Presented by Susan Dine, senior lecturer, Vanderbilt University
Price per class: $10 members; $15 not-yet-members
Price for the entire course: $25 members; $40 not-yet-members
Learn more about Japan through its visual expressions in this three-part course that illustrates the ways that human experience is at the core of the exploration of sky, sea, forest, and city featured in Journey through Japan: Myths to Manga.
Thursday, November 14: “Storytelling in Japanese Art”
From tales of a moon princess and a sun goddess to fables of fishermen and ghosts, storytelling in Japan has a long history. This session will explore the art of telling stories. By looking at specific works in Journey through Japan, we will learn about their associated tales, art-historical trajectories, and other related works.
Upcoming Class
Thursday, November 21: “Cute and Apocalyptic? Japanese Art in the Post-War Period”
This class will focus on visual expressions from the period following World War II until today, specifically looking at both “cute” (kawaii) culture and apocalyptic imaginations in art and popular culture. Among other things, participants will consider the effects of wartime experiences, technological advancement and unease, and the intersections of “art” and “pop culture.”
About Susan Dine
Susan Dine is a specialist in Japanese art history and museum studies. Currently a senior lecturer at Vanderbilt University, she researches and writes about medieval Japanese art and early modern Ainu art. Her current projects include a book on Japanese Buddhist art networks in the thirteenth century and co-curating an exhibition on Ainu art that will open in Michigan in fall 2026.