Assignment 1: Cultural Borrowing
Architectural forms travel across space and cultures. Each time they do, however, they
change to adapt to new social, environmental, religious, political contexts. This is clearly
visible in premodern China and Japan, in which an intense cultural exchange generated
remarkably different architectural outcomes. Describe this process of “cultural
borrowing” in a short comparison essay. Looking at the assigned comparison (the two
images below), write a comparative analysis with a lucid, original thesis. Remember to
ask yourself: what is the common ground between these two sites? How is this
common ground differently articulated in each case, and why? Support your argument
using close readings of visual and formal elements appearing in the images.
1. 1-page (max. 300 words): 12-point font, 1″ margins, double spaced 1-page (max. 300 words): 12-point font, 1″ margins, double spaced
2. give your paper an original title (not “Assignment 1”) give your paper an original title (not “Assignment 1”)
3. briefly identify the two spaces: name, place, date or era, patron (if known) briefly identify the two spaces: name, place, date or era, patron (if known)
4. state your thesis in the first sentence or two state your thesis in the first sentence or two
5. argue from formal evidence (i.e. what you can see in the images) argue from formal evidence (i.e. what you can see in the images)
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