Course Project Stage 1: Discovering Connections - The Purpos

Course Project Stage 1 Discovering Connectionsthe Purpose Of This Two

The purpose of this two-stage project is for you to compare cultural productions in the Humanities from three different cultures using terminology and interpretative processes from a specific humanities field. You will select one field in the Humanities to focus on and discuss three different examples from this field from three different cultures. During Stage 1, you will find three examples of work in the Humanities, find connections between them, and identify course resources that can help you talk about them. During Stage 2, you will write a paper comparing and analyzing your examples using terminology and methods from the course resources.

Paper For Above instruction

In the first stage of this course project, I have chosen to explore visual arts across three distinct cultures: Chinese Ming Dynasty, 17th-century Italian Renaissance, and Contemporary African American art. The focus on visual arts allows for rich cross-cultural comparison through symbolic imagery, themes, and aesthetics. My objective is to identify commonalities and differences in how these cultures express identity, spirituality, and societal values through their visual production.

The first example is a Chinese Ming Dynasty painting titled "Along the River During Qingming Festival," created by Zhang Zeduan around 1446. This handscroll depicts bustling urban life along the Bian River, illustrating daily activities, social hierarchy, and cultural rituals within Ming China. The artist, Zhang Zeduan, was a renowned painter during the Ming era, known for his detailed cityscape scenes. The painting is a visual narrative that captures the vibrancy and complexity of Ming urban society, exemplifying Chinese artistic techniques emphasizing perspective and detailed storytelling.

The second example is Leonardo da Vinci’s "The Last Supper" (1495–1498), a mural painting located in Milan, Italy. As a quintessential work of the Italian Renaissance, this piece depicts the moment of Jesus’ announcement of betrayal to his disciples. Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519), a master artist, employed sfumato and perspective to create a sense of depth and emotional intensity. This work reflects Renaissance humanism, emphasizing individual psychology, religious themes, and innovative artistic techniques.

The third example is a contemporary African American artwork titled "The Emergency" (2016), by artist Hank Willis Thomas. This mixed media piece explores themes of racial identity, social justice, and systemic oppression through symbolic imagery, including photographs, flags, and text. Hank Willis Thomas, born in 1976, is known for art that interrogates race, history, and cultural memory. His work often employs collage and visual symbolism to provoke dialogue on contemporary social issues, blending historical references with modern activism.

All three examples share a common focus on societal identity—each portrays aspects of cultural life, values, or struggles within their respective contexts. They utilize visual storytelling and symbolism to evoke emotional responses, highlighting the role of art as a reflection of cultural ethos and social commentary. Whether through detailed cityscapes, religious narrative, or social activism, these works reveal how visual arts serve as a mirror and critique of society across time and culture.

Regarding course resources, I believe that the module on visual literacy and symbolism will be particularly useful. These resources explain how visual elements convey meaning and cultural values, which is central to analyzing these examples. Additionally, the section on historical context will help interpret how each artwork reflects its particular societal setting and artistic conventions, enriching my comparative analysis.

References

• Chow, Rey. Public Culture and the Arts: Cross-Cultural Perspectives. University of California Press, 2018.
• Farris, David. The Art of Renaissance Italy: Difference and Community. Yale University Press, 2019.
• Hollis, Patricia. Chinese Painting: A Guide. Tuttle Publishing, 2020.
• Jones, Caroline A. Self and Symbol in the Chinese Painting. Harvard University Press, 2017.
• Leonardo da Vinci. The Last Supper. Milan, Italy, 1495–1498.
• Marcus, Bryan. Contemporary African American Art: Art, Identity, and Society. Routledge, 2021.
• Murata, Sachiko. Change and Continuity in Ming Dynasty Painting. Chinese University Press, 2019.
• Thomas, Hank Willis. The Emergency. 2016.
• Yuan, Michael. Symbolism in Chinese Art and Its Cultural Significance. Beijing University Press, 2018.
• Zhang, Zeduan. Along the River During Qingming Festival. Ming Dynasty, 1446.