Proposal for Art History Essay:
Qn chosen: Compare two ceramics from the Tang Shipwreck. Consider the following in your discussion: patrons, producers, materials, function, production and meanings.
Introduction:
What is the tank shipwreck about
When did it occur
Where and How was it discovered
Why it happened.
Mention of the Abbasid empire and Tang Dynasty
Objects chosen:
Green splash ware and the white blue ceramics.
Tentative Claim:
There seems to be a liking towards the green splashed ceramics as opposed to the white and blue wares since larger quantities and varieties of the green splashed wares has been found. Although both wares have adapted motifs from other cultures, the variety of green splashed ceramics found actually offers more types of practical usage then the white and blue ware, indicating the interest of the people back then.
Paragraph 1: Visual analysis of the green splashed ware
Paragraph 2: Visual analyisis of the white and blue ware
Paragraph 3: Contextual similarities between the two in terms of producers, patrons (West Asia) and functions.
Paragraph 4: Contextual differences between the two in terms of materials, production and meaning.
Paragraph 5: Evidences that support the claim- the popularity and significance of the green splashed ware are more prominent before concluding.
Bibliography:
Alison , Effeny. SHIPWRECKED TANG TREASURES AND MONSOON WINDS. Washington, D.C., United States of America: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, 2011. February 2011. Accessed March 17, 2017. https://www.asia.si.edu/Shipwrecked/downloads/01Intro.pdf.
Pierson, Stacey. Chinese ceramics:. London: V & A Publishing, 2009.
Interesting ideas! How can we make the claim clearer and stronger?
differences: quantity and variety versus few and one kind?
similarities: motifs are borrowed
Although both types of ceramics borrow motifs from where? the greenware reveals … while the blue and white ware shows… Need “So, what?”
Hi Prof Sujatha,
I have decided to change my subject matter as well as the ceramics concerned.
My new proposal is as follows:
Claim: Even though the Changsha bowls and the blue and white ceramic were both produced for export on contrasting scales, they illustrate the different production styles as well as the influences of other cultures on Chinese ceramics. These also reflect that Chinese ceramics were a desideratum of the ninth century.
Outline of essay:
Intro:
-Briefly state the origin of the shipwreck and what was found.
-What is the shipwreck indicative of
– Claim (as per above)
Body Paragraphs:
Comparison between both subject matter:
– Changsha Bowls’ : Producer/ Production/ Materials
-Blue and White Dish: Producer / Production / Materials
Compare the motifs and their meaning on the ceramic:
-Changsha bowl’s VA and Blue and White Dish’s VA
-Meaning of motifs and their origins
Compare the purpose and function:
-Both for export
-One larger in scale than the other and why.
Conclusion:
-Evidence of an established shipping network
-How cultures affected the popularity and their production
The claim is a little complex:
similar (export) but different (quantity), different (styles) but similar (influence).
Life might be easier we put all the similarities in one clause and the differences in another clause.