Lectures, Classes, Symposia
The museum, together with its affiliate the Society for Asian Art, offers a variety of lectures, classes and workshops that enable you to delve deeper into Asian art and culture. Many of our past lectures are now available for free downloading on iTunes University.
Talk with Curator Michael Knight
Art during the Reign of Eternal Happiness of the Empire of Great Brilliance (The Yongle emperor of the Ming dynasty, 1403-24)
Thursday, February 9, 6:30 pm
Education Classroom
Free with museum admission (admission $5 after 5:00 pm)
This talk will provide an overview of the role of art during the reign Zhu Di, who ruled during the Yongle reign of the Ming dynasty. Certainly among the most dynamic of the emperors of the Ming, Zhu Di was also among the most active in the arts. During his reign art played key roles within China and in diplomatic relations with other nations. Among Zhu Di's many great domestic accomplishments were the completion of many buildings in imperial capitals in Nanjing and Beijing, transfer of the primary capital to Beijing, and the rebuilding of the Grand Canal. Massive amounts of art were required for decorating the interiors of the great new buildings and for the ceremonies and rituals performed within them. A complex system was developed to commission these objects from their often distant points of manufacture and to deliver them works to the imperial capitals. Art also played a role in maintaining relations with the Ming Empire's allies and courting favor with its enemies. As the Son of Heaven with a divine right to rule, Zhu Di did not stoop to buying and selling art, instead he received tribute and presented gifts.
Co-presented with Humanities West.
Shakespeare and Hindi Cinema
Saturday, March 31, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm
Free with museum admission
This talk, co-presented with 3rd i, will explore adaptations of Shakespeare in popular Hindi cinema, a.k.a. Bollywood. Through clips from films as varied as Shakespeare, Wallah, Angoor, and Omkara, Gitanjali Shahani will explore the colonial contexts of Shakespearean production and the post-colonial contexts of Shakespearean reproduction in India. Shahani is Assistant Professor of English at San Francisco State University where she teaches courses on Shakespearean and non-Shakespearean drama as well as contemporary South Asian literatures.
3rd i Films promotes diverse images of South Asians through independent film. The organization showcases films from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and the global South Asian diaspora. 3rd i's annual film festival is held at the end of October in San Francisco.
First Thursday Evening Lectures
Sponsored by the Society for Asian Art
6:30 pm–8:00 pm
Education Studio
The fee for these lectures is a $10 nonrefundable contribution to the Society for Asian Art. Reservations are required. Seating is limited. To register, please call the Society for Asian Art at 415-581-3701. See the Society for Asian Art website for detailed information about upcoming talks.
See the Society for Asian Art website for detailed information about upcoming lecture series.
Our trained docents in the Community Speakers Program (CSP) offer informal, illustrated talks on current exhibitions and special themes. For a modest fee, these talks can also be taken to your community group or office. For a list of lecture topics or to request a talk, please call the Asian Art Museum at 415-581-3664 or email docent@asianart.org.
Docent slide talks in the museum occur on the fourth Sunday of every month at 2:30 pm in the Education Studios. Note: No slide talk in December.
To learn about upcoming docent lectures, please visit the calendar.
Also, don't miss our daily docent tours in the galleries.
Past topics have included recent Chinese literature, the Ramayana, and Hindu mythology. Read more about the literature course.
Member Workshop Series: Korean Ceramics, Ikebana floral arranging, Chinese brush painting
Saturday, January 28: Ceramics
Sunday, February 12: Ikebana
Saturday, March 31: Brush painting
Cost: $150 for the series or $60 per class
Space is limited. For bookings please call 415.581.3740 or book online.
Typically held from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, these groups offer in-depth study of a specific topic, often with hands-on demonstration and evaluation of objects. Read more about the study groups.
Read more about upcoming teacher training events.
There are no symposia scheduled at this time. Visit the museum's e-calendar to view other upcoming Lectures, Classes, and Workshops.
