Sandy Kita
63: Japanese Printmaking, 1615-1868 [I - 080]
30 July - 3 August 2001

1) How useful were the pre-course readings? 1: The pre-course readings gave a very good background to the material we covered. 2: I do not recommend attending this course without reading at least a percentage of the prerequisite reading. 3: Very useful. 4: Useful but not essential. 5: Most of the books were out of print, but some were available. Useful but not crucial to understand the course. 2) Were the course syllabus and other materials distributed in class useful (or will they be so in the future, after you return home)? 1: Yes. They are very useful. SK put a tremendous amount of time and effort into compiling a summary of his lectures. 2: The syllabus corresponded directly with the material covered each day. 3: Both appropriate and useful. 4: Yes, especially so. 5: Yes. 3) Was the intellectual level of the course content appropriate? 1: Yes. We explored highly theoretical aspects of the material that SK deftly explained. He was able to distill a tremendous amount of material. 2: Yes. It was fast, but time was always allowed/allotted for questions. 3: Yes. 4: We were expected to think as art historians, which was challenging and educational -- wonderful! 5: Yes. 4) If your course had field trips, were they effective? 1: Absolutely! We visited the Bayly Museum collection of Japanese prints. This opportunity to have hands-on experience with the material was invaluable. 2: The class would not be successful without it. 3: Very well spent. Looked at actual prints at Bayly, which is a must to understand a print technique. 4: Fantastic afternoons at the Bayly. 5: Yes. 5) Did the actual course content correspond to its RBS brochure description and Expanded Course Description (ECD)? Did the course in general meet your expectations? 1: Yes. 2: The course covered more of the history than I expected, but it was appropriate to cover. 3-5: Yes. 6) What did you like best about the course? 1: I liked SK's ability to tie in the epic history of Japan with the specific history of the Ukiyo-e print. 2: The openness and passion that SK displays is astounding. Looking at the prints was amazing. 3: Looking at prints, but thought class great and lectures super. 4: (Small class size.) SK's masterful knowledge and natural ebullience. The daily connoisseurship sessions. Afternoons looking at prints at the Bayly -- a superb, well-rounded class. 5: Instructor's approach to understanding Japanese art through religious, social, political, and literature materials with visual images (overhead projector/slides). 7) How could the course have been improved? 1: Fix slide projectors? 2: The first two days covering the history may be abbreviated. 3: Excellent class -- doesn't need improvement. 4: Perhaps less historical background on the second day. 5: N/A. Very well-organized. 8) We are always concerned about the physical well-being both of the RBS teaching collections and of materials owned by UVa's Special Collections. If relevant, what suggestions do you have for the improved classroom handling of such materials used in your course this week? 2: Repair is needed with some of the prints. 3: We were very careful of museum collection -- and followed all procedures perhaps because everyone in class was well-informed about nature of materials. 4: Yes. 5: We're told not to touch the materials. Such rules need to be maintained. 9) Please comment on the quality/enjoyability of the various RBS activities in which you took part outside of class (e.g. Sunday afternoon tour, Sunday night dinner, evening lectures, Bookseller Night, Video Night, Study Night, tour of the Alderman digital/electronic centers, printing demonstrations, &c.). 1: The Sunday night dinner and lecture was enjoyable, and it helped to orient me to the program. I went downtown too late Tuesday evening to see any bookstores. The other evenings I was working on my own writing and research in my hotel room and did not get to join in. 2: The group (individuals) were not as open as times before. 3: OK -- plenty to do. 10) Did you get your money's worth? Any final thoughts? 1: Yes. I feel I got my money's worth. The experience of looking at the prints with an expert was valuable and rare. I would like to see an actual key block and tools for making prints. 2: More so. 3: Yes. Happy and pleased with RBS. 4: A wonderful course with a special instructor. 5: Expensive, but worth taking. Number of respondents: 5