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Themes&in&Art&and&Culture&I& Fall$2017$–$HAD$111$ $ $ $ History$of$Art$and$Design$Dept.$ $ [email protected]$ & Metropolitan&Museum&Writing&Assignment&(Writing&2)$ DUE:$$Thursday,$May$9$ $ & $

Assignment$

The$class$reading$on$the$Buddha$includes:$“All$religions$have$to$confront$the$key$question$–$ how$can$the$infinite,$the$boundless,$be$apprehended?$How$can$humans$draw$near$to$the$other,$ to$god?”$ $ This$is$to$say,$how$do$artists$represent$something$invisible$and$eternal$–$i.e.,$divinity$–$in$ physical$form?$$Conversely,$how$do$viewers$(historic$worshippers$or$presentSday$art$history$ students)$know$they$are$looking$at$a$representation$of$a$deity,$rather$than$of$a$regular$human?$ As$we$have$seen$all$semester,$artists$in$every$culture$use$special$conventions$to$make$the$ divine$apparent$to$viewers.$ $ In&your&paper&compare&and&contrast&the&representation&of&TWO&divine&figures&from&the& choices&listed&here:&a&GrecoARoman&Hercules,&a&Chinese&Buddha,&and&a&Byzantine&Christ.&& $ Choose$TWO$of$the$following$objects$(confirm$the$Accession$Number).$ &

1.&Statue&of&a&Youthful&Hercules&(Roman,$69S96$CE,$03.12.13)&Gallery$162$ $ 2.&Buddha&Dipankara&(Diguang),&(China,$dated$489–95$CE,$65.29.3)$Gallery$206$ $ 3.$Portable&Icon&with&the&Virgin&Eleousa$(early$1300s$CE,$2008.352)$Gallery$303$ $ You$may$address$aspects$such$as:$ •$How$you$(as$a$viewer)$interact$with$the$object,$in$terms$of$materials,$scale,$and$impression$ •$Representation$of$the$body,$including$proportion,$attention$to$anatomy,$and$use$of$drapery$ •$Iconography$(or$any$symbols$the$figure$holds,$wears,$or$are$near$by)$ •$Narrative$(if$there$is$a$story,$which$moment$is$shown,$and$why$was$that$one$selected?)$ •$Condition$(is$it$restored?$has$it$changed$since$it$was$made?$are$missing$parts$distracting?)$ •$Is$the$image$“successful”?$Does$it$clearly$and$unambiguously$portray$key$aspects$and$ characteristics$of$the$deity?$ $ Also$consider$how$the$works$represent$the$time$and$culture$in$which$they$were$made.$$To$ address$this,$you$may$find$the$gallery$labels$useful,$as$well$as$the$“100$Objects”$readings,$your$ textbook$and$class$notes.$$It$is$NOT$necessary$to$incorporate$additional$research$materials.$$ &

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General&Guidelines& $ The$paper$is$before$the$start$of$class$on$Thursday,&May&9.$Late$papers$will$be$penalized$at$least$ one$letter$grade.$$

You$must$include,$or$send$me$separately,$a$selfie$with$each$object$you$select.$$

The$paper$should$be$typewritten,$in$a$standard$font$such$as$Times$New$Roman$12$pt.,$doubleS spaced$and$have$1”$margins.$$The$paper$should$be$3S4$pages.$$

The$titles$of$works$of$art$should$be$italicized.$$

The$paper$should$have$an$Introduction$that$provides$the$most$important$information$about$ each$work,$and$your$thesis$statement.$You$should$also$include$a$through$description$of$each$ object,$including$important$details,$visible$from$multiple$angles;$a$reader$should$be$able$to$ recognize$the$pieces$from$your$words.$$Each$following$paragraph$should$have$a$clear$topic$ sentence$and$lots$of$supporting$visual$details.$$You$should$end$with$a$conclusion$that$ summarizes$and$clarifies$your$main$arguments.$$If$illustrations$(annotated$drawings,$detail$ photos)$will$help$you$to$make$your$argument,$you$may$include$them,$though$they$are$not$ required.$

Avoid$overly$general$statements$such$as$“these$works$have$a$lot$of$similarities$and$differences,”$ or$“these$works$are$very$important/famous/beautiful.”$Always$ask,$what’s$different$and$special$ about$this+object$compared$to$everything$else$around$it?$

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Proofread.$$This$is$critical.$$Use$spellScheck$and$grammarScheck.$$Then$go$over$your$work$to$ catch$what$these$automatic$tools$cannot.$$Read$it$out$loud$to$yourself.$$Have$a$friend$read$it.$$ BE$SURE$TO$LEAVE$ENOUGH$TIME$FOR$THIS.$$Sloppy$language,$incorrect$usage,$and$poor$ punctuation$will$all$negatively$impact$your$grade.$$$

I$encourage$you$to$visit$Pratt’s$Writing$Lab$(North$Hall$1)$for$additional$questions.$$See$their$ website:$http://www.pratt.edu/academics/academic_resources/writing_and_tutorial_center/

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A$reminder$about$PLAGIARISM:&&Copying&someone&else’s&words&or&ideas&without&crediting&the& source&will&result&in&a&failing&grade&(“F”,&0/100).&&Remember,$while$this$is$not$a$research$paper,$ do$not$simply$repeat$the$museum$label,$textbook,$Wikipedia,$etc.$$I$am$interested$to$read$about$ your$analysis$of$the$objects.$$If$you$do$quote$or$rely$heavily$a$source,$use$footnotes$and$include$ the$source$in$a$bibliography.$

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Reference$Images$

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Buddha,$Gallery$206$ Icon,$Gallery$303$ Hercules,$Gallery$162$

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