CHNT178 PO

Looking Askance: The Rhetoric, Practice, and Politics of Beauty in Asian Visual Arts and Literatures

PO

As much as we think of “beauty” as a personal pursuit, aesthetic practice is deeply embedded into a complex web of social expectations, gender hierarchies, and the power dynamics of cultural exchange. Situating itself at the rich intersections of women and gender studies, literature, and art history, this course introduces students to the rhetoric and practice of “beauty” in Asia. Taking a cross-cultural approach, we examine a range of historical and contemporary topics about the politics of beauty. We examine “beauty” as an embodied practice, a social rhetoric, an aesthetic contestation, and a form of gender and cultural politics in the context of “Global Asia.” This class is enriched with field trips to art museums, multimedia assignments, and interdisciplinary learning opportunities.

Chinese Lit, Engl Trans, Gender & Women's Studies