Comparative paper.

Your second paper for this course will be a comparison of two works of art, from any period of Asian history, and in any medium. At least one of them you must see in person this semester; the other can be any work of art (including something pictured in a book, something pictured online, or something you have seen in the past).

There is some Asian art on campus: on the second floor of Stern Hall, there is a painting by a Chinese artist on display (YANG Yanping, b. 1934, Autumn Lotus, ink and color on paper, 77 x 71 cm, Chinese, 1986-87, HWS Art Collection), and Asian art is included in the exhibition Destinations: 6 Continents, 38 Countries, currently on display in the Davis Gallery at Houghton House (until Apr. 17). In addition, you might visit the Asian art collections of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University in Ithaca, or the Memorial Art Gallery at the University of Rochester. (Remember that I have scheduled a field trip on Sunday, Mar. 29, to the Johnson Museum.) Check out the hours that a museum is open before visiting—many are not open on Mondays, and many close at 5:00.

First draft (due Monday, Mar. 30): In the first draft, you should identify which two works of art you plan to discuss. Start by focusing on the work of art that you see in person, then choose a work of art that makes a good comparison to it. The best papers will be about works of art that have something in common with each other, some element around which you can organize your paper, but will also be different enough from each other that they make a good contrast. A general rule of thumb is that two works of art with the exact same historical and cultural context should look relatively similar; if they are very different, the differences may be worth exploring. Alternatively, two works of art with different historical and cultural contexts should look different from each other; if they are very similar, the similarities may be worth exploring. Ideally, the two works together will reveal something about a particular aspect of Asian culture or about the artists’ choices.

As in the looking paper, I expect to see both a description and an analysis of the objects that you choose. Start by describing the objects thoroughly, and make sure you identify what they are and where you saw them. Then use your analysis to discuss not only the artistic choices of the makers, but also the objects' style and function in relation to each other. Please turn in pictures of both objects with your paper. Many museums will allow non-flash photography of objects in their permanent collections (though not of things on loan, as in temporary exhibitions); alternatively, check to see if it is reproduced online. The ARTstor database may be a good place to start; I also have posted some links to Asian art online under Modules on Canvas. (It should be possible to find an online reproduction of something like a Japanese woodblock print, because they were produced in large quantities.)

Here are some elements that you may want to pay attention to (remembering that the absence of certain characteristics is sometimes important too):

• formal characteristics of the objects (including their form or composition; media; quality of line and/or color; texture; rendering of space, mass or volume; proportion or scale; perspective or viewpoint of the viewer);
• the objects' subject matter;
• where and when the objects were made (their provenance and date).

As in the looking paper, it is not necessary to do extensive research (although if the object you see in person has a didactic label, you might consider taking notes on that, and you might do the background reading on any object pictured in a book; remember to cite any sources you use). Primarily, however, I want you to look carefully at both objects and analyze them in relation to each other based on what you see. Sylvan Barnet's A Short Guide to Writing about Art (11th ed.) refers to this kind of assignment as a "comparison," and Chapter 5 (“Writing a Comparison”) explains how to write this kind of paper. I expect you to read that chapter carefully, in addition to consulting all the relevant chapters on how to write about art and how to analyze art.

Second draft (due Monday, Apr. 13): I suggest using this draft to refine your analysis and resolve any problems that became apparent in the first draft. By the second draft, you should develop a thesis or an argument around which to organize your writing, and put the thesis in the first paragraph. The thesis should explain what it is that your comparison of the two works of art reveals about some aspect of Asian culture or about the artists’ choices.

Final draft (due Monday, Apr. 27): Revise your second draft as necessary, incorporating any suggestions that other readers or I made on earlier drafts. (It is possible that your second draft will not need further revision and can be resubmitted as the final draft.) Ideally, the final draft should include an introductory paragraph with a thesis that explains what you think the two objects together reveal about some aspect of Asian culture, multiple body paragraphs (with clear topic sentences) that focus on a single idea that supports your argument, and a concluding paragraph that reiterates your thesis and your findings. The completed paper should be about 900-1500 words long (roughly 3-5 pages of text, not counting pictures or bibliography).

Breakdown of grades for comparative paper (percentage of final course grade):
First draft: 1%
Second draft: 1%
Final draft: 18%

Format for written work:
One of the things you will learn in an art history class is the importance of presentation. This applies to your written work as well:

1. Type all work in a 12-point font.
2. Double-space.
3. Leave one-inch margins on all sides.
4. Number your pages.
5. Put your name and the date on the first page.
6. Check that your spelling, grammar and punctuation are correct—these are crucial to effective communication of your ideas. Your grade will drop if you have excessive errors. A Short Guide to Writing about Art has a helpful chapter titled “Manuscript Form.” Read it.
7. If you cite another source, you must use a.) either parenthetical references or footnotes as well as b.) a list of works cited. (See A note about cheating and plagiarism below.) Make sure that you follow one of the documentation styles explained in A Short Guide to Writing about Art (Chicago Manual of Style or Art Bulletin Style).
8. Include pictures with captions if appropriate.

You can submit written work via Canvas. Please upload a Microsoft Word document (.doc, .docx), Rich Text Format file (.rtf), or a PDF file (.pdf): these are the only formats that Canvas will accept. Alternatively, you can turn in a stapled hard copy, plus copies of any earlier drafts, to me during the class period. PLEASE NOTE:  I do not accept papers via e-mail.

A note about cheating and plagiarism:
I will not tolerate any form of academic dishonesty. It destroys the trust that I have in you to do your best, it is unfair to the other students, and obviously you will not learn anything if you resort to cheating. If I find that you have cheated on a test or on a written assignment, you will receive a zero for the assignment and I will contact the Deans and/or the Committee on Standards about your case. I follow the recommendation of the Committee on Standards; if it also finds evidence of cheating or plagiarism, the recommendation is usually failure of the course at a minimum. See the Colleges’ Principle of Academic Integrity and General Academic Regulations (http://www.hws.edu/catalogue/policies.aspx) and the Handbook of Community Standards (http://www.hws.edu/studentlife/pdf/community_standards.pdf), pp. 38-40.

Now, just in case you are not clear about what plagiarism is: plagiarism is the use of someone else’s words or ideas without giving that person credit.  In application, this means that in your writing assignments, you need to cite your sources. When quoting directly from a text—say, five words or more in succession—you need to put those words in quotation marks and include a parenthetical reference or footnote citing the source. When rewriting a passage from a text in your own words, you don’t need the quotation marks but you do still need the parenthetical reference or footnote. If you don’t understand exactly what constitutes plagiarism, or how to use parenthetical references or footnotes, please ask me. I would prefer to explain what it is and how to avoid it before it happens rather than after.