| Research Abstract |
We have studied two themes for these past three years : art theories and some Japanese paintings in the medieval period. First, we have read some articles and books on gender theory, feminist theory, queer theory, homosocial theory and post-colonial theory. We have invited some scholars from Tokyo University, Harvard University and others to Gakushuin University in order to collaborate with them as well. As the result, we have realized the methods of "New Art History, " especialy the logic of the gaze, are useful for interpreting arts. Second, we have analyzed some specific art works, such as : handscroll paintings of the Tale of Genji, the Diary of Laby Murasaki ; Obusuma Saburo, and the story about Kuwanomidera Temple depicted by Tosa Mitsumochi, as well as the album of the paintings of the Tale of Genji as depicted by Tosa Mitsunobu and his atelier. We have concluded that any paintings from any dates have a great deal of political meaning and functions, but until recently, many art historians had ignored everything except the issue of aesthetic form. We have also problematized the discourse of art history. For example, we submitted new interpretation of Honcho Gashi, which has never been analyzed by gender theory. One of our main fruits is that we could prove new art history is possible, necessary and significant even in the Japanese art history field.
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