Characteristics of learning and curriculum (Department of Comparative Arts)
PHILOSOPHY Department Philosophy
If you are drawn to a particular art form and wish to study it academically, Department of Comparative Arts has its doors wide open and is waiting for you.
This department is made up of three areas: "Art," "Music," and "Theatre and Film." A major feature is that students do not limit themselves to one area from the beginning, but rather study all areas evenly, especially in their first and second years. Since the arts are not independent of one another but have developed through mutual interaction, students study all of them broadly and acquire the knowledge to "compare" the arts.
Another feature is that, under a curriculum that places emphasis on the "classics" of art, students gain experience appreciating many works of art and writing reports on them. Art, which has endured thousands of years of history, has a universal value that will not easily fade into the future. Facing such classics, students can weave their emotions into words based on their deep knowledge and express them in writing that can be conveyed to a third party - in other words, they can express how beautiful the world is, and as someone who knows true beauty, they will be able to move forward in life with values that are timeless.
"Only the truly old remain forever young" (EG Yeyeyell). Come experience this for yourself in our department.
CURRICULUM Learning Features and Curriculum
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Learning through "comparison" of art
Comparative learning and research is the foundation of learning in this department. The first-year "Introduction to Comparative Art Studies" course is taught in an omnibus format by full-time faculty members of the department. Students learn through experience by comparing the actual works of "art," "music," and "film and theater" through viewing exhibitions, concerts, plays, and films, and then explaining and writing reports on them. In the "Each Field and Literature A/B" course in the first and second years, students can also select two or more fields to study the relationship between each field and literature, and the essence of each.
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Develop your writing skills
From the first-year "Introduction to Comparative Art Studies" to the third- and fourth-year "Comparative Art Studies Seminar," raw Students will accumulate learning and research based on appreciation of artworks. The appreciation reports they write are not simply written impressions. They are required to practice verbalization (description) through detailed observation of the form, color, composition, etc. of fine arts, the tone of instruments and voices, ensembles, etc. of music, and the movements of actors, delivery of lines, and direction of theatrical films, with the aim of acquiring the ability to write.
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Learn the basics of art appreciation
In "Methods of Art Appreciation," students will learn basic knowledge essential for appreciating artworks, including iconography, the basis for art interpretation—what is represented and what meaning it has; how to research specific works of art; simple sketching techniques for paintings and sculptures; musical analysis of Western and traditional Japanese music; how to decipher and perform old sheet music; and the meaning of gestures and movements, as seen in the practical performances of actors and dancers in Japanese classical performing arts and Western theater, as well as the role of props.
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Reading Classical Texts
In parallel with appreciating live works of art, we also focus on reading classical texts. Works of art are, so to speak, "non-written documents" of history and culture, but to understand the details of their chronology and meaning, it is essential to read written texts. To truly understand the art, music, theatrical performances, and film of a country, it is impossible to do without understanding that country's language. In the "Original Text Reading" course, we will cover texts in English as well as classical Chinese and classical Japanese.
curriculum
With "comparative learning," "emphasis on classics," and "appreciation education" as the core of our studies, we will deepen our learning by linking these three areas together and combining theoretical learning with experience and practical learning.
COURSE MODELS
Art major
Classical artworks continue to exist as physical objects, even though they may change over time. Why is it that the value of a work of art changes with each era, even though the work itself remains unchanged?
This is possible only if we discover new value in the works and, using our current sensibilities and words, question society anew about their significance and evaluation.
In the field of art, as the first step in acquiring a wide range of knowledge, we place great importance on accumulating experience by seeing actual artworks with one's own eyes, feeling them, thinking about them, and writing up reports.
Students will explore who the work was originally made for and where it was displayed, compare Japanese and Western art, and utilize knowledge gained in the fields of music, theater, and film.
By coming into contact with many masterpieces and gaining the training to carefully weave words, your sensibilities will undoubtedly be honed and you will develop values that will support you throughout your life.
● Western art
We will consider a variety of issues, including the main materials and techniques used in Western art, the main themes and iconography related to Greek mythology and Christianity, the history of the classification and ranking of works based on the subject matter depicted, the various practical functions that artworks, which today are often seen as representative of "impractical things," have played, and the changing image of the "artist."
● Japanese and Oriental Art
From the primitive age to the present, various forms of art have been produced in Japan and the East. In Japanese art, we will look back on the transition of art styles from the Jomon period to modern times and their historical background. In Eastern art, we will focus on things closely related to Japanese art, such as Buddhist art, ink painting, and crafts.
In addition to deepening this understanding, we will also consider the characteristics of each art form through comparisons with Japanese art.
- *In order to learn the general history, it is also The Aoyama Standard to take "Art History A" and "Art History B" in the respective fields of East and West, as well as the Faculty of College of Literature-wide courses "Eastern Art History," "Japanese Art History," and "Western Art History."
Music major
Music is a "temporal art," and unlike fine art, its characteristics cannot be discussed visually. For example, how do we understand music from an era when sheet music was different from that of today and no recordings existed?
You will need a wide range of knowledge, including not only how to read sheet music, but also the social background in which the piece was created, the performance methods of the time, its connection to Greek mythology and the Bible, etc. By using this knowledge to analyze and understand music and realizing the beauty of music from the past, your eyes will be opened and you will acquire the ability to express music in precise words.
Gregorian chant, Palestrina, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Stravinsky, and the Beatles...
Now that we have exhausted all melodies and chords and are at a standstill in creating masterpieces, why not learn the true value of the classics of the past thousand years and make them an irreplaceable treasure for the rest of your life?
● Western music
In addition to studying famous pieces, students will also learn about Western music from ancient Greece to the present day, from multiple perspectives, including its relationship with politics, religion, and other arts, the evolution of music theory and sheet music, the profession of musician, instruments and how to play them, sheet music publishing and concerts, and the influence of recording technology. This course aims to cultivate a wide range of knowledge and keen insight into the art of music.
● Japanese and Oriental Music
In Japan and the East, there is a wide variety of music, including music made with various instruments and songs, and music linked to other arts such as masked dance and musical theater. By understanding these and comparing and examining the aesthetic sense and social background of the people who created that music, as well as the traditional methods of transmitting each instrument and sheet music and the process of their evolution into the present day, we aim to consider the relationship between humans and music and to cultivate a rich sensibility.
Theater and Film Major
Theatre, which has progressed alongside the history of mankind, has richly depicted the joys, sorrows, anger, and happiness of life and posed questions to society.
Film, which emerged at the end of the 19th century, also developed in different regions and over different eras, making use of techniques not found in theater and seeking unique forms of expression. Here, you can learn about the major trends in theatrical film in a continuous and comprehensive way.
Furthermore, by acquiring enough knowledge to be able to "compare" each of them, the "uniqueness" and "things that can only be found there" of expressions depending on the region and era will become clearly apparent.
Theater and film are "comprehensive arts" that incorporate elements from other fields such as music and fine art. Try to deepen your learning by utilizing the knowledge you have gained in other fields.
● Japanese classical performing arts
This course explores the history of performing arts and theater in Japan, and from a broad perspective, examines examples from each era, such as Kabuki and Noh. What kinds of performing arts and theater have existed in Japan since ancient times? What changes did Japanese theater undergo as a result of its encounter with Western civilization and culture during the transition to modernity? This course considers the concepts and relationships between performing arts and theater, as well as issues such as the venues for performing arts, theater forms, performers, actors, and audiences.
● Western Theatre
Students will gain a grasp of the history of Western theater spanning over 2,000 years, from ancient Europe to the present day, and will interpret texts (plays) intended for performance. The aim is to learn about the work of people involved in theater, such as directors, producers, actors, stage designers, and musicians, and to develop various perspectives on theater. Students will explore the essence of performing arts, paying attention to the eras and social contexts in which plays were performed.
● Videos and movies
This course focuses on the world of modern media, which has undergone constant and radical change, from silent to talkies, black and white to color, and film to digital. Students will develop the ability to critically study video and film, focusing on themes such as image, sound, time, editing, and viewing environment. Furthermore, the course explores the impact that the birth and development of visual media has had on today's society.
COURSE FEATURES Features of major courses
Art major
| Subject Name | Features |
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Japanese and Oriental Literature and Art A
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We will look at masterpieces that represent each era, from the Muromachi period to the end of the Edo period and the Meiji period, and while reading related materials, we will deepen our understanding of why these works are called masterpieces and their appeal (aesthetic qualities and historical significance).
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How to Appreciate Art I (2)
Art appreciation and museums |
This course focuses on Western paintings and sculptures, and aims to provide students with a practical way of describing the formative characteristics of these works in words. Through comparative appreciation of multiple works of different styles, students will gain an understanding of how to better understand the characteristics of artworks. In addition, students will learn about the history of art museums, with the aim of acquiring basic knowledge of art appreciation.
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Special Lecture on Comparative Art Studies I (1)
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Christianity is a religion that has always questioned the (im)possibility of representing God and idolatry. How can an invisible God be represented? Why is it that holy images, which are merely material objects, perform miracles, evoke diverse responses in those who see them, such as veneration, awe, prayer, and curses, and become "actors" that work in a two-way manner? This course will explore Christian image theory from a historical anthropological perspective.
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Special Lecture on Comparative Art Studies I (7)
The Emergence and Development of Deity Sculpture |
This program will examine the emergence and development of god statues in the Nara and early Heian periods, focusing on existing examples, while examining the characteristics of each statue's design and the ideas that can be gleaned from their forms. It will also present the cutting edge of research and clarify issues and points of contention surrounding the examples.
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How to Appreciate Art I (1)
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Sketching, copying, and replicating the human body, still life, etc. In order to understand the actual depiction and modeling methods of works of art, make simple sketches, copies, and replicas of the subject with a pencil, etc. Since it is often not possible to immediately put into words in writing, it is also effective to fix your impression by sketching, etc. in order to improve the quality of your appreciation.
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Music major
| Subject Name | Features |
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Western Literature and Music A
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Beginning with Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, which was set to Schiller's Ode to Joy in the early 19th century, literature and music suddenly became closer. By comparing the works of Goethe, Büchner, Maeterlinck, Wilde, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, and others, as well as the musical works inspired by them, this course considers the essence of "putting words into sound."
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Original Text Reading Ⅱ（1）
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Through the reading of introductory books on music theory written in English, students aim to maintain and improve their English grammar and reading comprehension skills, as well as to increase their knowledge and vocabulary of specialized music theory terms in English and American English (note names, interval names, rhythm terms, tonality/harmonic terms, musical form terms, etc.) and to enable students to use English music books as research materials.
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How to Appreciate Art II (1)
Deciphering and performing ancient music scores |
The original scores of music from before the Baroque period were written in a different notation system than modern ones. The scores we use have been converted into modern scores by someone else, and in the process, the original nuances of the piece may be lost. In this class, we will learn the ideas of composers at that time by acquiring past notation systems that developed in interaction with the changes in musical styles.
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Special Lecture on Comparative Arts II (1)
Analysis of Wagner's "The Ring of the Nibelung" |
Based on the basic techniques acquired through basic exercises, original text reading, music history, etc., students will learn specific methods for approaching classical music works by actually "analyzing" works such as symphonies, chamber music, operas, and songs. This is a comprehensive class that makes full use of all techniques, including harmony, counterpoint, musical form, orchestration, and languages.
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Comparative Arts Seminar II (1)
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Using music history textbooks and accompanying musical examples, CD and video materials, and study guides as teaching materials, students give presentations on music from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Baroque eras. Students deepen their knowledge of the music of each era and the social background in which it was produced, including religion, politics, and literary trends, while at the same time honing their writing and presentation skills.
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Theater and Film Major
| Subject Name | Features |
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Western Literature and Theatre A
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This lecture will examine the role that theater has played in human culture, taking into account the 2000-year history of theater from ancient Europe to the present. Starting with topics such as "What is performing arts?" and "What is the essence of the dramatic experience?", the lecture will cover such topics as "stage style," "theatrical terminology," and "the relationship between the stage and media."
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Japanese and Asian Literature, Theatre and Film A
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This course begins with a look at the concept and definition of the words and then goes through a periodic overview of what kind of "performing arts" and "theater" existed in Japan in the past. It looks at the origins of performing arts, ancient times, the Middle Ages (Noh and Kyogen), and the early modern period (Kabuki and Bunraku puppet theater), deepening understanding of the basics using audiovisual materials, and examining the characteristics of performing arts and theater in Japan and the East.
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Special Lecture on Comparative Arts III (1)
Shakespeare and Elizabethan Drama |
This course will decipher Shakespeare's multifaceted theatrical world. Starting with topics such as Shakespeare's life and the English language, it will attempt to interpret the various genres of tragedy, comedy, and history, and deepen knowledge of famous lines. It will also discuss the structure of Elizabethan theaters and the formation of theater companies. It will also examine operas and films based on Shakespeare's works.
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Reading in the Original Texts III (1)
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This course will study the texts that are the basis of performance in Japanese classical performing arts, such as Noh plays, Kabuki ledgers, and Bunraku puppet theatre. In addition to reading the texts in detail, students will also pay attention to how they are actually performed. Students will acquire and improve their skills in reading the texts, while also studying the characteristics of Japanese classical performing arts and Japanese theater.
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Special Lecture on Comparative Arts III (5)
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This program will provide a historical overview of the various cinematic expressions that have been accumulated over the last 120 years. It will approach cinema from multiple angles, including technological history (transitions such as from silent to talkies and from analog to digital) and auteur theories that delve into the creators who marked the era. You will experience the unique appeal of films from each era, region, genre, and auteur.
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CAREER Career Path Employment
The qualifications that can be acquired include museum curator, librarian, and social education officer. Fields related to the department include mass media, culture, and the arts, as well as service, tourism, travel, and the environment, welfare, and information-related businesses and public servants.
ACADEMIC CATALOG Course Guide (Subject List)