Description
[G/C; Asian Studies Program] From ancient times to the present day, notions of the divine, otherworldly, and supernatural have permeated the complex belief systems of South Asia. Since the Bronze Age, these themes have been distilled in the form of fantastic imagery--from sculptures of multi-armed goddesses prepped for cosmic battle, to brightly painted rock formations that serve as guardians of modern roadway intersections. By exploring the literary and artistic record of South Asia, as well as applying methods of iconographic and theoretical analysis, this course uncovers the central role of gods, goddesses, and supernatural beings in the larger sphere of Indic culture. The major artistic traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Islam, as well as other sectarian groups will be the central focus of this course.