru Granth Sahib, (C) Guru Ramana Maharshi, (D) Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
    • Projects
      • Example: Create a poster board that presents the relationship between the arts, literature, religion and philosophical ideas of Asia.

    Repeatable

    No

    Methods of Instruction

    • Lecture/Discussion
    • Distance Learning

    Lecture:

    1. Using a slide-presentation for an on-ground lecture format, the instructor will present various works of art from Japan, China and India, and model how to identify major works of art and describe prominent themes, styles, and techniques. Through an interactive discussion, students will be presented with new and different images and invited to identify major works of art, describe their themes, styles, and techniques.

    Distance Learning

    1. Students will watch a video of the instructor presenting various works of art from Japan, China and India modelling how to identify, and compare and contrast styles between different eras in the ancient and medieval worlds. In a discussion board assignment, students will be presented with two images of art from Asian and Western cultures and asked to identify and describe its themes, and compare and contrast their styles.

    Typical Out of Class Assignments

    Reading Assignments

    1. Read Ramayana, and be prepared to discuss prominent themes during Prince Rama's quest to rescue his wife, Sita. 2. Read the Tao te Ching, and be prepared to discuss the meaning of "Tao."

    Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

    1. Read the poetry of Ono no Komachi and write a 1-2 page response to it. Come to class ready to discuss her poetry with your classmates. 2. Pick a topic related to Asian Humanities and write a 6-8 page research paper on that topic. 3. After reading the relevant chapters in your text, write a three-page, typed, double-spaced paper that provides a definition of religion expansive enough to capture both Confucianism and Taoism. Explain how these two systems fit under the definition of 'religion' that you have provided. Post your paper to the course web site. Next, choose two papers that have been posted to the course web site by your fellow students and write a two page response paper that evaluates the definitions of religion presented in their papers.

    Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

    Required Materials

    • Awakening: An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought
      • Author: Patrick S. Bresnan
      • Publisher: Routledge
      • Publication Date: 2017
      • Text Edition: 6th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Asian Philosophies
      • Author: John M. Koller
      • Publisher: Prentice Hall
      • Publication Date: 2011
      • Text Edition: 6th
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Ramayana
      • Author: William Buck
      • Publisher: University of California Press
      • Publication Date: 2012
      • Text Edition: 3rd
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Tao te Ching
      • Author: Stephen Mitchell
      • Publisher: Harper Perennial
      • Publication Date: 1992
      • Text Edition: 1st
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:
    • Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
      • Author: Marjane Satrapi
      • Publisher: Pantheon
      • Publication Date: 2004
      • Text Edition: 1st
      • Classic Textbook?:
      • OER Link:
      • OER:

    Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.