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Research Methodology: Approaches, Concepts and Methods of Visual Studies (Compulsory)

Research Methodology: Approaches, Concepts and Methods of Visual Studies (Compulsory)

- Prof Parul D. Mukherji

In recent decades, the discipline of art history has been transfused with new insights and approaches, often deriving from theoretical advances in neighbouring disciplines such as linguistics, literature, political theory, anthropology and new disciplines such as gender and cultural studies. Assuming students already have a base in a more traditional art historical methodology SAA in their MA, this SAA will focus on readings in new methodologies and approaches.

Suggested Topics and Readings:

• Structuralism and Semiotics • Marxism and Critical Theory

• Developments of Psychoanalysis

• Heidegger, Derrida,andPost-structuralism

•NewHistoricism

•FeminismandGender •Perception,Reception,Visionand Visuality

• Postmodernism

• Anthropologies of Art and Cultural Studies • Collecting, Memory, and Museums

• Multiculturalism and Post-colonialism

 

Basic sourcebooks:

• CTAH: Critical Terms for Art History, Robert Nelson and Richard Shiff, eds, 2nd edn. (Chicago: Chicago University Press, 2003)

• AAH: The Art of Art History: a critical anthology, Donald Preziosi, ed. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998)

• AHIM: Art history and its methods: A critical anthology, Eric Fernie ed. (London, Phaidon, 4th ed 1999)

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.