Assignment Instructions/ Description
History and Theory of Furniture and Decorative Art Spring 2018Research Paper 1: Cross-Cultural Object Analysis
Learning Outcomes• Perform cross-disciplinary research in order to establish convincing arguments on positions relating to furniture and decorativearts• Analyze and interpret contextual cultural, sociological, and political factors in design across geographical, cultural and historicalcontexts
Select an object or interior created before 1800 that displays significant influence from a previous time period, another culture, or both. (See Thesis on page 2 for the item that was chosen)
Research the object or space and write a 1250-word formal academic paper driven by a thesis and argument that analyzes your object/space within the contexts of its cross-cultural influences.(Use the Thesis on page 2 as a star but it can be changed)
Before drafting your paper you will want to:
• describe your object/space, including material(s), size, shape, color, texture, imagery/ornament, and any distinguishing characteristics, and be prepared to integrate your formal analysis into yourargument
• analyze your object/space within its various cross-cultural contexts - these may include artistic, social, cultural, economic, or politicalcontexts
• compare and contrast your object/space to the source materials from which it pulls or is otherwise influencedby
Not all of these issues will be relevant to all projects, but you will want to consider the following questions, as appropriate, when formulating a thesis and constructing an argument:
• What aspects of the object/space display evidence of influence from another time or place? (form, decoration/ornament, materials, use/function, workshop practices/tools/technology,etc.)• How did these design ideas circulate or reach the designer of your object/space? (trade, travel, prints, descriptions and other written accounts, conquest, migration, etc.)• Did they alter, change, or modify the source material or design ideas insome way? Why or why not?How?• How did this object or space fit into the design ideas of its own time? Wereothers doing similar things? How widespread a cultural practice was this kind of borrowing at the time? How was this borrowing understood at the time? How was this object/space received in its own time andplace?
All papers must include proper footnotes and bibliography in appropriate
Chicago/Humanities Format
All papers must include at least one clear image of your object or space with a caption indicating name or title (e.g. Portland Vase), responsible parties (i.e. maker/designer etc.) and date.
All papers must be Word documents – papers submitted in other formats will not be accepted.History and Theory of Furniture and Decorative Art Spring 2018Research Paper 1: Cross-Cultural Object Analysis
Learning Outcomes• Perform cross-disciplinary research in order to establish convincing arguments on positions relating to furniture and decorativearts
Thesis Statement:The sixteenth century Italian curule Savonarola chair’s design origin dates back to an x-shaped stool from fourteenth century BC in Egypt. The design ideas during the Italian Renaissance were significantly inspired by Greek and Roman antiquities along with cross cultural architectural principles which is evident in the design of the Savonarola chair.
Introductory paragraph draft (can be modified):Known for its significant x-shape, the curule Savonarola chair of the Italian sixteenth century had its origins long before it became a significant furniture piece during the Italian Renaissance. The influence for its design can be traced as far back as the fourteenth century BC in Egypt where a x-base chair was designed with a similar social and cultural purpose in mind delivering to people of higher rank. As time progressed, it is evident that the design of Italy’s curule Savonarola chair was highly inspired by Greek and Roman antiquities along with the influence of architectural principles.
Note:The writer is taking a position that the chair design dates back to Egypt, long before it was made in the Italian Renaissance. The writer is comparing the Egyptian Chair with the Savonarola chair.
Outline:• Influence• Materials• Region of Origin Research Paper 1: Cross-Cultural Object Analysis
REQUIREMENTS / GRADING CRITERIAArgument and Analysis- Thesis addressesassignment- Argument is clearly made and supported byevidence- The object and its cross- cultural contexts are used effectively to support theideasexpressed in the essayContent and Development- Content is comprehensive and accurate- Writing is clear andpersuasiveOrganization and Structure- Structure and organization are clear; writing is easy tofollow- Transitions are logical; flow of thought is maintained throughout- Conclusion is logical and flows from the body oftheessayGrammar, Punctuation, Spelling, and Usage- Rules of grammar, usage, and punctuation are followed; spelling iscorrect- Language is clear and precise; sentences displayconsistentlystrong, varied structureCitations and Images- Sources are cited using the appropriatesystem- Citations are accurate and complete- All necessary images and captions arepresent
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