Write an 8-10-page (2000-3000 words) research essay on a single work of art or a single artist or dynasty of artistic merit. You may also consider a single exhibition or display of art showing at a museum that features Buddhist Art. Currently large museums in NYC such as the Met, Brooklyn Museum, or Rubin are open to the public with limited capacity in light of Covid-19 restrictions. Alternatively, you can scour the many online resources that are available for Asian Art (some listed below). In the case of choosing a single artist or exhibition of artists you will focus on the curatorial arrangement and design, focus, etc., as much as on the individual works themselves. Examples of dynasties are the Gupta or Pala dynasties in South Asia, the Song dynasty in China, the Nara or Kamakura period in Japan. There are other possible dynasties as well that may be considered. Consult with me for resources and approaches if you need to.Research should reflect how the chosen work or works (along with the curatorial practices, if applicable) relate to themes from the course. Themes such as Buddhist sectarianism (Mahayana, Theravada, Vajrayana, Pureland, Chan, etc.), Buddhism and regionalism, Buddhist conversion, philosophy, Buddhist doctrine, Religious syncretism, among others may be considered. Are such themes seen in your chosen work or works of art? If so how and in what way? Similarly, you may compare and contrast your chosen subject with a specific textual source from our readings out of “The Experience of Buddhism” on Classes resources. Try to choose appropriate textual sources. For example, if your chosen work is from Thailand it might be better to choose a text that is not Mahayana in origin. Origins of the text can usually be found in the notes at the end of a reading. Remember that Pali texts are associated most strongly with Theravada and other schools of Early or Mainstream Buddhist traditions. Alternatively, Sanskrit works or works translated from Chinese and Tibetan are typically associated with the different branches of Mahayana (Vajrayana, Pure Land, Chan, Zen, etc.).Bibliography:Your research essay must include a bibliography with at least 5 sources from a trusted academic research source in addition to entries related to the work or works of art and any curatorial essays or ephemera associated with an exhibition that is published by or available from the gallery or museum. You can use either of the guides listed below for creating your entries. Make sure you are consistent in whatever you choose. You may use MLA or Chicago style for citing your references, but be consistent throughout.For general guide on creating citation in the MLA style see: https://www.mendeley.com/guides/mla-citation-guide An example of a citation of a work of art in the MLA style is as follows:Sher Gil, Amrita. Brahmacharis. 1937. Oil on canvas. National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi.For more on citing original works of art in the MLA style see:https://library.fiu.edu/c.php?g=346459&p=3848701 Chicago Style citations:https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-1.htmlCiting works of art and images in Chicago Style:https://libguides.dickinson.edu/c.php?g=56088&p=360209List of some Museums you can visit with extensive Buddhist art and exhibitions:https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/ https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/current-exhibitions https://rubinmuseum.org/https://dsal.uchicago.edu/huntington/database.php
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